Preferred LED Power Supply Solution

[SceneMaster]

As far as I see all three options have plus and minus points I was just wondering what the general consensus was here?

 

The reason for asking is that I am conducting some research in to the control of LEDs (the unit electronics rather than the choice of console!) in lighting applications.

 

Edit: After reading back the last option it doesn’t seem very clear, basically each unit has its own DMX connection (in\out XLR connectors) but is powered from a shared PSU.

[Light Console]

I went for B.

Two weeks ago, I was thinking how much of a mess (even with 12" cables link cables) the daisy chaining of DMX and mains to each LED par looked on a stand. Far better would be a block in the centre of the stand, and four cables, one for every lantern on the bar, of the required length. I am thinking of modifing my LED pars to IEC panel inlets, then also wire in a 7 way XLR to avoid mess ups as a combined input and output system, with the suitable links inside the central block. This reduces the cables to two per light, and the cables could be bound or put into a sheath. it would mean rigging and derigging was quicker, and less cables to account for. By leaving the existing 3 pin XLRs, the lights can be used alone.

I guess this is like the central PSU idea.

[Tomo]

If the PSU was a standard scroller PSU in the style of ChromaQ that just sends 24V down two wires and standard DMX down the other two, then it'd be fairly interchangable and could happily run a few LEDs and a couple of scrollers on the standard fixtures.

 

Plus, when a PSU breaks you can rearrange it to give you most of the rig, just losing the fixtures that are least important until it's repaired or replaced.

[The Boogie Man]

I had actually been thinking about this, as if I'm planning 8 led cans per side I was thinking it would have to be: 4 cans plugged into a 4 gang then two 4 gangs into a two plug extension to the nearest wall socket.

 

It would be nice if there was a central box on the truss and then just one cable to the wall.

 

I didnt worry too much about the DMX side as I thought that if the cables were left attached with the lights ther'd only be one coming to the desk, and it would be easy to see which can was down as everything after it would stop. change the lead or skip past the can.

[ben.suffolk]

I would expect option B could be made more cheaply, but could be a pain if you only wanted 1 unit.

 

I like the idea of a generic power supply that works for all fixtures.

[Chris Beesley]

I know its not really one of the options but a power in and power out would be nice... as per the pixellines 1044's etc.

[musht]

Ipix Satellite:

 

http://www.I-pix.uk.com/led-lighting.htm

 

uses Neutrik Powercons in and out as well as DMX I/O

 

Seperate PSU means lower voltage but higher current, cables dont neccesarily become thinner.

[CPlater1]

I would say have something like 16A T ceeforms with the DMX down by the plug aswell for making the chain. Then you could just link them up quickly and easily.

[Yorkie]

Having one cable sounds good (A), as does scroller supplies (B) as long as they are of a generic type. Reducing the use of a standard (DMX and one power plug) sounds like a bad thing unless a new standard could emerge. Maybe they could supply low power fixtures intended to be used in multiples with T-shaped IEC connectors on ~2m cables (I've only ever seen these connectors a couple of times on c0mput3r speakers, but they're as good as any other IEC.)

[Meduza]

Powercon in and out for mains, 5-pole XLR for DMX in and out, beeing able to daisy-chain all units in a easy way with just two standard cables.

[AndrewR]

mmmmm, given that Scroller PSU's are kicking about everywhere, and it means you only need to run 1 small cable.

 

B!

 

I'm against 16A ceeforms myself, they add far too much bulk and cost to the unit.

 

The only problem with using scroller PSU's and cable is the cost of the cable. But using an external PSU should cut the cost of the lamps.

 

What is pish though is a centrallised, not daisy-chain PSU/controller. That requires you to set the address on the controller, not the actual lamp. Had to work with them a couple of times, and that and the rather hopeless output of the very expensive lamps attached to the controller. Was nice to see the looks on their faces when I wheeled out the trusty £50 jobs.. :)

[TomLyall]

The products available at the moment fit the power supply electronics etc, inside the case, so size / heat isn't a real issue. The problem is getting a power supply and DMX to each unit.

 

Why an external PSU? What would be the advantages? Would a better solution be to try and combine data and mains power into one cable / connector to be daisy-chained through each device? That'd mean no external PSU, no problems with long distance (extra) low voltage runs.

 

Are there any suitable combined data / power connectors available? Cable isn't a problem, it's readily available. Would it be easier to just use a powercon and normal XLR seperately (as already suggested)?

 

Tom

[dbuckley]

I can't believe I'm about to say this, so defense is necessary. :). There, thats better.

 

There are combined mains + balanced audio cables available for active speakers, so that would do. The pain in the neck is that it is universally used with a powercon + XLR, so it's neither an elegent nor low-cost option to have sticking out the back of a LED can.

 

An expansion of our connector vocabulary is required, a new connector with mains and data, of a suitable size. What would be really cool would be a powercon DMX edition, a powercon with a a few extra contacts to bring DMX with the power. This would be useful not just for LED cans, but many applications where the mains load is sensible, for example, the ever popular 4 x par56 powered bars.

 

Alternativerly, a rebirth of the old Cannon power XLR, but with more pins and meeting current safety standards.

[MarkPAman]

There are combined mains + balanced audio cables available for active speakers, so that would do. The pain in the neck is that it is universally used with a powercon + XLR

Unless it's IEC & XLR

An expansion of our connector vocabulary is required, a new connector with mains and data, of a suitable size. What would be really cool would be a powercon DMX edition, a powercon with a a few extra contacts to bring DMX with the power. This would be useful not just for LED cans, but many applications where the mains load is sensible, for example, the ever popular 4 x par56 powered bars.

Very good idea. and we need a second version that carries audio. I think one that does all three (power, data & audio) will start getting too big.

[Matt Riley]

Hi,

 

What we use at the moment, which may work as a stopgap for you guys who want to go towards an integrated solution, is to put a male IEC on the end of the hardwired lead which comes out of the fixture and then use some lovely IEC 4 ways strategically cable tied to the frottos - they're far more compact than the 13A connectors, and it is more importantly simple and cheap.

 

...and a happy new year,

 

Matt