K32A-B
$150.00 – $232.00
32 Output String Cape for BeagleBone
These can also be purchased at Wired Watts: https://www.wiredwatts.com/klk32b along with pixels, mounting plates, power supplies, etc…
What is it?
The K32A-B is a cape for the BeagleBone Black designed to drive ws2811 LED pixels. It has 32 local ports (fused with LED indicators) that can each drive 800 pixels (with power injection) at 40FPS. It also has 4 RJ45 differential ports that can output an additional 16 strings. Finally, it has 2 RS485 outputs for DMX, PixelNet, Renard, LOR.
For end-user usability, it provides a Real Time Clock, temperature sensors, voltage sensors, a header for an OLED display, four push buttons for navigating menus on the display.
The K32A-B also has an on-board, high quality DAC chip for providing sound.
It also has two extra headers for additional functionality. One header provides access to the I2C bus and 8 GPIO pins for additional push buttons or other triggers a user may need. The other header provides a mounting point for an optional Si4713 based FM transmitter.
Why did you make it?
Animated Christmas Light displays typically use ws2811 Pixels for things like house outlines, candy canes, tree’s, etc… The K32A-B was designed to drive a large number of pixels for dense props like MegaTree’s and matrices where having a lot of local ports is useful.
NOTE: The optional FM transmitter will NOT come with any sort of antenna attached. The user will need to create a suitable antenna (a simple 75cm wire will work for most cases) and solder it to the transmitter.
The FM transmitter requires the Si4713/VAST-FM FPP Plugin to be installed in order to configure and enable the the FM transmission.
What makes it special?
The 32 local ports provides more outputs than most controllers providing the ability to run a lot of pixels for dense props.
The 4 RJ45 ports provide additional output capabilities to allow for future expansions. All 4 of the ports can be configured to drive a ws2811 pixel differential receiver board (available from pixelcontroller.com ). Both the “Smart Receivers” and the normal receivers are supported.
The BeagleBone can be powered by the same power supply powering the pixels. The Beagle can be powered through the K32 with 5V-18V power. Alternatively, the BeagleBone can be powered by its own barrel connector if an on-board jumper is removed.
Technical details: Both the DMX and ws2811 protocols are extremely timing dependent and are generally not drivable via a general purpose Linux CPU. The FPP software uses the two semi real-time PRU’s available on the PocketBeagle to handle the protocol specific timings. One PRU is used for the ws2811 protocol strings and the other PRU is used for the DMX timings. Using the PRU’s also allows the main CPU to be free for other things such as network IO.
You WILL need:
- ws2811 pixels
- A good quality SD card with the latest FPP image installed on it. The latest FPP image can always be found at https://github.com/FalconChristmas/fpp/releases
- A BeagleBone Black, BeagleBone Black Wireless, BeagleBone Green, or SanCloud BeagleBone enhanced.
Note: a BeagleBone Green Wireless will NOT work.
| Weight | 12 oz |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 7 × 7 × 1.5 in |
5 reviews for K32A-B
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Scott Heisler –
Awesome controller, works amazing, very easy to get setup, Xlights pushes out all of the configurations.
Mike Russell (verified owner) –
Bought this to run my 4500 pixel matrix screen – does it without breaking a sweat. Look forward to continuing to expand on the controller. Very straightforward setup with the attached beaglebone and a SD card running the latest FPP.
Andrew Duran (verified owner) –
this board ran my whole show for the last 2 years. I knew absolutely nothing about light shows when I took the plunge I am super glad I picked this board cause it was simple as I was already pulling my hair out.
Robert Pressel –
Has ran my show of 75K pixels last 2 years flawlessly! Power it on at end of October and needs nothing until I power it down in early January. Continuous uptime of 2.5 months both years!
pixley1974 (verified owner) –
Alright, gather ’round, fellow holiday warriors! If you’ve ever fantasized about turning your humble abode into a beacon of festive cheer visible from the stratosphere, then buckle up. Enter the K32A-B, a cape so mighty for your BeagleBone Black, it’s basically the Excalibur of Christmas light controllers.
Why did I choose this pixel-pushing powerhouse? Simple. My holiday display just needed more drama, and the K32A-B came strutting into my life boasting 32 local ports. That’s right, each one capable of managing 800 pixels. This isn’t just a controller; it’s a digital maestro, orchestrating a symphony of lights with the precision of a Swiss watch—that is if Swiss watches also controlled millions of colors.
What makes the K32A-B so special? Well, I’m glad you asked. 32 ports pumping out pixelated glory, plus 4 RJ45 differential ports for when you decide to expand your display to the next level (because why not?). And let’s not forget the RS485 outputs for DMX, turning your home into a nightclub, but with more eggnog and fewer regrets.
Powering this beast? A piece of cake. The BeagleBone can sip juice from the same power supply as the lights, or it can go solo with its own barrel connector—because sometimes even controllers need their space.
So, if you’re ready to make your neighbors question their own holiday setup while you revel in the glow of a million LEDs, the K32A-B isn’t just your choice—it’s your destiny. Here’s to lighting up the night sky and maybe causing a few UFO sightings. Happy lighting, and may your holidays be as bright as your pixel display!