Thumbnail changed from "dead" to "fried" to respect the passing of Her Majesty the Queen.
It may take a while to go through the system as it was released before the news.
This unit has a very perplexing design. It seems like the designer copied many protective elements from other designs, but then failed to apply the same concept to their own output.
The PTC self-resetting overcurrent thermistor and clamp diode approach is common on better designed DMX devices, as it protects the data inputs from rogue voltages. The same sort of rogue voltage that might occur from a logic level data output that is in the direct vicinity of much higher voltage pads. All it took was someone accidentally bridging two pads with a whisker of wire or solder, to completely destroy the unit instantly. Specifically destroying a custom programmed microcontroller with no easy replacement.
Inputs and outputs that interface with the real world should be protected from rogue external voltages. Even a simple resistor on the output of this unit could have limited fault current to a level where the output circuitry was protected.
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It may take a while to go through the system as it was released before the news.
This unit has a very perplexing design. It seems like the designer copied many protective elements from other designs, but then failed to apply the same concept to their own output.
The PTC self-resetting overcurrent thermistor and clamp diode approach is common on better designed DMX devices, as it protects the data inputs from rogue voltages. The same sort of rogue voltage that might occur from a logic level data output that is in the direct vicinity of much higher voltage pads. All it took was someone accidentally bridging two pads with a whisker of wire or solder, to completely destroy the unit instantly. Specifically destroying a custom programmed microcontroller with no easy replacement.
Inputs and outputs that interface with the real world should be protected from rogue external voltages. Even a simple resistor on the output of this unit could have limited fault current to a level where the output circuitry was protected.
Supporting the channel with a dollar or two on Patreon helps keep it independent of YouTube's quirks, avoids intrusive mid-video adverts, gives early access, bonus footage and regular quiet Patreon live streams.
https://www.patreon.com/bigclive
#ElectronicsCreators
It's possible that shorting the I/O pin didn't kill the microcontroller. I've seen the output drivers on micros simply blow out leaving the rest of the chip intact, though obviously a bit less useful.
I find the LTech LED controllers are good, reliable, cheap units for live performance, Clive. Such as the LT-932-OLED or LT-905-OLED.
I'm still surprised Ifixit hasn't tried to plant their screwdrivers on your desk. LOL
Pls consider changing the backdrop to 18% gray scale paper 🙂
I would of liked some static protection on the output as well. Especially if it's used in costumes.
Queen would approve
An ATMEGA, huh? I wonder if it's Arduino-based.
Stuff happens
Nice
The Elation FLEX Pixel Driver1 is exactly the same unit and they are a mass produced decoder and as you've said a licence badged product. No schematics anywhere. Cross referenced with alibaba aliexpress Terralac & a few Chinese lighting controller companies I deal with directly
i liked the dmx protection part, there is ptc, then resistor, then there's ambulance which is quite loud, and then it's zener
What value zener would be best for the protection of the DATA line? For example If it's a 5V logic line should it be a 5V zener ,maybe a little more or less?
Speaking of mistakes, I have a Gosund WP9 "smart" power strip that I finally tracked down as the cause of a bunch of hardware failures (for example, a monitor I had to RMA). I took it out of use a year or two ago.
Just yesterday, I went looking up a template to use Tasmota on it… and I finally found out for why it kept frying things: two of the three outlets on it have live and neutral swapped!
Do you have any interest in tearing the thing down? It's a US 120V device, and I'm in the US, so I don't know how expensive it would be to ship.
I'm surprised there's not at least a resistor in series with the data line.
Is "other's mistakes" (instead of "others' mistakes") in the video title… a deliberate mistake? 🙂
The entire design does not match up.
A decently nice case-design and connection-layout, securely screwed in circuit-board, sloppy soldering on the backside, decent protection on the DMX, no protection to the LED, dense layout but single-sided with through hole.