Group Buy: Budget CRI 95 LED Strip Lights

[Joachim Hoge]

Better to post a link - not everyone has the default setting for number of posts per page! I only have 9 pages for the entire thread (cuts down number of clicks per thread).

I edited my post, thanks for pointing that out.
I might have done it wrong as it seems to link to page 17.
Is this the the case?

 

[Joachim Hoge]

I have a few questions before I can really plan my final order. I'm planning on putting together the equivalent of a 4x4 Kino (or I guess Celeb 400 now...)

• What is the power draw and how much length can we string together on one desktop power supply and dimmer? Will overheating become an issue? I know that some of the LED panels in the market have built in fans for cooling.
• How many solderless clips are in each connector kit?
• Since the dimmers are controlled by remote, if I have multiple units in the same room, will one remote affect all of the dimmers (hoping it won't)?

Thanks again!

I was wondering about point 2 & 3 as well. Hard to decide on how many connector kits I need without knowing how many are included in each kit

 

[ericyoung]

More questions following the pdf:
1) The power supplies:

I note that the DIY RS-150-12 power supply is manually switched between two input voltage ranges between 110Vac and 220Vac, but has input AC frequency range of 47-63Hz, so that's fine for international use.
http://docs-europe.electrocomponents.com/webdocs/0884/0900766b808844fe.pdf

Is the Desktop Power Supply a universal type which copes with any international voltage/frequency ac? What size & type of barrel connector does it have? i.e. diameter of outer sleeve & inner pin? Is it centre positive?


2) Can the variable strip dimmer potentially control dimming for the fixed strips? i.e. does the variable controller just have 1 or 2 additional wire connections for colour temp over the fixed controller, which can be left disconnected to control a fixed strip?
It should be possible to work out from the number of wire connections and what the labelling says.
If yes, it would allow just buying variable strip dimmers instead of a mix, as they are the same price.


3) Similarly, can you use a variable strip connector kit to connect together fixed strips. Again allows buying just one type which can work with both types of strips at the same price.

4) Connector kits - What's in each kit exactly and how many of each?

5) Power kit - How many is "lots of extra male/female barrel connectors", and what does "etc" mean exactly?

 

[Les Hillis]

Trying to finalize what accessories to order too.

How many actual solderless connectors in the Connector Kits?

How many actual power connectors (of the same type) in the Power Kits?

It may not be possible to get everything I need in this group buy, but I'm trying to figure out how many AC power supplies, controllers, solderless connectors and power connectors to get in order to cover multiple potential strip length configurations.

For example, trying to figure out what I need to order if I were to cut a 5m spool into multiple sections and run them separately at the same time, and then join all or some of them together again and run those at the same time.

 

[ericyoung]

I edited my post, thanks for pointing that out.
I might have done it wrong as it seems to link to page 17.
Is this the the case?

Didn't work. If you look at the top right of the relevant post you'll see the thread post number e.g. yours is #341. If you right click on it and Copy Link and then paste that into a new post, it'll work like this:
#341
or if you paste it into your web browser, and open that page, you can then copy and paste the entire URL which gives a better indication of what the link is, like this:
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showth...Strip-Lights&p=1450166&viewfull=1#post1450166

 

[Brandon J.F.]

It's really much easier to hit reply and email me any questions you may have about your specific needs and what comes with what. That way we have a clear conversation history to refer back to. Otherwise it's hard trying to keep 150+ people straight in my head.

I'll reply to everyone on here once I get through the emails people have sent.

 

[Jon Carr]

I'll take 2D and 2T

 

[Jamon Lewis]

Anybody knows of a solution for a solid, lightweight bank fixture to build?
Top left here, is the part from Kinoflo http://www.kinoflo.com/Top Buttons/Support/Fixtures (Remote)/CFX-4804/CFX-4804.html
Looking for something similar to boom

++1

 

[ericyoung]

It's really much easier to hit reply and email me any questions you may have about your specific needs and what comes with what. That way we have a clear conversation history to refer back to. Otherwise it's hard trying to keep 150+ people straight in my head.

I'll reply to everyone on here once I get through the emails people have sent.

But common FAQs would be easier answered once on this thread shirley? :wink:

 

[Brandon J.F.]

But common FAQs would be easier answered once on this thread shirley? :wink:

Only if people take the time to search through the thread. Most people are too busy. I'm making technical documents for you guys.

 

[Paul Hazlett]

as soon as I get the info about what's in the kits I can pony up for everything

 

[Brandon J.F.]

I replied to you by email, Noah, but for everyone else:

What is the power draw and how much length can we string together on one desktop power supply and dimmer? Will overheating become an issue? I know that some of the LED panels in the market have built in fans for cooling.

There are, of course, limitations as there are with any type of strip light. If you are going to setup a complicated rig using a large number of strips I would suggest consulting with an electrician/gaffer. There will be a technical document to reference included with your lights. If you have any specific questions please email me.

Since the dimmers are controlled by remote, if I have multiple units in the same room, will one remote affect all of the dimmers (hoping it won't)?

I'm waiting for a reply from the manufacturer to reconfirm this won't be a problem. I've described exactly how people will use these to them.

Is the Desktop Power Supply a universal type which copes with any international voltage/frequency ac? What size & type of barrel connector does it have? i.e. diameter of outer sleeve & inner pin? Is it centre positive?

It's all standard stuff. 2.1 x 5.5. I suggest you browse Lite Gear's online store. You can see the types of stuff there.

2) Can the variable strip dimmer potentially control dimming for the fixed strips? i.e. does the variable controller just have 1 or 2 additional wire connections for colour temp over the fixed controller, which can be left disconnected to control a fixed strip?

From what I'm told, no. You can't use them for either type.

3) Similarly, can you use a variable strip connector kit to connect together fixed strips. Again allows buying just one type which can work with both types of strips at the same price.

No, you can't. They have a different number of connections.

4) Connector kits - What's in each kit exactly and how many of each?

The specific numbers are to be determined. Look below for more details.

5) Power kit - How many is "lots of extra male/female barrel connectors", and what does "etc" mean exactly?

It means I am pushing the price down more and more as people order stuff and the quantity goes up. I'm going to load you guys up with as many connectors as possible. If you have any doubts buy it off eBay.

How many actual solderless connectors in the Connector Kits?

At least 8 for the fixed strips. Around that for the variable, but they connectors will be different. I'm still pushing the price down. The more people order, the lower the price, and the more everyone gets.

How many actual power connectors (of the same type) in the Power Kits?

How many barrel connectors? At least 4 of each type. Probably more. There will be 2 types of D-tap connectors (with a cable to male barrel, and without), and a car adapter, as mentioned in the description.

It may not be possible to get everything I need in this group buy, but I'm trying to figure out how many AC power supplies, controllers, solderless connectors and power connectors to get in order to cover multiple potential strip length configurations.

The most important stuff to get in this group buy is the stuff you can't get anywhere else for the price we have. Connectors are easy to source and even though we are getting them cheap, it's nothing to get stressed about.

For example, trying to figure out what I need to order if I were to cut a 5m spool into multiple sections and run them separately at the same time, and then join all or some of them together again and run those at the same time.

If you cut a roll up into several pieces for a lighting rig you don't really want to put it back together in 1 piece again. Build rigs you can reuse.

These accessories kits are just there to help you guys hit the ground running when you get your lights. These were never part of the original plan. I put them together because so many people asked for something like this. They are totally optional.

as soon as I get the info about what's in the kits I can pony up for everything

If you have a specific question about something, please email me Paul.

If I want to build a 5*1m bank (kind of like the ones seen in the stills from The Master), do I need 5 connector kits pr unit to re-connect the strips that are cut in to 1m pices or is that done in a different fashion?

No, only 1.

 

[Brandon J.F.]

Awesome news! I just heard back from the manufacturer and our custom budget controllers will have a power off memory function. When you turn them on they will have the same brightness and/or color temp as the last time you had them on.

I had a few people write me hoping this would be a feature. It is!

 

[Brandon J.F.]

More great news!

Since the dimmers are controlled by remote, if I have multiple units in the same room, will one remote affect all of the dimmers (hoping it won't)?
Thanks again!

I just got word back from the manufacturer and there is no problem with this at all! You can have any number of units in the same room/area as you want. They will not interfere with each other!

 

[Sam Phibbs]

Awesome!!!!!!!!!

 

[Steve Das]

Little confusion here...this thread shows variable with more lumens for these strip LED's
but Curt Pair's Westcott LED panel thread mentions Bi-color as half total light output.
Are Bi-Color and Variable Color different..?


What is the light output in lumens?
Tungsten: 1680 - 1920 lumens /m
Daylight: 1680 - 1920 lumens /m
Variable: 2160 - 2640 lumens /m

...A hint of what will soon be available: Bi-color (for those that really want that... I'm not a fan, as it cuts out HALF our your total available light output, but many are...),...

 

[Brandon J.F.]

Little confusion here...this thread shows variable with more lumens for these strip LED's
but Curt Pair's Westcott LED panel thread mentions Bi-color as half total light output.
Are Bi-Color and Variable Color different..?


What is the light output in lumens?
Tungsten: 1680 - 1920 lumens /m
Daylight: 1680 - 1920 lumens /m
Variable: 2160 - 2640 lumens /m

I'm not familiar with that product. All I know is these are the numbers given to me from the manufacturer and in my own testing the variable strip seems brighter than the fixed strips.

 

[Steve Das]

...and in my own testing the variable strip seems brighter than the fixed strips.

Yes..to my eye also.

 

[Matt Ryan]

Little confusion here...this thread shows variable with more lumens for these strip LED's
but Curt Pair's Westcott LED panel thread mentions Bi-color as half total light output.
Are Bi-Color and Variable Color different..?


What is the light output in lumens?
Tungsten: 1680 - 1920 lumens /m
Daylight: 1680 - 1920 lumens /m
Variable: 2160 - 2640 lumens /m

The product Curt is promoting works similar to a Bi-Color Litepanels 1x1 in that half of the led's are daylight and half are tungsten. When you switch it using the controller to either 3200k or 5600k, it shuts off the opposite led's so you only get half the output. To be even more simple, when switching it over to daylight, all the tungsten led's shut off and vice versa. Therefore you only get half the ouput.

The ones Brandon is selling is most likely calculating the Lumens with color temp set to 4500k where all the LED's are powered on.

 

[ericyoung]

I have a few questions before I can really plan my final order. I'm planning on putting together the equivalent of a 4x4 Kino (or I guess Celeb 400 now...)

• What is the power draw and how much length can we string together on one desktop power supply and dimmer? Will overheating become an issue? I know that some of the LED panels in the market have built in fans for cooling.
• How many solderless clips are in each connector kit?
• Since the dimmers are controlled by remote, if I have multiple units in the same room, will one remote affect all of the dimmers (hoping it won't)?

Thanks again!

According to the writing on the packet for the 5m reel, it seems like 5m is the maximum length that should be run in series.
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showth...Strip-Lights&p=1447257&viewfull=1#post1447257

Looking at the similar Lite Gear strips, a 5m reel might draw approximately 8 Amps.