Does Pi-Cap or F16v3 support RGBW pixels?

[szaske]

I'm looking for a pixel controller that supports RGBW pixels and hoping someone here can clue me in.  I've only seen an old post from 2017 that mentions that Falcon controllers don't support RGBW pixels, but I'm wondering if that's changed. I'm hoping to use a strip like this one.  I'd prefer if the controller could support mixed functionality, but would be okay with it if it only support white when RGB ratios were even.  I've just seen how bad of a white color you get when you mix RGB together and would really like something that supports the ability to just switch to a warm or cold white light. If the PiCap doesn't support RGBW I'd appreciate it if anyone can send me a link to a controller that does. Thanks

[dkulp]

With FPP7, the PiCaps do support RGBW.   That said, I'm not sure the "support" on any of the controllers is what you are looking at.    From the controller standpoint, RGBW support is just configuring and outputting four channels instead of three.  The controllers don't do any of the RGB -> W mapping.  That's something that is generally left to the sequencer.  For example, in xLights, you set the pixel type to RGBW and then there are options for how to handle the RGB->W (or even tree the W channel completely separate).

FPP does have an output processor that can do some limited three -> four mapping, but it's a bit trickier to setup.

[szaske]

Thank you Daniel for the reply.  I don't have experience with FPP. I've seen you around the scene for many years and see that you build your own controller so I'd appreciate your HW suggestions.  Here's my situation.  My wife bought the grill for a 1950's chevy and I've mounted it on the wall.  It looks great, but as a Xmas light enthusiast I think it would look better backlight with some LED pixels.  It current hangs about 2-6 inches off the wall because of it's curved shape. I'd want to backlight the grill with 3 strips of pixels roughly 35 inches, 60 inches and 60 inches. It also contains 2 parking lights which I'd want to install a bullet pixel inside each of them so I could light them up.  Below the grill is a wall mounted cabinet and inside that cabinet is a power outlet.  I've got a bunch of spare CG1500 enclosures so I was thinking I could mount a controller and power supply inside one of those and place it inside this cabinet. I've already placed a pull string behind the sheetrock up to the grill mount.  I don't have ethernet so I'd need to connect to this box via Wifi.  I'd like to control the light schedule using something like Home Assistant via something like MQTT. I don't have experience with FPP, but it looks very powerful. I do have experience with Xlights and I believe the FPP just handled playback for the sequence I'd create it Xlights.  I'd want to store say 5-10 sequences on a FPP controller and just be able to start them via Home Assistant or Node-RED. I'm a huge fan of Home Assistant and would love to be able to configure it so that I can say something like "Alexa, play Wizards of Winter on the Chevy"...and have it stream the music to my Echo (near by) and play a sequence on the grill.  

Anyway I'd love to hear your feedback on this plan and what hardware/software you'd recommend.  I'm hoping that I can wire the full 60+60+35 inches of strips together as one strip...and inject power at both ends.  I guess the 2 random bullet pixels would need to be on their own connector. I'm assuming those are bright enough to take the place of the parking lenses. If someone made a slightly larger bullet like a C6 size I'd go with something like that. Have you seen something like that? BTW here's what the grill looks like (minus the bumper) pic if you're interested.

[k6ccc]

I've just seen how bad of a white color you get when you mix RGB together and would really like something that supports the ability to just switch to a warm or cold white light.

Keep in mind that when sequencing with RGB, you can make pretty much any color white that you want.  Yes with most RGB strips, if you turn on 100% on all three colors, it's pretty bluish, but you can make it any color of white that you want.

[szaske]

I'd prefer using RGBW or RGBWW pixels as I'm pretty picky about how the white looks. A few other questions.

1. Do all RGBW strips all require more than 3 connectors on the strip? I'm considering these strips, and the their not very specific with the pictures.
2. The 3 separate strip lengths I need are 58 inches, 58 inches and 32 inches. That equals 3.75 meters. But I also need to drive 2 separate bullet pixels. So I'm assuming I those 2 pixels would need to be on their own connector on the Pi-Cap...and the other 3.75 meters of strip would be on the other connector.  I'd really prefer the 60 pixels per meter strips, but that means I'd have 225 pixels on one connector.  Is this doable? Doable using 5 volt pixels?
3. My plan is to have the controller and power supply inside a CG1500 enclosure and then that enclosure being insider of a closed cabinet.  I'm a bit worried that it might get pretty hot in there.  Anyone have a suggestion on a power supply that might help me keep things cool.  Should I forgo the CG1500 enclosure or just drill a bunch of holes in it?

[Poporacer]

Do all RGBW strips all require more than 3 connectors on the strip? I'm considering these strips

Those strips only have 3 connectors, I am not sure where you are seeing more than 3 connectors. Those strips do have some additional connections for power injection.

But I also need to drive 2 separate bullet pixels. So I'm assuming I those 2 pixels would need to be on their own connector on the Pi-Cap

That is true unless you use RGBW Bullet Pixels

I'd really prefer the 60 pixels per meter strips, but that means I'd have 225 pixels on one connector.  Is this doable? Doable using 5 volt pixels?

It might be and that is why they have the power injector wires in case you do. A lot will depend on your brightness setting.

[algerdes]

I am surprised that no one has put forward that it is not the number of physical connections.  3 wires, V+, V/D-, D+ are enough.  It is the number of channels that each "pixel" uses.  (Pixel meaning control chip.)

Several years ago, there were demonstrations of RGBW, RGBWA, and other combinations.  All running from 3 wire controllers.  I loved the Amber strings.  (R, G, B, A)