I hacked together a design that will allow considerable flexibility.\u00a0 The general concept is to create a small DMX based 16ch Controller that uses LED Constant Current drivers.\u00a0 The Controller will be mounted at the top of the Icicles.\u00a0\u00a0 The LEDS will NOT be PCB mounted, but rather will be wired to suspend inside\u00a0 1\/2″ PVC tubing.<\/p>\n
![\"16Ch](\"http:\/\/baulkolites.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/WhiteStix2.jpg\" "\\"WhiteStix2\\"")
<\/a>16ch DMX LED Icicle Controller<\/p><\/div>\n
Let me stop here and say the biggest influence on my design was N1ist’s Color Sticks over as DIYC.com.\u00a0 The two projects share a great number of common components.\u00a0 Details of Mike’s project can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Schematic for the controller available\u00a0 here. <place marker only><\/p>\n The final LED spacing has been on my mind for a while now.\u00a0 I figure I need to address a number of areas:<\/p>\n 25mm & 35mm Segment Spacing<\/p><\/div>\n The LED view area has a large affect on the the final product.\u00a0 Most 3mm LEDs are very directional.\u00a0 Sanding the LED surface may be a solution to diffuse the LEDs.\u00a0 3mm Top hats may also be the best way to go.<\/p>\n THe blank PCBs arrived today.\u00a0 Nice job.<\/p>\n Assembled Falling Icicle Controller<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I suddenly realised the Top LED segments MUST be channel 16.\u00a0 this is no big issue but is makes chasing Lights easier if this is the case.\u00a0 The SPI will clock out channel 16 first.<\/p>\n If I can I would like to build in some smarts in to the Controller.<\/p>\n The easiest options it to treat this like every other 16 channel controller and allocate 16 DMX channels.\u00a0 This offers a would of flexibility.<\/p>\n However the more I think of how I want to use these icicles the more I reckon a simple single channel will be able to achieve everything I want.\u00a0 So here is what I am thinking:<\/p>\n Address<\/th>\n the down side to such a method is remembering specific functions when programming vixen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Falling Icicles made their debut in my area 2009.\u00a0 Initially they were hideously expensive and hard to find.\u00a0 But secretly I always knew I would get some. Then least year Big-W\u00a0 \/ K Mart started sell small falling Icicles\u00a0 sets … Continue reading Making the LED strings<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>Construction<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Software Considerations<\/h2>\n
\n\n
\n DMX Start <\/p>\n DMX End
\nAddress<\/th>\nFunction<\/th>\n DMX Start
\nAddress<\/th>\nDMX End
\nAddress<\/th>\nFunction<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n 0<\/td>\n 9<\/td>\n All lights Off<\/td>\n 100<\/td>\n 109<\/td>\n All lights Off<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 10<\/td>\n 19<\/td>\n Chase at 500mS rate<\/td>\n 110<\/td>\n 119<\/td>\n Chase 3 LEDs at 500mS rate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 20<\/td>\n 29<\/td>\n Chase at 450mS rate<\/td>\n 120<\/td>\n 129<\/td>\n Chase 3 LEDs at 450mS rate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 30<\/td>\n 39<\/td>\n Chase at 400mS rate<\/td>\n 130<\/td>\n 139<\/td>\n Chase 3 LEDs at 400mS rate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 40<\/td>\n 49<\/td>\n Chase at 350mS rate<\/td>\n 140<\/td>\n 149<\/td>\n Chase 3 LEDs at 350mS rate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 50<\/td>\n 59<\/td>\n Chase at 300mS rate<\/td>\n 150<\/td>\n 159<\/td>\n Chase 3 LEDs at 300mS rate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 60<\/td>\n 69<\/td>\n Chase at 250mS rate<\/td>\n 160<\/td>\n 169<\/td>\n Chase 3 LEDs at 250mS rate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 70<\/td>\n 79<\/td>\n Chase at 200mS rate<\/td>\n 170<\/td>\n 179<\/td>\n Chase 3 LEDs at 200mS rate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 80<\/td>\n 89<\/td>\n Chase at 150mS rate<\/td>\n 180<\/td>\n 189<\/td>\n Chase 3 LEDs at 1500mS rate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 90<\/td>\n 99<\/td>\n Chase at 100mS rate<\/td>\n 190<\/td>\n 199<\/td>\n Chase 3 LEDs at 100mS rate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 200<\/td>\n 209<\/td>\n All on dimmed at 5%<\/td>\n 210<\/td>\n 219<\/td>\n All on dimmed at 10%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 220<\/td>\n 229<\/td>\n All on dimmed at 15%<\/td>\n 230<\/td>\n 239<\/td>\n All on dimmed at 30%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 240<\/td>\n 249<\/td>\n All on dimmed at 50%<\/td>\n 250<\/td>\n 255<\/td>\n All on dimmed at 100%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n