Beacon4

From Hackstrich
Revision as of 15:08, 19 June 2012 by SarahEmm (talk | contribs) (Finally decided on inter-strip connectors.)

Beacon4 will be the fourth incarnation of the flagpole beacon (after Beacon2 and Beacon3), for Burning Man 2012. This year the plan is to take a different approach, and light the entire scaffold tower rather than just a beacon on top of the flagpole.

Project Status

  • 2012-06-17: Hardware bring-up and firmware writing continuing. Lightjams is almost certainly going to be the software of choice. Lighting design is coming along.
  • 2012-06-07: Work on StrichLux continues. Evaluated lots of software, Lightjams is looking the best at this point, though would require Windows.
  • 2012-05-27: Completed rev. 1 StrichLux system design of all modules required for this project and sent all boards off for manufacturing.
  • 2012-04-30: Started planning the power architecture for the project.
  • 2012-04-29: Work continuing on IO-DMX module.
  • 2012-04-24: Permission received!
  • 2012-04-23: Requested permission from NeonBunny to attach LEDs to the tower.
  • 2012-04-22: Started putting together idea.

Outstanding Issues

  • Software evaluation:
    • QLC
      • Max of only 4 universes, which rules it out
    • MagicQ
      • Very complex and more geared toward theatre setups than VJ setups
      • Supports up to 16 universes over Art-Net
      • x86-only
      • Advanced features like sound-reactiveness or remote control require a very expensive license dongle
    • Lightjams
      • x86/Windows-only
      • Supports up to 16 universes over Art-Net
      • Sound reactiveness, remote control, Wiimote control, and everything else is included for a low price

Ideas/Plans

  • Main idea is to cover most of the scaffold tower in addressable LED strips, driven by multiple StrichLux modules
  • Art-Net will be used between the controller and the StrichLux box
    • Backup plan is to have a USB hub and one OpenDMX USB interface per universe, driving the StrichLux boxes via IO-DMX input modules
    • IO-DMX input module could be brought along either way and swapped to manually control the "display"
  • Fit-PC 2i is being looked at to control the whole thing
    • As nice as ARM would be power-wise, x86 will be much more flexible software-wise
    • Need to make sure it will be powerful enough before we order
  • Need to find a fanless very low power 4 or 5 port Ethernet switch
    • Allied Telesis AT-FS705LE V5 might work, it's rugged, low power (1.5-2.5W), and cheap
      • But it takes 7.5V which would be another regulator and is a potential point of failure that would bring the entire system down
    • Alternative option is the GarrettCom S14H-Hi, it takes 8-15V in via screw terminals and is ruggedized, but $140 and draws 4W
    • Best option may be the Sixnet SL-5ES-1, it's $100, rugged, takes 10-30VDC via screw terminals, and only draws 2W

System Components

  • Fit-PC 2i (controller)
  • 4-port fanless Ethernet switch
  • 3 StrichLux boxes (driver, each with:
  • Many LED strips (need to work out dimensions)
  • Power setup (need to work out power details)
  • Debugging terminal (XO-1?)

Power Details

  • Power requirements (peak)
    • Fit-PC 2i - ???
    • Ethernet Switch - ???
    • StrichLux box(es) - ???
    • LEDs - 10W/m (~1.8A/m at 5V measured, so 10W/m after losses is reasonable)

Power Architecture

http://www.asciiflow.com/#4007824742034929919/13747898[YOB-2]
                                                                              +--------------+
                                                                         +--->| LED Strip  0 |
                                                                         |    +--------------+
                                                                         |
                                                                         |    +--------------+
                                                       +---------------+ | +->| LED Strip  1 |
                                +--------------+       |               +-+ |  +--------------+
                                |              |       |   StrichLux   +---+
                                |     Dome     |    +->| Controller A  +---+  +--------------+
                                |   Lighting   |    |  |               +-+ +->| LED Strip  2 |
                                |              |    |  +---------------+ |    +--------------+
                                +--------------+    |                    |
                                        ^           |                    |    +--------------+
                                        |           |                    +--->| LED Strip  3 |
                             +----------+---------+ |                         +--------------+
                             |                    | |
                             |                    | |                         +--------------+
                             |                    +-+                    +--->| LED Strip  4 |
                             |                    |                      |    +--------------+
                             |                    |                      |
                             |                    |                      |    +--------------+
                             |                    |    +---------------+ | +->| LED Strip  5 |
    +---------------+        |                    |    |               +-+ |  +--------------+
    |               |        |    Distribution    |    |   StrichLux   +---+
    |    Battery    +=======>|                    +--->| Controller B  +---+  +--------------+
    |               |        |        Box         |    |               +-+ +->| LED Strip  6 |
    +---------------+        |                    |    +---------------+ |    +--------------+
                             |                    |                      |
                             |                    |                      |    +--------------+
                             |                    |                      +--->| LED Strip  7 |
                             |                    |                           +--------------+
                             |                    +-+
                             |                    | |                         +--------------+
                             +--+-------+---------+ |                    +--->| LED Strip  8 |
                                |       |           |                    |    +--------------+
                      +---------+       |           |                    |
                      v                 v           |                    |    +--------------+
              +--------------+   +--------------+   |  +---------------+ | +->| LED Strip  9 |
              |              |   |              |   |  |               +-+ |  +--------------+
              | Convienience |   |    System    |   |  |   StrichLux   +---+
              |   Outlets    |   |  Controller  |   +->| Controller C  +---+  +--------------+
              |              |   |              |      |               |   +->| LED Strip 10 |
              +--------------+   +--------------+      +---------------+      +--------------+

Lighting Layout

Random Notes

  • Decided on 60m length total (3 StrichLux boxes)
    • That's 1920 RGB LEDs and ~600W peak!
    • Will need to come up with a lighting layout/design that will fit within this

Dimensions

Main Module (4 of these vertically, 2 of which will be lit)
-----------------------------------------------------------

+-----D-----+------E------+       |\                                   /|
|           |             |       |    \                           /    |
|-----D-----|             |       |        F                   /        |
|           H             |       |            \           /            |
|-----D-----|             |       |                \   /                |
|           |             |       |                /   \                |
|-----D-----+------E------|       |            /           \            |
|                         |       |        F                   \        |
A                         A       A    /                           \    A
|-----------B-------------+       |/                                   \|


Top Module
----------

|                         |       |                                     |
|                         |       |                                     |
|                         |       |                                     |
|                         |       |                                     |
|-------B-----------------|       |------------------C------------------|
|            |            |       |  /                               \  |
|            G            |       |------------------C------------------|
|            |            |       |                                     |
A============B============A       A                                     A
|                         |       |                                     |
  • A - Module Height (5ft 1in)
  • B - Module Width (5ft)
  • C - Module Depth (7ft)
  • D - Ladder Width (2.5ft)
  • E - Beside-Ladder Width (B - D) (2.5ft)
  • F - Cross-brace Length (7.37ft)
  • G - Top Rail Support Height
  • H - Ladder Section Height (3.5ft)
  • n - Number of Modules (3)
  • x - Number of Main Modules (2)

Idealized Layout

  • Vertical Mains: A * 4 * n = 5.083 * 4 * 3 = 61ft (done piecing)
  • Beside-Ladder Boxes: (E * 2 + H) * 2 * x = 34ft (done piecing)
  • Cross-braces: F * 2 * 2 * x = 7 * 2 * 2 * 2 = 59ft (done piecing)
  • Top Rail: B * 2 + C * 2 = 24ft (done piecing)
  • Top-Middle Rail: C * 2 = 14ft (done piecing)
  • Toe Board: B * 4 = 10ft (done piecing)
  • Total: 202ft / 61.5m

Actual Layout

  • Vertical Mains: 4.5m each * 4
  • Cross brace tubes: 1.125m each * 8
  • Toe board: 1.5m each * 2
  • Top middle rail: 2.1m each * 2
  • Top rail long side: 2.1m each * 2
  • Top rail short side: 1.5m each * 2
  • Ladder box vertical: 1m each * 4
  • Ladder box horizontal: 0.75m * 8
  • Total: 60.00m

Piece List

  • Vertical Main: 450cm (Reel C)
  • Vertical Main: 450cm (Reel D)
  • Vertical Main: 450cm (Reel E)
  • Vertical Main: 450cm (Reel F)
  • Cross brace tube: 220cm (Reel G)
  • Cross brace tube: 220cm (Reel G)
  • Cross brace tube: 220cm (Reel H)
  • Cross brace tube: 220cm (Reel H)
  • Cross brace tube: 220cm (Reel I)
  • Cross brace tube: 220cm (Reel I)
  • Cross brace tube: 220cm (Reel J)
  • Cross brace tube: 220cm (Reel J)
  • Toe board: 150cm (Reel A)
  • Toe board: 150cm (Reel A)
  • Top middle rail: 210cm (Reel K)
  • Top middle rail: 210cm (Reel K)
  • Top long rail: 210cm (Reel L)
  • Top long rail: 210cm (Reel L)
  • Top short rail: 150cm (Reel B)
  • Top short rail: 150cm (Reel B)
  • Ladder box vertical: 100cm (Reel A)
  • Ladder box vertical: 100cm (Reel A)
  • Ladder box vertical: 100cm (Reel B)
  • Ladder box vertical: 100cm (Reel B)
  • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm (Reels C, D)
  • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm (Reels E, D)
  • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm (Reel K)
  • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm (Reel L)
  • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm (Reels G, H)
  • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm (Reels I, H)
  • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm (Reels J, H)
  • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm (Reels F, H, K, L)

Reel Assignment

  • Reel A (100% used)
    • Toe Board: 150cm
    • Toe Board: 150cm
    • Ladder box vertical: 100cm
    • Ladder box vertical: 100cm
  • Reel B (100% used)
    • Top short rail: 150cm
    • Top short rail: 150cm
    • Ladder box vertical: 100cm
    • Ladder box vertical: 100cm
  • Reel C (100% used)
    • Vertical Main: 450cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 50cm (chunk 1)
  • Reel D (100% used)
    • Vertical Main: 450cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 25cm (chunk 2)
    • Ladder box horizontal: 25cm (chunk 2)
  • Reel E (100% used)
    • Vertical Main: 450cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 50cm (chunk 1)
  • Reel F (100% used)
    • Vertical Main: 450cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 50cm (chunk 1)
  • Reel G (100% used)
    • Cross brace tube: 220cm
    • Cross brace tube: 220cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 60cm (chunk 1)
  • Reel H (100% used)
    • Cross brace tube: 220cm
    • Cross brace tube: 220cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 15cm (chunk 2)
    • Ladder box horizontal: 15cm (chunk 2)
    • Ladder box horizontal: 15cm (chunk 2)
    • Ladder box horizontal: 15cm (chunk 2)
  • Reel I (100% used)
    • Cross brace tube: 220cm
    • Cross brace tube: 220cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 60cm (chunk 1)
  • Reel J (100% used)
    • Cross brace tube: 220cm
    • Cross brace tube: 220cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 60cm (chunk 1)
  • Reel K (100% used)
    • Top middle rail: 210cm
    • Top middle rail: 210cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 5cm (chunk 3)
  • Reel L (100% used)
    • Top long rail: 210cm
    • Top long rail: 210cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 5cm (chunk 4)

StrichLux Enclosures

  • Each StrichLux controller with its 4 output modules, 1 input module, and 1 power module will need an enclosure of some kind.
    • Pelican case? Could do one larger one with all 3 controllers in it, or 3 smaller ones
    • Assuming each StrichLux box has its own enclosure, would need a bunch of connections made through it:
      • Power - 2x12V @ 20A each - 4 20A power pins
      • Ethernet input - RJ45 - 1 RJ45
        • Connec has plastic bayonet-style IP67 industrial Ethernet connectors which are somewhat reasonably priced, so far this looks like the best option even though it is a lot more expensive than regular non-weatherproof Ethernet
      • Strip outputs - SPI+5V - 2 signal pins, 2 10A power pins each x 4
        • JAE SRCN2A16-7S / SRCN6A16-7P would be good and extremely rugged, but the cost may be too high
  • Molex MX150L will be used for inter-strip connections
    • Reasonably priced
    • Tooling is reasonably priced
    • Matte sealed
  • Want to be able to power the whole setup from AC power for configuration/testing/programming
    • ATX power supplies provide plenty of +12V which could feed the PWR-DC5 modules
      • A modular supply like the OCX ZT-series would be cleanest, could modify the cables with Sabre connectors on the ends
      • Need 100W per channel, 200W per board, 600W total @ 12V
      • 100W per channel @ 12V means 8.33A
      • PCI-E and 8-pin CPU power connectors on ATX PSUs provide 6 amps per pin
        • PCI-E connectors have 3 pin pairs each
        • 8-pin CPU power connectors have 4 pin pairs each
      • Need four pins per board
        • Two boards get 8-pin CPU power -> Sabre connectors
        • The last board gets a 2xPCI-E power -> Sabre connector
      • OCZ ZT-series 750W power supply has all the required connectors

Cost

Item Status Cost
IO-DMX + IO-BO Rev. 1 PCBs Obtained $40.69
IO-DMX + IO-BO Parts Obtained $18.31
IO-SPI Rev. 1 PCBs Obtained $49.65
CORE + IO-ETH + PWR-DC5 PCBs Obtained $454.66
CORE + IO-SPI + IO-ETH + PWR-DC5 Parts Obtained $184.40
Test LED Strip Obtained $25.00
OCZ ZT 750W Test PSU Obtained $107.34
60m LPD8806 LED Strip Future $1320.00
Fit-PC 2i Future ~$350.00
Lightjams License Future $149.00
Ethernet Switch Future ~$100.00
2 sets of StrichLux IO-CORE + IO-ETH + PWR-DC5 Parts Future ~$350.00
Enclosures Future ???
Enclosure Connectors Future ???
Inter-Strip Connectors Future ???
Total Obtained $880.05
Total Future ~$2269.00
Grand Total ~$3149.05