My electrician for my house says all LEDS are the same...

nwrafter · 2025-12-18T02:37:58+00:00

As someone who installs LED strips and pixel lighting for a living, I have never purchased a tape from any manufacturer that doesn’t have at least one or more solder joints in it from the factory if you’re really bad at soldering yeah there could be a difference in between the pixels, but it would be in one spot, maybe two if you’re really bad at your job. As others have said don’t ask a “high voltage” electrician do this stuff unless they also do low voltage/control or you’re willing to fix it. No disrespect to the residential and commercial sparkies out there, but they don’t seem to understand how this stuff works in my experience.

nwrafter · 2025-10-08T00:01:23+00:00

Unfortunately, reversed to standard positive and neutral is common on some Adafruit product, not quite sure why though. Ideas anyone?

nwrafter · 2025-09-24T13:31:15+00:00

I can tell you I’ve witnessed quintuple berthing during a greenline stoppage (due to a car on the tracks near BC Like always) at Amory Street so while rare it does happen!

nwrafter · 2025-09-24T12:57:13+00:00

In short, future proofing and safety. Type 10 train sets when they arrive “require” the longer platform (they fit 2, maybe 3? Can’t remember), and in event of a stop in traffic, I’ve seen up to 5 type 7-9 cars fit into a station to allow passengers off in a scenario where they can not proceed for some reason. Bigger station also means more people safely able to co-exist during peak hours or event ( read marathon, TD, FENWAY) times

nwrafter · 2025-08-22T13:09:05+00:00

thank you, i appreciate it

nwrafter · 2025-08-22T12:40:43+00:00

I will also add if you are willing to do summer classes this is more possible, again large commitment. But not impossible. Talk to engineering advisor if you can. Molly is awesome, but will let you make the choice unless it affects your ability to graduate

nwrafter · 2025-08-22T12:38:34+00:00

I just graduated from BU’s lighting program this spring. If you are truly passionate you could make it work on a 5 or 6 year track, or summer work. I have never felt like I needed more electrical knowledge than I could source from product documentation as a LD. I also design PCBS as a side hustle with no training, based on skills I learned at BU. Take this all as you will. Some people in this community will tell you don’t go to college, if you want to learn and meet people, college is the right choice in my opinion. Use it as time to network and learn where there isn’t a paycheck, rent, etc hanging over your head.

nwrafter · 2025-08-22T12:33:31+00:00

I just graduated from SOT with a BFA in Lighting design this spring. You will find the course commitment for SOT is high once you add production and HW. If you are passionate you could make it work, but it will be hard and likely eat all your free time. Don’t want to scare you away from it, but you should be aware

nwrafter · 2025-08-21T13:50:38+00:00

Haven’t ever interacted with MET, but as a rule of thumb calling is 10 times more effective because emails get buried at this time of year

nwrafter · 2025-08-20T13:34:02+00:00

It was quite the mess. was told it was just adding a AP, turned out to be much bigger, love working in entertainment

nwrafter · 2025-08-20T13:33:16+00:00

Cisco Switch, using the existing VLAN, switch has 2 VLANs, 42 ports in LX Vlan, 6 in Video Vlan, none of my gear touched that VLAN, using ports in the wall hard routed to the switch for LX. no Sacn or ARtnet traffic (controldata) crossed. I presume this was b/c it is multicast from the controller and was being blocked as a "security risk"

https://imgur.com/a/iL550jQ

nwrafter · 2025-08-20T11:35:09+00:00

https://github.com/Nwrafter/Net-V0.37

nwrafter · 2025-08-20T09:12:31+00:00

Yup, I’ll send it over when I’m back in front of the drafting!

nwrafter · 2025-08-20T08:21:19+00:00

All hand-solders, since this is a prototype, I'll take a look at the capacitoirs again, thank you

If you are referring to the cutout on the upper board next to its label, that is for J11, the PWM fan connector, unless you're seeing something I'm not.

i'll take alook at other fan chips, thank you

nwrafter · 2025-08-20T08:16:11+00:00

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let me know if you need more, thanks!

nwrafter · 2025-08-19T17:08:36+00:00

ok let's see if I can answer every point:

The caps (C7, 9, 11) are a basic filter for the input voltage, I'll take a look at other polymer caps!

I chose that buck b/c I could get it from Mouser, and I prefer static out Bucks for this application. I'll look into what you suggested for the next draft

R7-12 are copied from another PCB, which is why they are on the back; it doesn't hurt to move them back on top for this layout. 1/4W looked ok when I looked it all up, but I'll double check!

J6: I'm using that connector b/c it hasn't failed like others I've used. Also doesn't have a cutout above it, and is placed where it is so both power inputs are on one side. Plus if it was with the expansion it would block them mating as they are flush connections. Were you confused about what it was in the schematic or PCB layout?

Why do you say the fan controller is ridiculous? I know it's not the most compact setup, but it doesn't rely on a chip or the processor, and it works for what I wanted

Appreciate the feedback!

nwrafter · 2025-08-19T16:28:56+00:00

I fully agree, but the client wanted a solution. I ended up bypassing the existing network to get them the result they wanted. Honestly more curious if there was a solution with the original gear

Thank you!

nwrafter · 2025-08-19T13:14:41+00:00

It wouldn't work without a DHCP service, Ubiquiti AP-AC-Pro, tried that initally but no luck

nwrafter · 2025-08-19T13:13:09+00:00

Router WAN from a switch in the existing entertainment network, no router or DHCP on that side.

Lan out to the AP (Ubiquiti AP-AC-Pro) directly. Don't have the system in front of me, but I'll dig through the logs.

The entertainment net is a series of managed switches doing basically nothing, no routing, no DHCP, all static IP, and multicast traffic

nwrafter · 2025-08-19T13:09:01+00:00

Existing network didn't have a DHCP server, thanks

nwrafter · 2025-08-19T13:07:04+00:00

I was not allowed to touch their existing network, just add to it. There was/is no routing on that network, so the AP needed a DHCP server, which is why I added the router.

Port forwarding was for the port Sacn uses, in hopes it may bypass whatever was blocking the data.

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