Difference between revisions of "Lights & Electronics"

Latest revision as of 08:01, 30 July 2026

Introduction

This section covers the hardware, electronics, controllers, and communication technologies used in modern animated holiday lighting displays. Whether you are building your first display or expanding an existing one, these articles provide information on selecting lights, wiring pixels, choosing controllers, configuring software, and understanding the technologies that make synchronized lighting possible.

Lighting

Types of Lights – Overview of the lighting technologies commonly used in holiday displays.

Pixels a beginners guide – A quick introduction to smart pixels and how they work.

Selecting Smart Pixels – Choosing the right smart pixels for your display.

Intermediate pixel guide – Additional information for users ready to move beyond the basics.

Wiring Smart Pixels – Wiring methods, connectors, and best practices for smart pixels.

Making/Wiring Mono-Pixels – Building and wiring single-color pixel devices.

Wiring a Pixel to an external SSR – Using a smart pixel to control an external solid-state relay.

Controllers & Software

Controllers – Overview of controller hardware, firmware, and related software.

Sequencing & Show Control – Creating, scheduling, and playing synchronized lighting shows.

Protocols – Communication protocols such as DDP, E1.31 (sACN), Art-Net, DMX, and Renard.

Electronics & Hardware

Understanding SD Card Ratings – Selecting SD cards for show players and embedded devices.

Types of SSRs – Understanding solid-state relays and their applications.

How to make a Dipole Antenna for your FM Transmitter – Building a simple FM transmitter antenna.

Current detective – A simple meter for measuring leakage current.

Ordering PCBs from Manufacturers – Ordering custom printed circuit boards from Gerber files.

Reference

Media:Cutting_mini_lights.pdf – Guide to shortening incandescent mini-light strings. Originally created by Ernie Horning.

LED Current Statistics – Current, power, and color-temperature reference information for 1W, 3W, and 5W LEDs.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-== Table of Contents ==
+== Introduction ==
-:* '''[[Types of Lights]]'''
+This section covers the hardware, electronics, controllers, and communication technologies used in modern animated holiday lighting displays. Whether you are building your first display or expanding an existing one, these articles provide information on selecting lights, wiring pixels, choosing controllers, configuring software, and understanding the technologies that make synchronized lighting possible.
-:* '''[[Pixels a beginners guide]]''' - A quick intro into pixels. If you want to try them, read this first!
+== Lighting ==
-:* '''[[Selecting Smart Pixels]]'''
+:* '''[[Types of Lights]]''' – Overview of the lighting technologies commonly used in holiday displays.
-:* '''[[Intermediate pixel guide]]
+:* '''[[Pixels a beginners guide]]''' – A quick introduction to smart pixels and how they work.
-:* '''[[Wiring Smart Pixels]]'''
+:* '''[[Selecting Smart Pixels]]''' – Choosing the right smart pixels for your display.
-:* '''[[Making/Wiring Mono-Pixels]]'''
+:* '''[[Intermediate pixel guide]]''' – Additional information for users ready to move beyond the basics.
-:* '''[[Wiring a Pixel to an external SSR]]'''
+:* '''[[Wiring Smart Pixels]]''' – Wiring methods, connectors, and best practices for smart pixels.
-:* '''[[ESP8266 Wireless]]'''
+:* '''[[Making/Wiring Mono-Pixels]]''' – Building and wiring single-color pixel devices.
-:* '''[[Protocols]]'''  How computers and controllers talk to one another
+:* '''[[Wiring a Pixel to an external SSR]]''' – Using a smart pixel to control an external solid-state relay.
-:* '''[[SD Cards]]'''  Not all SD cards are the same -- some are better than others!
+== Controllers & Software ==
-:* '''[[Types of SSRs]]'''  An SSR is a 'solid state relay' and is used to control power
+:* '''[[Controllers]]''' – Overview of controller hardware, firmware, and related software.
-:* '''[[How to make a Dipole Antenna for your FM Transmitter]]'''
+:* '''[[Sequencing & Show Control]]''' – Creating, scheduling, and playing synchronized lighting shows.
-:* '''[[Current detective]]''' A meter to measure leakage current.
+:* '''[[Protocols]]''' – Communication protocols such as DDP, E1.31 (sACN), Art-Net, DMX, and Renard.
-:* '''[[LED Current Statistics]]''' A chart full of helpful information about 1W, 3W and 5W LEDs.
+== Electronics & Hardware ==
+:* '''[[Understanding SD Card Ratings]]''' – Selecting SD cards for show players and embedded devices.
+:* '''[[Types of SSRs]]''' – Understanding solid-state relays and their applications.
+:* '''[[How to make a Dipole Antenna for your FM Transmitter]]''' – Building a simple FM transmitter antenna.
+:* '''[[Current detective]]''' – A simple meter for measuring leakage current.
+:* '''[[Ordering PCBs from Manufacturers]]''' – Ordering custom printed circuit boards from Gerber files.
+== Reference ==
+:* '''[[Media:Cutting_mini_lights.pdf]]''' – Guide to shortening incandescent mini-light strings. Originally created by Ernie Horning.
+:* '''[[LED Current Statistics]]''' – Current, power, and color-temperature reference information for 1W, 3W, and 5W LEDs.