Group Buy: Budget CRI 95 LED Strip Lights

[Phil Holland]

I'm in on that controller for sure. Agree that a Kelvin rating would be nice on the knob. Maybe 3-5 markings.

 

[Brandon J.F.]

This is great! The only one suggestion I have is to maybe have something more Kelvin related in the lettering of the color knob instead of "CW" and "WW".

Good idea. CW and WW is the standard nomenclature. It stands for Cool White and Warm White. We will change it to Warm and Cool.

Yep - maybe outer markings to quickly dial in the required kelvin (clockface style).

Great suggestion, Andy! I'll get that added.

anyone owns both this one and literibbon ?

Are you talking about their light strips? I have both and the quality of light is indistinguishable in my opinion. The biggest difference is the lights in this group buy are much brighter. I know a number of people will be independently comparing them and sharing their results once they get their orders.

I don't think anyone has this dimmer/controller yet. You can tell that it's a photoshopped picture showing. The reflection in the picture is of a DMX controller. I'm sure it's just to show you the plans what they're trying to make.

But it looks good. I like the route this controller is going. as long as its under 150$ it'll be a good buy.

Yeah, this is a mock up to get everyone on the same page. Thanks again for all your feedback, Corey.

I'm in on that controller for sure. Agree that a Kelvin rating would be nice on the knob. Maybe 3-5 markings.

Yeah, we will definitely get some markings on there. We can't specify the exact color temp on the unit though because it should be universal. That said, we may be able to display the approximate actual color temp in the iOS app. I would love to have that as an option.


Based on the comments so far, both here and by email, it looks like this is the way to go...

Sounds like a Home Run!

Brandon, i think everybody is willing to wait. GREAT JOB MAN !

That controller looks amazing!

WOW, glad I got in on this GB.

Awesome Brandon!

Very cool. Thanks. Keep going!

I know you shouldn't love anything that can't love you back, but this is lovely. Perhaps it's just lust... sexy little thing that. Seriously, this deal is way more than I was expecting. To be able to remotely control all your lights and for way under a grand is simple amazing.

Details:

Ok, so I've been quite busy the last few days working on the specification for an entirely custom controller. I decided it would be worth seeing how much it would cost vs. them modifying their existing product.

• I decided to add physical knobs onto the device itself. If you want wireless, flip a switch and run it off your iOS device. If you don't want wireless for a setup, then turn it off, and use the built in knobs. We can also expand on this and get a wireless knob controller device made later if enough people want them.
• Hard metal casing instead of plastic. It has to be set ready.
• Built in WiFi option (instead of a separate unit).
• Absolutely smooth dimming and color temp changes. It will not go in steps like cheap controllers.
• Oh, and you guys will love this: Flicker free up to at least 120fps.
• There are also a few other surprises I'm not posting yet...

Here's the design their artist came up with:

(It's not final yet.)

This is all for an 8A version and the price is on target... On Monday I'll know pricing for a 10A version.

There is nothing on the market that can do all this. It's literally everything I want in a controller for about 1/10th the price it would cost to piece together all the gear you would need to have all this power and functionality. All in one device that you can hold in your hand.

They have been building this stuff for 8 years, so the guts are nothing new. They can get a unit in my hand to test and sign off on in 20 days.

Let me know what you think!

 

[Nick Gardner]

If the design isn't finalized yet, put the terminal blocks that all the wires go into inside the box with a strip clamp for strain relief on the cables. That way once you install your wires and screw the cover back on it would be a nice clean on set friendly design instead of a radioshack science project.

Nick

 

[Brandon J.F.]

If the design isn't finalized yet, put the terminal blocks that all the wires go into inside the box with a strip clamp for strain relief on the cables. That way once you install your wires and screw the cover back on it would be a nice clean on set friendly design instead of a radioshack science project.

Nick

I understand your concern, but I don't think having the terminals inside the unit will be very user friendly on set. I have them looking into using Phoenix connectors instead of terminals. This is what Lite Gear (and others) use.

They use terminals on their DMX stuff. That seems to be the standard way of doing it.

Hopefully we can go with Phoenix connectors. We'll see what the price increase is.

 

[Patrick Tresch]

I would say :

- Don't make it too heavy ;-) and
- protect that power (red) knob. It will be broken when put with some other stuff in the carrying case. Is it possible to put it on the side where the power input is positionned to protect it?

Pat

PS: I'm ready to pay some $ more for Pheonix terminal. Much easier to handle.

 

[Brandon J.F.]

I would say :

- Don't make it too heavy ;-) and
- protect that power (red) knob. It will be broken when put with some other stuff in the carrying case. Is it possible to put it on the side where the power input is positionned to protect it?

Pat

I will ask the approximate weight. It won't be much.

The red knob isn't power. It's the antenna

 

[Nick Gardner]

If I were using these units on set, I would have pigtails wired to the controller, and plugs on the various units to match. The same thing could be accomplished with connectors as you are suggesting, but the raw terminal blocks in that mock up are less than ideal in a real world on set situation. I am constantly amazed at what I give the electricians at the start of a movie, and what I get back at the end. The more of a pain in the ass something is, the dumber the guy they give it to to deal with is ;-)

Nick

 

[David E. Rogers]

Brandon if I understand correctly for additional monies when can purchase this new and improved controller vs. the original controller in the GB. Or if I am wrong this is entirely a new controller with a new GB for it.

Confused

David

 

[Brandon J.F.]

If I were using these units on set, I would have pigtails wired to the controller, and plugs on the various units to match. The same thing could be accomplished with connectors as you are suggesting, but the raw terminal blocks in that mock up are less than ideal in a real world on set situation. I am constantly amazed at what I give the electricians at the start of a movie, and what I get back at the end. The more of a pain in the ass something is, the dumber the guy they give it to to deal with is ;-)

I totally agree. I hope we can go with these connectors.

Brandon if I understand correctly for additional monies when can purchase this new and improved controller vs. the original controller in the GB.

Exactly. It's an upgrade. I should have all the details nailed down on Monday.

 

[Mike Harrington]

Wow....

Better then expected.
And I started off just buying a few meters of LED....very impressive Brandon. If I were you I would be in business selling lights

Appreciate the time you put into this

 

[Patrick Tresch]

Wow....

Better then expected.
And I started off just buying a few meters of LED....very impressive Brandon. If I were you I would be in business selling lights

Appreciate the time you put into this

This thread breathes a little bit like on Reduser a long time ago!

Pat

 

[Manfred Lopez]

... You can tell that it's a photoshopped picture showing. The reflection in the picture is of a DMX controller. ...

I noticed that too he he. I know this does¡t have anything to do with anything, but I can't help myself noticing these things

 

[Jamon Lewis]

Brandon, you don't stop man!! That controller with the feature suggestions is pretty crazy! I'll wait & I'M IN FOR THE NEW CONTROLLER. This GB has really taken in a new life, I'm glad I got so many rolls, something in the beginning was telling me to load up because this is something I've been waiting for..

 

[Thommes Ulfeng]

red pill .... thx man!

 

[Michael Jarvis]

This thread is so long and has taken lots of turns...I really have not had time to follow it. I paid right away...and since then....I have not really had any time to sit and read and figure out where we are.

...so to simplify my opinion...


looks ops like awesome things are going on...Brandon, just sign me up for the best case scenario and lemme know if I need to take care of any new balances.

Thanks for for your extra work on this.

 

[Zhen Jie]

Controller looks good Brandon, can't wait for them to start shipping.

 

[Lawrence Steele]

If I were using these units on set, I would have pigtails wired to the controller, and plugs on the various units to match. The same thing could be accomplished with connectors as you are suggesting, but the raw terminal blocks in that mock up are less than ideal in a real world on set situation. I am constantly amazed at what I give the electricians at the start of a movie, and what I get back at the end. The more of a pain in the ass something is, the dumber the guy they give it to to deal with is ;-)

Nick

I see it like Nick, very important for me.


Interested in the other options to

 

[Nils Ruinet]

New controller looks great, nice new features, iOS would be very cool too.
As others have said, make it as rugged as possible for on set use, a little more "weather-proof" would probably be a plus too. Doesn't need to be water-proof of course.

I like where all this is going
Starting to think I should have bought more strips from the go

 

[Patrick Thompson]

Wow. I go away for a couple days and BAM! Gorgeous controller added to thread. I had four in my initial order, but I'm wishing I added more….. and more LED strips!!

Hope you find a suitable connector solution, we can't wait to play with these!!

 

[Gavin Greenwalt]

If we're taking feature requests I would request that you put a V-Mount Plate's standard hole pattern on the back of the controller so that you could bolt on a V-Mount battery source and make it self contained if desired.