Controlling Christmas Fairy Lights

[Aaron]

Controlling Christmas fairy lights through Loxone was not particularly high on my list of tasks but I thought I'd give it a go anyway!

Using a 24v 100w power supply and a RGBW air I have yet apply to something meaningful, I have connected up some 24v Christmas fairy lights and can nicely control both channels (ie. alternate lights for each channel). They dim really nicely!

My challenge is how to imitate the function of the cheap controllers usually found with these type of lights.

I've set the RBGW to 'standard individual' controllers but left the channels with Perception Correction on / Fade Rate 100% because it looks rather nice. Presumably I'll need to change these if I want a 'flash'?

Second question, I thought of using a radio control to set the 'scene' like a manual controller would, but I'm struggling to achieve any patterns. I've tried using the pulse generator but presumably I need an analogue rather than digital output?

I'm keen to understand how others may (or have) tackled this challenge? Nothing serious, just a little festive fun!

cheers

Aaron

[Duncan]

i tackled mine by creating a sound to light (STL) function that can operate all the rgb lights in the house and garden

ive got a MS4Lox music server based on logitech media server driving a physical logitech duet player locket to 100% volume which in turn is attached via its phono output to a loxone analog input.

the rgb leds have to have their dmx fade rate set to instant (actually not quite true, but similar) to get a quick response time to transients

i actually use the german designed ethernet to dmx bridge, so each rgb light set has 2 sets of virtual outputs - one set with a 1 second fade rate for normal use, and a second set with a much shorter fade rate to move smoothly but quickly in time to the music

all the various rgb lights have their outputs switched from the the lighting block to the STL via analog multiplexers, so they are swapped from their normal function to 'christmas' mode with a single virtual input.

logic in loxone then creates a variable pattern of changing colours and brightnesses in time with the music, created from the peaks detected from the music/analog input

the range of colours that it changes through can be limited within the config interface so you can create a themed output (pink for my girls birthday)

after all that fun bit, the christmas tree lights proper are static white (the only type my wife will allow in the house ;-(  )  we have external 240v sockets controlled by loxone and air sockets internally to switch all the white christmas tree/fairly lights on a timer/external light/manual operation

the Germans are having a go as well:

https://www.loxforum.com/forum/hardware-zubeh%C3%B6r-sensorik/179037-batteriebetriebene-weihnachtsbeleuchtung-schalten

use chrome browser to translate

[Aaron]

Ha! So your Christmas automation aspirations have been limited by something even Loxone cannot control! :-)

Your 'disco' solution sounds interesting and rather fun. Would like to see your configuration if possible please as I should have the ingredients to do something similar (including the daughter who loves pink!).

Back to the Christmas lights, I've made some progress and think I have roughly what I need now. A radio button to control the desired pattern and a combination of pulse generators, steppers and random number generators is creating some nice results.

As always, appreciate your response!

[Duncan]

you asked for it!

[Seb]

An additional question on this. I would like to hook some fairy lights up in my kids bedroom. The problem is that whilst I have 2 cat 7 wires terminating in a wall plate near where I want to place them, I don’t have a 24v feed. So my question is, has anyone powered fairy lights over cat7? If so, which lights?

[Rob_in]

If I were going to build some lights for this purpose, would probably get a Raspberry Pi, powered via POE down your cat7, which drives a strip (or more than one strip) of individual addressable leds.

Loxone isn't up to the job of driving IA leds but could send a signal to the Pi which is, and this could activate various patterns based on direction from Loxone.

Robin

[Andras]

Have a look at the gauge of the wire. CAT7 quite often has AWG 23, which means around 700mA max amps on it per lead, which translates to around 17W max @ 24V. Have a look at the lamp, especially its wattage. If needed, you can combine individual leads (eg: 4 for 24V, 4 for GND) in the cable to increase diameter.

Thinks to look out for:

• make sure the sum diamater of the cables transmitting power is enough for the max amps the device can draw
• make sure your voltage drop is acceptable (few %)