Lights & Electronics
Revision as of 08:01, 30 July 2026 by ErnieHorning (talk | contribs) (Reorganized the Lights & Electronics section into a more structured navigation portal by grouping related articles into Lighting, Controllers & Software, Electronics & Hardware, and Reference categories. Added descriptive introductions for each topic to improve navigation and help users more easily locate information on holiday lighting hardware, controllers, networking, and electronics.)
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.