USB fairy light controller teardown
Added 2022-10-10 03:54:55 +0000 UTCFairy lights aren't just for Christmas, they're an all year round thing.
This is a set bought locally, that uses a fairly standard looking USB controller. It won't put much strain on a USB power supply at just 350mA, and has a slightly annoying timer function and no memory!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQJv9EcaKh4
The circuitry is pretty much what you'd expect these days. Complete with the polarity reversal for "effects". I should test my theory of the polarity reversal reducing corrosion effects from water ingress. Maybe I'll stick a short length of these outside, plus a bit off the same set with straight DC so only every second LED lights to see how they look after being outdoors in the rain for a while.
Comments
I never thought anything of it at the time, but when I was a kid in the late 60s we had a real fir tree dotted with seemingly a hundred tiny gold-coloured tin candle holders, each with a real tiny candle in it, lit on the big day. I so want to see it again, despite the fire hazard!
Ymir the Frost Giant
2022-10-11 06:39:47 +0000 UTC"Star-trekking' 'cross the Universe. Always goin' forward, sometimes in reverse...'
Ymir the Frost Giant
2022-10-11 06:34:57 +0000 UTCOn the one hand, you see these videos of Christmas Vacation décor lighting gone wild! Clark may have had a bit too much Adderall. The effects can be kind of cool but then it goes against the whole sitting by the fire sipping something warm vibe.
Dave Frederick
2022-10-11 06:02:58 +0000 UTCNo blinking lights on our Xmas tree either when I was a kid. I don't think our outside decorations blinked, either. Interesting.
Peter Laws
2022-10-11 02:48:05 +0000 UTCMy dad also hated flashing lights, and in a way he's right. Many trees look garish and unpleasant.
Big Clive
2022-10-10 19:46:44 +0000 UTCMy dad (born 1911) used to hate blinking X-Mas lights saying they looked like an Italian Tavern. I never understood that reference but I guess it stuck subliminally with me. I usually like soft glowing lights when viewing that sort of decor. I'm guessing I'd probably enjoy hanging out in an "Italian Tavern" but there's nothing like that in Idaho. I did however get some groovy USB color changing and blinking fairy lights and I really like them. I don't decorate for X-Mas but they remain pinned to my ceiling (with other other static fairy lights) for year round atmosphere now and then.
Dave Frederick
2022-10-10 16:52:24 +0000 UTCI'm not sure what you guys are on... but can I have some?
Sog Sussex
2022-10-10 10:28:20 +0000 UTCGlue them to your car or truck! Attract moths! Hide from the public under a moving pile of moths! They'd never see you coming!
Curtis Hoffmann
2022-10-10 07:54:52 +0000 UTCLikewise could be said of reconfiging the power conduit. Even switching the damn thing off and on again exists in the 24th century 🤣
2022-10-10 07:01:12 +0000 UTCI'll watch this in the morning but I did want to remind the assembled masses that of all the theory and skills taught to cadets at Starfleet Academy, Reversing The Polarity is one of the top items to be learned. This skill has saved dozens if not hundreds of starships from utter destruction and hence has saved uncounted thousands of lives.
Peter Laws
2022-10-10 04:10:41 +0000 UTC
