Beam Labs Pixelator Plus User manual
www.ledlightingproducts.co.uk March 2019
BEAM LABS
Pixelator Plus
Control Pixel LED strips standalone or
from virtually any RGB /RGBW controller
using a unique PWM input.
Also takes DMX, so is an ideal pixel con-
troller for home automation systems.
Product Manual
www.ledlightingproducts.co.uk March 2019
Introduction
Pixel LED tape has evolved enormously in the last few years and is now the default
choice in applications where dynamic lighting effects are required. Pixel tape is ideal
for bars, clubs, homes, sensory rooms and anywhere that would benefit from dy-
namic, flowing and chasing light. Premium versions of pixel LEDs include dedicated
warm white chips that give high quality architectural illumination for normal use.
The pixelator is designed to satisfy the requirements of most small to medium size
installations. It has a number of standalone modes accessed by a simple retractive
switch, or for greater control has a DMX input, ideal for home automation systems
such as Control4, Lutron and Mode.
The pixelator plus also has 4 PWM inputs for connection to any LED controller, mean-
ing that virtually ANY RGB or RGBW controller can now control pixel strips.
It controls WS2812 and SK6812 chips and automatically adjusts the output to suit
RGB or RGBW operation.
Key Features
Operates standalone, by DMX or PWM input
Controls 512 DMX channels, scalable upto 2048 (more with DMX control)
Operates the WS2812 and SK6812 protocols.
Standalone modes indexed through a simple retractive switch.
Automatically detects DMX input and reverts to DMX operation.
DMX Out signal is buffered for glitchless downstream operation
DMX Chips are socketed for ease of replacement
5-12v DC Operation
Complies with the essential requirements of EN 61347-1 General and safety require-
ments for lamp control gear and EN 61347-2-13 Particular requirements for electronic con-
trol gear for LED modules.
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Typical Applications
Simple Standalone Mode using retractive switch
Wired DMX Controller
Standard Wireless RGB/RGBW Controller
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Wiring Up
Please note that the pixelator plus requires at lease one control input to operate. However, the
retractive switch can be used in conjunction with DMX or PWM inputs to offer a simple on/off wall
switch override.
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Setting the Control Channel (DMX Mode Only)
The control channel is set by the DIP switch as follows:
Flipping the switch UP adds the number indicated to the base address. Thus, if the switches marked 1
and 8 were UP, the base address would be 9.
The control channel is selectable between 1 and 31. This limitation is due to timing constraints
If no DIP switch is selected the DMX driver assumes the address 1.
Please note that the WS2812/SK6812 selector must be selected irrespective of control input.
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Setting Speed and Scale (Standalone and PWM Mode Only)
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Standalone Operation
For standalone mode the pixelator requires connection to a two or three position re-
tractive switch. A two position switch connected between COM and SW1 will index
through the different modes and off. A three position switch with an extra connec-
tion to SW2 will allow an extra ‘off’. When the unit is switched back on it will remem-
ber its last mode.
The pixelator will automatically default to standalone mode if DMX/Standalone mode
is set and there is no DMX signal present. Once DMX is connected the pixelator will
assume DMX mode and the retractive switch becomes an on/off override.
The modes are:
Multicolour swirls rainbow colours
Multicolour swirls warm colours
Multicolour swirls warm colours
Rainbow colour change
Aurora with various background colours
Static primary colours
Static secondary colours
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DMX Operation
The pixelator automatically detects when DMX is present. Setting the channels is
according to the following:
DMX Channel 1: Operating mode
DMX Channel 2: Scale
DMX Channel 3: Various
DMX Channel 4: Speed
DMX Channel 5: Length1 (number of LEDs on first run)
DMX Channel 6: Width1 (number of LEDs on second run)
DMX Channel 7: Length2 (number of LEDs on third run)
DMX Channel 8: Length2 (number of LEDs on fourth run)
DMX Channel 9: Red (Certain modes only)
DMX Channel 10: Green (Certain modes only)
DMX Channel 11: Blue (Certain modes only)
DMX Channel 12: White(Certain modes in RGBW only)
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Operating Modes
The full range of DMX modes are covered in application note ANBL007. Below is a
small selection of the modes available.
DMX Channel 1 Mode
10 Rainbow
11 RGB Fill (channels 9-12)
30 Aurora (no background col-
our)
35 Aurora (background colour
based on channels 9-12)
238 Swirl ( colour based on
channels 9-12). Speed
(DMX4) needs to be >230
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PWM Mode (Connects to Standard RGB/RGBW Controller)
This mode allows a standard three or four channel LED controller to control the
many hundreds of channels required by dream pixel LEDs. It decodes the three or
four PWM channels (red, green, blue, white) and applies a decoding algorithm. It
then sends the appropriate data to the pixel LEDs.
PWM Mode Operating Algorithm
If the controller’s brightness is set to over 50% the pixel strips copy the exact colour
that the controller is set to, ie the strips appear to be conventional LED strips.
If the controller is set to 50% or less the pixelator will apply as a minimum the fol-
lowing pixel effects:
Controller Setting Pixel Effect
RED Aurora Warm
ORANGE Rainbow Colour Change
GREEN Flowing Effect Warm
CYAN Flowing Effect Cool
BLUE Magic Rain
PURPLE Aurora Cool
If the controller has fine resolution, such as a colour wheel there are interim effects.
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Contacting Technical Support
For customers outside the UK please dial +44 1543 481532.
The technical helpline is open Monday-Thursday 9:30am—4:30pm and Friday 9:30am—12:00 pm.
Warranty
LED Lighting Products Ltd warrants that the product it manufactures and sells will be free from
defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 1 year from the date of despatch. If the device
proves defective within the respective period, LED Lighting will repair or replace the defective hard-
ware at its sole discretion. If the failure is due to an operator error the user accepts to pay for any
charge relating to the diagnosis of the hardware, faulty parts or shipping from our factory.
LED Lighting Products Ltd makes no warranty of any kind, express or implied, includ-
ing without limitation the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a par-
ticular purpose. In no event shall LED Lighting Products Ltd be liable for indirect, spe-
cial or consequential damages.
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