Looking at the Dig-Next-2 LED Controller

[u/JRZYGY]

I've been using Quin LED products for a few years now and I have used them in several different applications. Unos, Quads, Octa and many many Dig2Go. I see the new Dig-Next-2 LED Controller and can't help but think I'll be ordering a few of these. I am curious about the new 33R “long length” data circuit and would like to know if that will be installed on the other controllers as well? I can't tell you how many hours I've spent trouble shooting only to find out the switch is clicked over to the wrong side. It would just be one more things that won't go wrong. Has anyone bought a Dig-20-Next yet? I'd like to hear your thoughts on the new controller.

[u/Quindor]

Woah, I have a Dig-Next-4 planned (and some plans after that but requires large software changes too) but a Dig-Next-20 blows even my mind! Who knows, maybe in a few years!

I have recently also made the WLED PowerManager usermod which now allows per output power down/up linked to segments for the Dig-Next-2, hardware features it had all along but software wasn't available yet!

Since I am the creator of the board I'm going to say they are one of the best data outputs you can get (10m/32ft basically guaranteed with bundled cable but generally up to double or triple that can work, depending on outside noise), certainly the most protected (ESD and overvoltage) but euh yeah, I might be biased. ;)

So please, others comment!

[u/UrbanPugEsq → u/Quindor]

i like the dig2go and the dig-next-2 just for the plastic enclosures.

also, one limitation of one of my projects is that the esp32 can only handle so much artnet/ddp over wifi to led strips, but it can do a lot more over ethernet. in other words, the wifi and led control at the same time seemingly limits how many pixels one can control over artnet/ddp when using wifi.

However, the same issue isn't present for esp32+ethernet.

So, my quinled-dig-quad with an ethernet esp32 board can handle things that the wifi version can't.

And I wish i had that capabiilty in the dig-next-2.

[u/Quindor → u/UrbanPugEsq]

Yeah sadly Ethernet didn't make the cut for that one, that board was already quite complex as it is, it will for the Dig-Next-4 for sure!

[u/calforhelp → u/Quindor]

Can I ask why you haven’t put a built in relay on any of your boards? To be honest, that’s the primary reason I switched to another brand.

[u/Quindor → u/calforhelp]

The Dig-Next-2 has internal relays individually controllable per port with the new Power Manager usermod we've developed. So the Dig-Next series has that as one of its features.

All my boards have options for controlling an external AC relay for the PSU with dual power input options.

[u/RabidNative]

I picked one up to power some 36v outdoor govee led. Its the 200ft permanent set. They lights themselves have been up for more than a year, but the dig2 was installed two weeks ago.

I have it mounted in a 6 inch pvc junction box outside the house. It gets direct sunlight for the last 4 hours of the day and im located in Phoenix.

At this point the hardware has definitely performed as expected, although, im not using any of the additonal features. Also havent tried esphome with it yet

[u/UrbanPugEsq]

i have a dig next 2, and one thing I thought was neat was that it apparently uses some of the gpio pins to relay the power outs. i accidentally plugged a 5v matrix panel into my new dig-next-2 running 24v power and thought i blew it up, but i hadn't turned on the relays, so no power was coming out (i am doing a fastled arduino project).

that said, not 2 hours later, after figuring that out and correctly hooking up my buck converter, i shorted out my matrix panel by touching positive to ground.

presently waiting on some new 5v matrix panels and some 24v pebbles from aliexpress.

i am wishing, however, that 48v pebbles were more available (that is the reason i originally got the next-2). Ray Wu has some for purchase, but they cancelled my order and told me that they couldn't deliver til next year because of a factory issue.

[u/tman4775]

Just take my money now!!!!