Chromoflex RGB LED controller supported in 0810

[hari]

Hi Girls and Guys,

the Chromoflex units support serial control with rs232. The protocol is documented (USP3). One can atttach multiple units to a single interface (but only broadcasts supported for now). The new Chromoflex_USP3 device template in 0810 supports the protocol, and I've added a new "Light Device (RGB)" with a Set_Level_RGB command. On/Off/set level are mapped to rgb values. It is created as default child when adding the unit from the web admin. PnP won't be supported, as the unit does not send characters back, so no way to auto-detect it.

Video clip showing control of a RGB stripe from an IPAQ orbiter: http://vt100.at/lmce/videos/08072009007.mp4

Feedback appreciated,

best regards,
Hari

[hari]

nobody else with a chromoflex?

[wierdbeard65]

This looks really neat, but until I have my system up and doing the media, I can't start on HA.

I haven't seen these devices anywhere, but I want them for my home! It isn't clear from the video how much light they pump out. Where are they intended to be used?

[hari]

iirc the chromoflex model I have here supports 2.5A on each channel at 12V. There are also boosters. I use 7W here (100cm of this one: http://www.pur-led.de/product_info.php?info=p679_50cm-flexible-RGB-LED-bar---Stripe-colour-control-12V--standard-.html ). That is 200 lumen, pretty bright at night for an accent light. I've mounted the stripe at the back of my TV rack, pointing at the wall. SO first was like "you did pay 140EUR for that ugly white bar?" (overall bill for everything incld. mounting clips and power supply). But she was quite impressed when she saw the result in the evening. Bar is completely hidden now, just the nice colors on the wall :-)

Now I need some bars for the foyer, literally "RED ALERT" on intrusion :-p
br, Hari

[wierdbeard65]

Now I need some bars for the foyer, literally "RED ALERT" on intrusion :-p

That would go well with the Star Trek UI skin

Ahhhh well, looks like the more I find out about the more I want...

[hari]

yup, quite addicting ;-)

[johanr]

That is really cool. Good Work!
I have been looking at it but due to the cost it has not been invested in.
I visited a shop where they had analog control of the lights which was cool but even cooler when the salesperson used it to adjust the color of the bar behind the TV... I then realised the power of analog control..

I guess it is an limitation of the Ui to use "digital" buttons and not a analog equalizer thingy?

-johan

[hari]

we don't have a slider designobj at the moment. The lighting floorplan uses buttons for the different % levels in a row. Was talking to tschak about new elements, but that requires some work.

br, Hari

[darrenmason]

Hari,

Looks great. I would like to use some LED lighting for outdoors - mainly effect lighting. I have seen some great pictures of pools with RGB strips mounted under the coping which would be great.
The Chromoflex controllers seem to be focussed in Europe. Is the protocol they are using a standard in any way?

Well done

Darren

[hari]

not really, but it is straightforward: preamble, unit address, command byte, length, values, checksum.

It should be fairly easy to support other controllers, there are variants with e.g. DMX and DALI interfaces. I've heard a company is working on an ethernet unit. It took me just a bit over an hour to do the device, and that includes sqlCVS and svn commits. DCEGen really rocks.

br, Hari

[bulek]

we don't have a slider designobj at the moment. The lighting floorplan uses buttons for the different % levels in a row. Was talking to tschak about new elements, but that requires some work.

br, Hari

MAybe you can achieve soft transitioning in GSD alone. In my case I do it on lower (automation) level. So I just press desired level on floorplan, and then light slowly goes to new level in more continuous way... IMHO in such case, I don't need any more levels...

Regards,

Bulek.

[hari]

yeah but we'd need levels for red, green and blue. The regular set level adjusts all of them. For now I just have scenario buttons for my favorite R/G/B levels. But it would be cool to be able to adjust each of them on the floorplan, too.

best regards,
Hari

[Alaith]

we don't have a slider designobj at the moment. The lighting floorplan uses buttons for the different % levels in a row. Was talking to tschak about new elements, but that requires some work.

br, Hari

yeah but we'd need levels for red, green and blue. The regular set level adjusts all of them. For now I just have scenario buttons for my favorite R/G/B levels. But it would be cool to be able to adjust each of them on the floorplan, too.

best regards,
Hari

This may be silly as I'm not familiar with how powerful the floorplan is, but why don't you just use some sort of entry box so that you can type the level of each RGB value?

[hari]

that would require a keyboard. Not all orbiter devices have one..

br, Hari

[valent]

Hari is new wireless Chromoflex III also supported? Does LinuxMCE sees usb dongle like serial interface so it works same as Chromoflex II?

Also any documentation about how to setup wiring for multiple LED stripes and Chromoflex would be really appreciated and I'll update the wiki with new info.

Cheers,
Valent.