The Pixie4 controller board is a 12 Volt controller system compatible with 12V RGB smart pixel strands and devices. Dumb RGB devices or standard LED / Incandescent lights cannot be plugged into the ports of this controller. The Pixie4 controller CAN be used in a display containing AC controllers (like theCTB16PC) or Dumb RGB controllers (like theCMB24D); controllers should be connected together in a daisy chain with Cat5 line. A USB485-HS adapter is required for use with a computer, unless using a Pixielink.
The power supply and enclosure are NOT included with this controller board and must be purchased separately. Customer assembly is required.
Pixels are NOT included with this controller board. Smart pixel strands must be purchased separately or as a part of a Pixel Package. Dangles are required in order to connect to Light-O-Rama smart pixel strings.
Note: Software is not included. We recommend that you purchase the Generic Starter Package to receive the software at a discount if you don't already have a license. The PRO Version of the Light-O-Rama Software Suite is required to use smart pixel "Motion Effects."
Our three different easy-to-use smart pixel "Pixie" controllers have either 4, 8 or 16 ports for smart pixels strands or props. A "smart pixel" strand of lights means that every individual bulb on the strand can be controlled - choose the color and the brightness level for every bulb (either individually or by using pre-set effects/patterns). On average, each port of a Pixie can control up to 100 smart RGB pixels over a standard LOR network.
LOR USB adapter-to-controller connection operating at up to 1000kbps eliminates the need for a LAN.
This controller is fully assembled and ready for use with smart pixels or props (not included). RGB Pixel Packages are available for purchase which include a controller, power supply, weatherproof plastic case and multiple ribbon, bulb or pixel strings.
Pixie4D:4 SPI port smart pixel controller
Pixie8D:8 SPI port smart pixel controller
Pixie16D:16 SPI port smart pixel controller
This controller is supplied with screw terminal plugs for each pixel port. The pixel ribbons/strings are connected to these plugs which are then pushed into the port connectors on the board. This arrangement simplifies prop storage, assembly and damaged component replacement.
Pixel controller pixel ribbon/string connector
Unit ID Configuration
In the hardware configuration settings, you'll assign each Pixie controller a "Base Unit ID," then our software will automatically number all of the other ports for you behind the scenes. While a standard AC controller (like our CTB16PC) takes up one Unit ID for the whole controller, each PORT on a Pixie controller gets its own Unit ID because each strand of smart pixels is made up of dozens of channels on its own.
For example, you could set the Base Unit ID of a Pixie8 to be Unit ID 11, and our software would automatically number the ports on the Pixie8 as follows:Unit IDs 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.
We use hexadecimal numbering here at Light-O-Rama, which means there are six extra Unit IDs in every set of 10 standard numbers. This means that assigning a Pixie16 a Base Unit ID of 01 would mean the ports would be assigned to the next 15 sequentialUnit IDs:01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09,0A, 0B, 0C, 0D, 0E, 0F,10.This makes it easy to keep track of numbering for smart pixel controllers with 16 ports (our most popular Pixie controller). If your display only contains Pixie16 controllers, you could give them base Unit IDs of 01, 11, 21, 31, 41 etc. without worrying about overlapping or conflicting assignments.
Pixie Product Specs
Each Pixie controllers supports all Light-O-Rama pixel ICs including WS2811 400KHz, WS2811 800KHz, WS2812, WS2801, LDP6803 and SM16716. The controllers also each include a test button that runs red, green or blue down the pixels strings for simple verification of your connections and pixel strings.
Pixie 4
Pixie8
Pixie16
4 SPI Ports (each with replaceable ATM 4 amp fuse)
8 SPI Ports (each with replaceable ATM 4 amp fuse)
16 SPI Ports (each with replaceable ATM 4 amp fuse)
Each port can handle up to 170 smart pixels*
Each port can handle up to 170 smart pixels*
Each port can handle up to 170 smart pixels*
Three inputs for interactive shows
Three inputs for interactive shows
Three inputs for interactive shows
Uses 4 consecutive LOR Unit IDs
Uses 8 consecutive LOR Unit IDs
Uses 16 consecutive LOR Unit IDs
Current: 15 amps maximum
(15 amps for ports 1-4 )
Current: 30amps maximum
(15 amps for ports 1-4 and 15 amps for ports 5-8 )
Current: 30amps maximum
(15 amps for ports 1-8 and 15 amps for ports 9-16 )
*Each Pixie4/8/16 controller port is fused at 4 amps and can each typically power up to 100 pixels at 100% brightness. Using more pixels on a port at 100% brightness requires power injection for which Light-O-Rama does not provide instruction. Reducing the pixel dimming curve to 30% and/or using less complex pixel effects (non-gradients) may allow you to use more than 100 pixel per port (maximum of 170).
We strongly suggest running your LOR data network at 500K Enhanced or faster when using Pixie4/8/16 controllers (required when using LOR Pixel Motion Effects). We recommend a maximum of 2400 smart pixels per network at 500K Enhanced or a maximum of 4800 smart pixels per network at 1000K Enhanced. Altering pixel dimming curves, using (or not-using) complex Motion Effects, and the length of your pixel extensions (distance from controller to first pixel) may affect these recommendations (higher or lower) for your personal situation.
Light-O-Rama regular network support is primarily for compatibility with old Cosmic Color Ribbon and Cosmic Color Bulb sequences. Compatibility (resolution/macros/color effects) mode is only supported for 50 pixel/port configurations when running on a Light-O-Rama regular network. You can run a Light-O-Rama regular network with any number of pixels/port up to 170, but the complexity of Light-O-Rama regular network commands may cause a lack of smoothness with more than 50 pixels/port. Sequences already written for original generation Cosmic Color Ribbon and Cosmic Color Bulb controllers can be used with this controller by changing the Unit IDs to align with the Pixie 4/8/16.
How does it all fit together?
1. The Light-O-Rama ShowTime Sequencing Suite works on your personal computer running Microsoft Windows and allows you to design your own shows. The ShowTime Sequencing Suite then runs your shows and sends the right commands at the right time to the various control channels. The ShowTime Sequencing Suite can even keep music and video synchronized to the controller commands.
2.Speakers to play the music accompanying your show are attached to the computer sound card.
3. Your personal computer communicates to the Light-O-Rama controllers using a device plugged into the computer’s serial or USB communications port. The blue line shows the standard serial output of the computer (RS-232 or USB) connected to our adapter that transforms the signal to the native Light-O-Rama network protocol (the green line) that then connects to our various types of controllers over standard computer network wire. For smart pixels (the orange line) it’s best to use a USB485-HS converter to handle the high data demands of smart pixels (either in a RED case, or a BLACK case with a "High Speed" sticker). We recommend Cat 5 LAN cables available from us and off-the-shelf from your local big box store in the computer section.
4. Various Light-O-Rama controller boards (such as a CTB32L 16 channel high voltage light controller) can be connected in any order on a Light-O-Rama network.
5.Various Light-O-Rama controller boards (such as a CTB16PC 16 channel high voltage light controller) can be connected in any order on a Light-O-Rama network.
6. Various Light-O-Rama controller boards including a low voltage CMB16D can be connected to the Light-O-Rama network.
7.Various smart pixel controllers like this Pixie4 can be connected to the Light-O-Rama data network. We suggest a high speed enhanced network for smart pixels.
8.Various smart pixel controllers like this Pixie8 can be connected to the Light-O-Rama data network. We suggest a high speed enhanced network for smart pixels.
9.Various smart pixel controllers like this Pixie16 connected to a pixel tree kit can be connected to the Light-O-Rama data network. We suggest a high speed enhanced network for smart pixels.
View the manual for the Pixie4 controller by clicking here.
