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Get a Grip on That Strip

Rolf Taylor shares an affordable controller for RGB LED lighting

I’ve received a number of comments about LED strip lighting applications for both studios and transmitter sites. As you implement these to spiff up your rooms, send me pictures! Remember, if you are SBE certified, being published in a national trade like Radio World counts toward your recertification.

Rocket Engineering and Consulting Principal Rolf Taylor found a small controller for use with RGB LED strips. This is for basic non-addressable strips, not the more exotic addressable type. They’re shown in the first two photos.

You can find them by searching “D-mini 3Key RGB LED Controller” on eBay, Amazon or the direct from China site of your choice. 

An inexpensive LED controller, as shown on Amazon.

As is often the case with such mass-produced products, there are many variants to choose from and no obvious part numbering scheme. However, the low price means you haven’t lost a lot of money, if you purchase the wrong type. 

The controller Rolf selected accepts up to 24 VDC (the correct supply voltage used is determined by the LED strip you are using). It has a four-pin socket for the output and bare leads for the input. There are variations with USB or coaxial input connectors, and a variety of output styles. The cost for these was $5.74 for 10.

Using the push buttons on the controller assembly, as seen in the closeup, you can choose a fixed color, or you can select a fading sequence that moves through a sequence of colors, at an adjustable speed. Rolf used the cable that comes with a header so it can connect to male or female four-pin sockets. This assembly also has a clever solderless clamp that accepts the pads on the LED circuit board directly. The cables cost 70 cents each. Rolf adds that for a few dollars more, you can buy controllers with RF- or IR-remote functionality.

Closeup of the controller and the connector.

Remember that these assemblies are for use with basic RGB strings where all LEDs would be the same color at a given time. And note that there are very similar controllers for addressable LED strings. These will probably have SP002E, WS2812 or WS2811 or the word “Pixels” or “Addressable” as part of the description. 

If you are interested in “chaser” type sequences you can get those controllers too, but you will need the right LED strips in order for the strip to perform properly; WS2812 or WS2812B seem to be the most common.

Rolf has been doing a bit of a deep dive into LED strips recently. He has made large LED audio meters and says his Christmas tree this year will be a huge stereo meter consisting of 90 LEDs per channel!

Check that concrete anchor

In his “Monday Morning Coffee and Technical Notes” newsletter, Larry Wilkins of the Alabama Broadcasters Association reminds engineers to visit each guy anchor foundation. (You are doing quarterly tower inspections, right?)

One thing to look for is that safety cables have been installed through each of the guy turnbuckles. These cables keep the turnbuckles from twisting during heavy wind. They also discourage vandalism.

While you are at the anchor point, inspect the concrete anchor for cracks. You may need to clear off grass or dirt growing atop the concrete, but do spend the extra time. A crack in concrete can fill with water; if it freezes, the crack may expand.

If you discover cracks, pour dry concrete into the crack, and use a brush to work it inside. Then apply water slowly until the concrete is soaked. Be careful not to wash concrete out of the crack as you add the water.

These are the kind of maintenance tips you’ll find in Larry’s free e-newsletter. To subscribe, send an email to lwilkins@al-ba.com.

Save your knees

I’ve mentioned that you can use folded sheets of bubble wrap to make a cushioned pad, so you can kneel or sit more comfortably on the floor of a studio or transmitter shack.  

I recently saw an inexpensive alternative, a thick kneeling pad made by Husky and available online or at Home Depot. It costs about $30, but its cushioning does an excellent job. 

Save your knees with this rugged pad from Husky.

Shop around and you’ll find other options for kneeling mats as well as pads to wear on your knees, from brands like Rhino, Gorilla Grip and DeWalt, generally in the $15 to $30 range. But I see that Harbor Freight lists one for around $7. So if you have experience with a specific kneeling pad or mat that you like, drop me a line.

Frank’s adjustable power supply

When he’s not repairing broadcast gear, Newman-Kees consultant Frank Hertel is searching online for great bargains. When he sent me this one, I thought there was a typo when it came to the price. 

How about a 3 to 36 VDC adjustable power supply for under $5! Yes, it’s made off-shore and available from Ali Express. But especially for a contract engineer, an adjustable supply for that price is amazing. Go to www.aliexpress.us and type “3 36v power adapter adjustable” in the search block (as here).

Important resource for AM stations

Let me be blunt: If you aren’t a SBE member, you are missing the boat.

To cite just one example: The society has released its “AM Broadcast Station Self-Inspection Guide,” which is free to members. Compiled in coordination with the NAB, it joins the FM and TV editions that were released this past April (and which Randy Stine wrote about recently).

These guides were developed to replace FCC self-inspection checklists that were published in the 1990s but hadn’t been updated in many years. The new guides provide recommended practices to ensure regulatory compliance. All three can be downloaded by members from the society website

Workbench submissions are encouraged and qualify for SBE recertification credit. Email johnpbisset@gmail.com.

[Read Another Workbench by John Bisset]

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