(26-12-2016, 11:55 AM)sandy123 Wrote: Hi Phil
I've been watching to see if you'd been given any further advice, and also noted your reply to Arlette on your Halloween post.
As you've stated you've no experience in electrics, I'd definitely recommend that you don't cut the LED strings to suit the 'American' boards. The small animated light strings from Synchrolight are in multiples of 6 LEDs (i.e. 18, 24 and 36 LED strings). These appear to be wired in sets of 6 LEDs in series, and each set is then connected in parallel (like a ladder). You can cut 6 LEDs from the string (as long as you cut all 6 from the same series leg). If you cut less than 6 out of the string, then you must make sure that leg conducts the same current as the other legs in the Parallel circuit or you may find that you have different intensity of light on the ones that are left (may also burn them out).
I'd also recommend you buy exterior Plywood and draw your own outlines and drill 6mm holes where you are going to put the light bulbs (you can get a sheet from B&Q for less than £14 that will give you the equivalent of two sheets from the American website). If you do buy the Yank boards, you may also have to pay import tax and VAT.
If you still want to go down that road, don't cover the extra LEDs with tape or similar. The current limiting resistors are small wattage resistors and the heat generated needs to be dissipated into the surrounding air(also LEDs generate heat contrary to popular belief).
I hope this hasn't been too negative, and won't put you off.
Regards
sandy
Sandy, thanks for the above. I am still considering my options amd all help and advice greatly recieved. When I made my singing face for halloween I made all the sections with the same number of bulbs (36 as per the animation pack I have) so I may try and design my own using the same principle, at least then I won't have to worry about cutting strings, which if I get it wrong could be an expensive mistake. Syncrolight do have different length led strings, so once my xmas stuff is packed away I will start making some plans.
Phil
Just a thought but if there was enough interest in singing faces here in the uk (and there seems to be a growing trend) perhaps the boffins at syncrolight could put together a "Singing face pack" with an 8 channel controller and light strings of appropriate lengths for the various bits ( eyes mouth etc), with correct power supply, which the customer could then use on their own backboard design, be it a pumpkin, xmas tree, snowman etc. All the faces seem to be the same basic layout its how you position the bulbs that determines whether its a skull or a tree.
Phil