Flag Poles and Fairy lights -- "how I Done It" --

p10

reserved for any questions people ask . . . . . . .

got a question? - ask it.




1-

how long will my flag pole lights last on a battery . . . ?


5mtr Dream LED ws2811 kit on 12v . . . .

draws . .

solid colours:

red 600ma
green 600ma
blue 600ma
white 800ma

animation . .

50ma - 600ma.

so say 0.5Amp.

*************************************************************************

so 20ah battery with 50% DOD is 10ah . . .
10ah divided by 0.5A = 20hrs . . .
20hrs divided by 6hrs running per night = 3.5 days camping

*************************************************************************

so 20ah battery with 50% DOD is 10ah . . .
10ah divided by 0.1A = 100hrs . . .
100hrs divided by 6hrs running per night = 16.5 days camping

*************************************************************************

That means your flag pole will last 3-16 days on a 20ah battery depending on the setting.

*************************************************************************






link to a short video i done on the whatsapp group for the T6F summer camp . . . .




.
Lee, Can 2 x 5meter length ws2811‘s be connected together and run off 1 remote?
 
Yes absolutely. . . . I've run 4x 5mtr strips with no problem.

However . . .


You need to conect 12v power through and may need to also back-feed power to the far end of the chain.

What happens is you get voltage drop across the chain which affects the colour and brightness as you get further from the 12v source.

So easy fix... just connect the 12v power and ground to both ends . . . . (I just run a separate red/black 2 core up-to-the far end . . . That stopped the problem)
 
They should come with conections.

Male and female at opposite ends, mine did anyway.

I also HaD the extra 12v power wires at each end...
So I just used chock-block or red tube crimping connectors to daisy chain the 12v
.
Then on my 4 piece strip I connected an extra 2core cable to the far end...to back feed 12v to the string.



edit: pic added.

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Yeah, I have just had a look my led string, and, indeed fitted with male and female connectors. I should have looked before I asked the question.
 
5m - all in one kit . . . .








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****

cheaper here?


12V (via Cigarette Lead) 5M Magic Dream Digital Flag Pole with RF Remote Control Over 300 Settings - Waterproof Lighting Kit with 24 Key IR Remote Control -Led Dream Lights






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2021 flag pole fail . . .

i left the controller out in the rain at the 2021 Camper Site weekender . . . . . (oops)

Got on the beer and forgot to wrap it up in a sandwich bag.

it got wet and died . . .


1625499525741.png1625499539261.png1625499549480.png


lucky enough @Skyliner33 had a spare controller and saved the day . . . Thank you @Skyliner33


So remember people, keep your LED controller dry... !!!!!



++++


I've ordered a replacement . . . (ws2811 RF remote controller)




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...





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2021 flag pole fail . . .

i left the controller out in the rain at the 2021 Camper Site weekender . . . . . (oops)

Got on the beer and forgot to wrap it up in a sandwich bag.

it got wet and died . . .


View attachment 122482View attachment 122483View attachment 122484


lucky enough @Skyliner33 had a spare controller and dayved the day . . . Thank you @Skyliner33


So remember people, keep your LED controller dry... !!!!!



++++


I've ordered a replacement . . . (ws2811 RF remote contrller)




View attachment 122486


...





View attachment 122487


+++




View attachment 122488
Just to add a bit of information to this. I had already sealed my controller with some silicone where the wires go into and exit the controller. Even though mine was also left out overnight in the rain I have just tested it and it still works.:)
 
@Dellmassive @Skyliner33

After suffering the same fate as your water filled controller twice now, these may be of interest...

You can now buy the controller built in as IP67 rated, albeit with less functions to play with, but still being Dream Lights to impress fellow campers :cool:

1625514087686.png 1625514159459.png 1625514231776.png

 
Hi, looking for a bit of advice please.

When we were at VDITV there was a flag pole with amazing LED lights with loads of effects, I would love to buy some to decorate my house for Christmas running off mains electric but also be able to run them on 12v when camping, any suggestions please (must be water proof and decent quality)
Thanks
 
 
2022 Update . . .

it looks like the Chinese have caught up with things and giving @Deaky awesome LED setup a run for his money . .

this was T6F Autumn camp this year. . . .


++++++++++++



++++++++++++

1664620089350.png1664620098860.png1664620108065.png1664620118457.png





everybody upped there game this year. . .


and one new product that caught my eye was @czmate1999 new Awning and Flagpole lights. . .

they were great and cheap too . .

so i had to get me some:

there was three types . . . this is the first one.

..



+++





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this is mine. . .


simple USB powered.

1664620380810.png

comes with IR remote and also BT APP.

1664620419867.png

these new ones are super tiny . . and waterproof. ( though the USB controller isnt obviously . . . we just put that in a zip-lock sandwich bag )


1664620547253.png


heres the APP. . .

1664620611594.png

donwloaded on Android phone or tablet . . .


1664620639129.png1664620652913.png1664620663095.png

the APP shows over 200 light shows. . .


1664620715293.png




Nice -



+++


ill add a vid link later when its dark.


+++



.
 
we`ve been using these Anker USB power packs to run the LED strings. . . ( in the ziplock bag with the controller. )


+++




+++




1664621093658.png
 
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next is this unit . .

similar, but seems to be a bit brighter?




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heres mine. . .


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the controller can be used for on/off and modes. . .


1664622223010.png


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there is an APP too . . .


1664622256758.png

1664622271796.png
.

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.
 
Next . . .

Similar again . . but this one has the nicest remote control.




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heres mine. . .


1664623101413.png

nice remote . . .

1664623114669.png

similar controller. . .

1664623130696.png


and similar 3wire setup. . .

1664623153678.png


very colourful Dream LED string. . .


1664623175250.png

again we have an APP to play with . . .

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While I think the "all in" approaches are really good for simplicity and easy to weatherproof I have built several microcontroller systems and the amazing WLED project for the local theatre group and covering the house with synchronised displays at Christmas.

While it does involve a bit of soldering and software install it's no more than many are doing with apps and electrics already.

Anyone interested in a thread at some point?
 
Soldering and software install? Not for me!
Could anyone recommend a good 'off the shelf' longer than 5m 'mutts nuts - donkeys wotsit' LED string for our 7 metre flagpole?
This will be our 3rd and final set! (Until the next bigger and better one obviously)
Our first set were solar, utter rubbish. Last years 10 meter string, just weren't good enough! Some folk in the forum had exactly what we're after but I'm struggling to find the current Rolls Royce of flagpole radiance longer than 5 metres, or even a link to the really really good 5m strings.
With quite a few important Forum engagements this year I really want folk to look at my pole in wonder and awe!
Does such a thing exist? Is it just connecting two 5 meter ones together? Do we just do the middle 5m, gap at top and bottom? I would so love a long one. It can be mains powered or 12 volt whatever is betterer!
@roadtripper have you got any 7m 'offcuts' you wouldn't mind offloading/creating to a fellow member in distress? This could be one of those side hustles that forum members love to spend money on!
More than happy to pass over currency or fly an RT flag!!
 
5m is essentially the fundamental length of active pixel led (that can be fully animated) in either it's string or tape form. There are some things available longer but they are rare.

I had 8 strings up (400 pixels) on the tree on the drive for Christmas (our Close has a bit of a friendly competition) running 3D animations, very cool.

I'd be happy to provide guidance but the boards I use are effectively someone else's side hustle. The amount of software install or soldering is minimal, if you can do leisure electrics or use a code reader it's no more. He does now do complete ready to go boards though:


It uses then Open Source WLED project


By default the boards fire up as a WiFi access point, connect with your phone and it will prompt to "sign in" like public WiFi but take you to the internal app where you can configure and create (1000s of light show possible from the effects and pallettes).

If you have a WiFi access point you can connect them to that in which case they can sync (have 4 flag poles all doing the same thing) or even operate as a single virtual pattern.

This isn't the best time of year to get hold of the string type LEDs, supply chains are exhausted after Christmas. I usually get BTF Lighting branded ones - quality can still be a bit exciting but they seem more reliable than most

With addressable LED the key limiting factor is voltage drop (told you it's like leisure electrics!) so with a string of 50 5V pixels you'd need about 2A to fully drive them and have them all white, but as most patterns won't do that you can usually use about 1A so USB power pack range. WLED is smart enough to dynamically tune the brightness if you configure it to anyway. You can connect strings or tapes together, you can run 100s to 1000s of pixels from the controller, but for longer runs you do need to inject power at every other junction to stop voltage drop issues.

In terms of costs a Mottramlabs control board tends to be £10 region, £15 with a decent waterproof junction box. 50 pixel strings tend to be £20 region.
 
You have made it sound very doable. And relatively affordable! Thank you so much for taking the time to compile this.
We would only ever (during van life) use one string on one flagpole, it's the intensity of the light I want, the strings on display at the various festivals are superb, and it's that I want to replicate. I'm OK at soldering, but would need Noddyesque instructions on the connection of circuit boards and the best way of protecting them in situ.
I think you know what I'm after, and potentially not just me!
Happy to send you a musical instrument or two for your troubles!
 
5m is essentially the fundamental length of active pixel led (that can be fully animated) in either it's string or tape form. There are some things available longer but they are rare.

I had 8 strings up (400 pixels) on the tree on the drive for Christmas (our Close has a bit of a friendly competition) running 3D animations, very cool.

I'd be happy to provide guidance but the boards I use are effectively someone else's side hustle. The amount of software install or soldering is minimal, if you can do leisure electrics or use a code reader it's no more. He does now do complete ready to go boards though:


It uses then Open Source WLED project


By default the boards fire up as a WiFi access point, connect with your phone and it will prompt to "sign in" like public WiFi but take you to the internal app where you can configure and create (1000s of light show possible from the effects and pallettes).

If you have a WiFi access point you can connect them to that in which case they can sync (have 4 flag poles all doing the same thing) or even operate as a single virtual pattern.

This isn't the best time of year to get hold of the string type LEDs, supply chains are exhausted after Christmas. I usually get BTF Lighting branded ones - quality can still be a bit exciting but they seem more reliable than most

With addressable LED the key limiting factor is voltage drop (told you it's like leisure electrics!) so with a string of 50 5V pixels you'd need about 2A to fully drive them and have them all white, but as most patterns won't do that you can usually use about 1A so USB power pack range. WLED is smart enough to dynamically tune the brightness if you configure it to anyway. You can connect strings or tapes together, you can run 100s to 1000s of pixels from the controller, but for longer runs you do need to inject power at every other junction to stop voltage drop issues.

In terms of costs a Mottramlabs control board tends to be £10 region, £15 with a decent waterproof junction box. 50 pixel strings tend to be £20 region.
I'm sure the assembled masses would appreciate any available pictures of your neighbourly lighting competition over the festive period!
 
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