Music, pixels & computer controlled! Northpark lights is a year-long hobby of mine to create a great Christmas light display each year! This is where I post videos of the show's songs & other content covering a Christmas light show.
You can learn more about this hobby on AusChristmasLighting forum .
do you have a video on how to program the tree? is it something that just comes with the box or that you can buy off the internet like CNC files? Any chance you have a buying parts list for the tree above and what height is it?
I made this tree myself. I bought connectors, spool of seed pixels, power supply and controller individually. Software is xLights and I make my own sequences or use freely avaliable ones. It's not an off the shelf product. There is pre-made versions avaliable from Boscoyo designs.
@@NorthparkLights I looked them up and their like $40,000 wow. can I ask what you paid to do it yourself? Im just a home owner looking to up his christmas game but want to stay a home owner.
@@randyogrady have a look into xLights software and the pixel lighting hobby. I paid ~$600usd for the lights and parts of this tree. A spool of seed pixels is around $190usd for 3,000 now.
Awesome. Something I have wanted to build, but domt know where/how to start. You did t perhaps do video of your build. Explaining the wiring, and programming? How many strands do you put on one channel of the controller? Is power injection at every strand top and bottom? You say you doubled your lines and spacing is 5cm and not 10cm, can you show example of how you actually did this? Thanks very much.
I have done some write up & images afterwards with the wiring. Doubling it over is doing 'alternate nodes': ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-a7wgHWFVVbQ.html , folding over the string effectively takes spacing from 10cm to 5cm, it also makes the string input & output at the same end. Which is then how the 4-pin connector is wired. Post 3 and 14 in this post on AusChristmasLighting has wiring photos: auschristmaslighting.com/threads/marks-seed-pixel-mega-tree-smaller-and-cheaper.15280/ I ran 3 pixel ports. Simply because I haven't bought another controller. My whole shows runs off a single Falcon F48v3 and 4 receiver differential boards. Power injection is handled by each junction box on the base ring. In the AusChristmasLighting post photos it shows how each strand is 'folded' on itself and power is paralleled at the connector. I bought rolls of 5v seed pixels when that was the only option, now you can buy many voltages. I would highly suggest running 12v or 24v if you were to make this. The programming is done in xLights software.
Good day, first of nicely done. I had a question on your topper, did you make that or did you buy it? I am trying to do something similar this year and trying to figure out how to mount the seeds to the top. I've been looking for a STL file but so far have had zero luck. Thank you
I made my own. I used a 30cm/12inch frying pan, drilled holes and put hooks in. Pixel Paradise USA sell their "BillyGoat" series of 3D printed seed pixel tree toppers and I see a 3D file on cults3D for a mini tree version.
There's at least one version of those seed pixels that hard-codes the pixel number into each pixel. It'll still work, but you might notice the missing pixel in pre-programmed patterns.
Yes! I've seen these mentioned on forums and mini trees sold by Bunnings have the first pixel with a hard coded start address. The idea of a hard coded start address can be really useful for icicles and other props. I'm yet to find a supplier of the 'smart t' connectors, which is a hard coded start address but splits the data off two outputs.
One thing to make sure with connecting the pixels is to be aware of what direction data of the pixels are supposed to go as I wrongly assumed they could go in either direction but it is only one direction
Yes, pixels have a set data input and output. We've all made mistakes as newbies wiring them backwards! 😅 It's even worse accidentality wiring 5v pixels to a 12v power supply!
Thank you 🙂. Here's hoping this year (2024) I'll get the strobe lights and revolving beacon light installed for this song. I planned for those in 2022 but never got around to wiring them. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YywPm8VsIkg.htmlfeature=shared&t=83 I have a bad habit of buying and planning things and a few years later they actually finally done 😅.
Awesome! 😁 I sequenced Flight of the Navigator 'Robot Romp' as a bit of fun with AI music track breakdown. Then that lead to using the sequence as it turned out good. For a non-Christmas song which most people don't know it gets them dancing.
Also job were converting over to seed pixels. I have a question do you have a link for where you bought your junction box's for your pixels. Seems like it uses less wires and pigtails this way
The junction boxes are electrical conduit boxes from my local hardware store (Bunnings). Many electrical stores sell them. I used a conduit plug in each end, then drilled a hole to mount a PG7 wire gland into it. On the front is a much bigger wire gland I drilled and mounted in.
@NorthparkLights thanks for getting back to me something told me u made it lol. Were wanting to use them. To are they easy to wire and put together im assuming.
@@PaulHines1980 easy in my opinion to solder onto. The wire is thinner than bullet nodes. I'll get the camera out and make a video on splicing them.... I see this question a lot :).
Hi, I must say a great job using the seed pixels, which I've found to be cheap and very reliable on other projects. I going to build a 4m tree shortly for the 2024 season. Would you recommend sticking which the 10cm spaced pixels and doubling back or go with the 5cm ones? I think the 10cm option should be stronger on larger trees, due to having double the wire thickness per strand. Also the 10cm pixels per 1000 work out much cheaper than the 5cm per 1000. Not sure why but probably a supply and demand thing.
I did 10cm and 5v because that was the only type available in March 2022. I have got 5cm spacing and comparing both options I would still do 10cm with alternate nodes wiring. As you have said, it helps for strength. Is also helps when splicing failed pixels because I can use a cable tie align the replaced pixel to be in the correct position.
I have no experience with pixels, but I'd like to build one of these. I am very handy and good at soldering. Where do I start? Any recommendations would be much appreciated!
A great place to start in the pixel lighting hobby is the Official xLights Support group on Facebook, and download xLights program. Forums like AusChristmasLighting is a great place to read up on how a pixel light show works.
I just saw this. I have wanted to make a Mega Tree, but bullet nodes would take it to over $2,000. With these, I am looking at about $500 + the miscellaneous hardware. 4,000 50mm spaced 12V seed lights cost about $325, PSUs about $120, Topper about $25. I don't have the cost for the galvanized post, extra wiring, etc. But I would guess another $250. I can afford that and plan for XMas 2024. How tall was your tree? I planning 12' (~3.6m), but would consider 15' (~4.5m)
Exactly my reasoning for these seed pixels over bullet nodes was weight and cost! My tree is 4m to the top of the lights and another 0.5m for the star (4.5m total). The write up on AusChristmasLighting forum (description) has some extra photos. Stringing the lights up/down is the easiest way to get it done quick, but I would suggest connectors on lights in the future.
I bought these when they first got released and 10cm spacing was the only option to purchase, which is why I doubled it over to make 5cm spacing. Doubling over also solved power injection because I could use 'alternate nodes' function (photos in the AusChristmasLighting forum post in description). I have bought 5cm and honesty I would not buy any smaller. Trying to solder 2.5cm and waterproof it would be a pain.
@jasonguy1497 I used 10cm spaced seed pixels and doubled it up to make 5cm. I've bought some 5cm spaced recently; 5cm is the lowest I would recommend to go because soldering & heat shrinking is a lot harder on 5cm! The smaller 2.5cm and 1.5cm sounds like an even bigger challenge to repair!
@@jasonguy1497 Thankyou :) If you are getting started in this hobby, there is xLights Official Support Group on Facebook, AusChristmasLighting forum, FPP forum and a few Discord groups. There is also xLights Zoom meeting support where many volunteers help issues for free (link is on xLights.org).
@acrixiacelestia There is a tick box in xLights for 'Alternate nodes'. It's covered in these images and the video on ACL forum: auschristmaslighting.com/threads/marks-seed-pixel-mega-tree-smaller-and-cheaper.15280/post-130953 Hope this helps!
@@acrixiacelestia7689 All good, we all start somewhere! I'm typically in the xLights Zoom room offering help on setup/troubleshooting most nights NZ timezone. I would also suggest watching Keith's video on getting a show running when it's getting close to Christmas: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jf7uLhUObAk.html
This star was made for my mega tree which also uses these seed pixels. There is a video showing how this was made: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-eGL6h4FvXdo.html
Nice job. What is the brightness like compared to bullet nodes. I am thinking to use seeds for an indoor matrix that would be covered with may be frosted perspex
@@NorthparkLights thanks that's good. I just thought they would be much dimmer so no good for indoors, but sounds like they will be fine even behind some frosted perspex. Thinking about a 32*32 matrix for pixel art
@@perfectheatingandplumbingp7747 A matrix sounds awesome! I'm wanting to make a snowman this year and maybe another star with these lights. A person local to me has used these seed pixels zip-tied to chicken wire for a matrix.
Any questions? Follow up video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GfvWu8W_wfA.html There's a written version of this on AusChristmasLighting forum with a few extra details and a Q &A. auschristmaslighting.com/threads/marks-seed-pixel-mega-tree-smaller-and-cheaper.15280/
We were discussing this video in the Zoom room as I am thinking about doing this as well for 2023. It looks like you supported the strands with something to take the strain off of the wire. What did you use?
I have not used anything else to take the strain off the wire. Imagine one string of 80 pixels, folded in half. Now the density has been doubled and power/data is at one end. That is why they appear as two strings of lights together.
@@NorthparkLights So those are 8m strings at 5V with power at both ends and no other power injection? If so then these seed pixels are definitely the way I want to go!
Nice job. I did a 16 strand flat tree with beads this year and built much like yours. I had zero issues with the pixels. Best part is my whole tree packs down to about the size of a shoe box!
This is fantastic! Do you have a link to the source for those lights? I've looked up GFLAI and don't see anything that looks like them. Very interested in these
I got these from GFLAI lighting, that was after they promoted themselves on AusChristmasLighting forum. You need an account to view this on ACL. auschristmaslighting.com/threads/ws2811-rgb-led-pvc-soft-mini-string-lights-mass-production.14370/ They were $120USD for 1,500 pixels. Ray Wu (AliExpress) also sells these. Ray's come in different spacing and 5v or 12v version. Mattos Designs in the USA also sell these.
@@perfectheatingandplumbingp7747 In the Mega tree video it can be roughly seen what they look like from behind. It does light up all around but certainly the front is noticeably brightener.
The small junction boxes are from my local hardware store. I drilled a hole, added a wire gland and put 5 pig tails into it. I also drilled a small hole for the smaller wire glands at the ends. The Tri-Box enclosure holding the power supplies is from another person who has sold their display. They paid over $100 per box.
It did need power injection. The pixels in a string work about 60-80 before yellowing. My power injection is made very differently to what others do. 1:52 I show a junction box: Each string connectors to this box for data and power. So effectively every string of 80 has power. The lights themselves are wired in 'alternate nodes'. Think of a string of 80 folded in half, now the data in/out and power is at one end. I paralleled the power wires at the end on the connector. So power injection is effectively the same as a string of 80 with power applied to both ends. Each strand on the tree is like this. Plenty of power avaliable if I run this at 100% white.
I got these from GFLAI lighting, that was after they promoted themselves on AusChristmasLighting forum. You need an account to view this on ACL. auschristmaslighting.com/threads/ws2811-rgb-led-pvc-soft-mini-string-lights-mass-production.14370/ They were $120USD for 1,500 pixels. Ray Wu (AliExpress) also sells these. Ray's come in different spacing and 5v or 12v version. Mattos Designs in the USA also sell these.
@@NorthparkLights This is very clever--I like the way they wired them, out and back, so you can apply power at both ends effectively, if I'm understanding correctly.
@@NorthparkLights Oh, I see! For some reason, I thought they were manufactured that way, but you cleverly did yourself and, as you said, doubled the density. Nice. (And apologies for posting this under the wrong comment--I meant to post under the question someone asked regarding power injection)
@@sidewalkspectaculars A month later after I bought these pixels, Ray Wu started selling them. Then Mattos a while later. Ray's are in 15, 10 or 5cm spacing and there's even a 12v option. Sadly making an early order wasn't the best move... I'm really temped to try a 12v version but they all look the same so I'd get mixed up!
Yes, they act like regular ws2811 pixels and are powered like regulator pixels on 5v. I got these from GFLAI lighting, that was after they promoted themselves on AusChristmasLighting forum. You need an account to view this on ACL. auschristmaslighting.com/threads/ws2811-rgb-led-pvc-soft-mini-string-lights-mass-production.14370/ They were $120USD for 1,500 pixels. Ray Wu (AliExpress) also sells these. Ray's come in different spacing and 5v or 12v version. Mattos Designs in the USA also sell these.
Thankyou! I'm pleased to share something different into the community. Bullet nodes and mounting strip trees have not been changed much over the years.
Pulling the wires through is an idea... Even bending a paper clip to a small hook could work...? I pushed the wires through far enough to then grab onto them from the underside.
What sort of lighting are you after? Small stand alone options for a string of lights example can be found from 'DrZzs' & 'intermit. tech' on RU-vid with WLED controllers. ru-vid.com ru-vid.com They both have Discord groups. 'intermit. tech' sells their own controller, a cheaper DIY alternative is an ESP32 and some soldering.
@@NorthparkLights oh cool! More sort of professional lighting, par cans I think they’re called, with a DMX control board. It’s late so I’m not thinking 100% straight either Edit: spelling
@@JayTechTips there's a few Facebook groups for stage lighting and AV, but not much for basics. DMX theory and how to patch/control lights is easily found in RU-vid. I've used Chamsys lighting consoles and the Chamsys Magic PC app can do 18 universes in the free demo mode. The lights here use xLights which outputs to a sACN, artNET, to the controller. There is ways to get a network DMX protocol to the standard rs485 XLR connector led PAR cans use. I think xlights can also use a USB dongle.
@@JayTechTips standalone DMX lighting controllers (the $50 - $300 mark) are really basic functionality. Great for learning, but you'll see it gets annoying to program scenes. A console like Grand MA and Chamsys have a thing called "head profiles", it basically let's the computer work out what each DMX channel of the lights related to so setting a light on is a lot quicker. I would personally buy a cheap USB dongle and find a suitable PC application to program scenes. PC application also gives freedom to program on a timeline (e.g. to music).
