T-1000S Pixel LED Controller Tutorial

T-1000S Pixel LED Controller Tutorial 

T-1000S LED controller is one of the most common LED controllers available today for programming pixel LEDs due to it's low prize and it's features .

Here are the general specifications of T-1000S controller  -

Input voltage      : 5V-24V
Power                 : 1W
Dimensions        : 6.30 in x 2.95 in x 0.91 in (16.0 cm x 7.5 cm x 2.3 cm)
Weight                : 230 g
MAX programs  : 16
MAX LEDs          : 2048
Program method : Off-line(SD Card)

T-1000S Pixel LED Controller Video Tutorial

It can control single line (NZR), double line (I2C), RS485 and DMX LED drive chips .It Supports 32-256 Gray level and software Gamma correction. Single-port output, can support maximum of 2048 LEDs .You can also use several units to extend the number of ports(eg - with two controllers networked you can control up to 4096 LEDs.)

Selecting the Controller in the Software 

In order to program T-1000S controller it requires LED Edit 2012 or later versions . Download LED Edit software from below .

When you are selecting the controller from the list ,please follow this method .

Controller Name in the list = Controller Name + Drive chip Name

Eg- If your controller name is T-1000S and pixel LED Drive chip name is WS2811, You should select T-1000S-WS2811 from the list .

Selecting the Controller in the Software 

Supported Driver chips - 

TM1803,TM1804,TM1809,TM1812,TM1829,TM1913,TM1914,UCS1903,UCS1903B,

UCS1909B,UCS1912,UCS2903,UCS2909,UCS2912,UCS3903,UCS6909,UCS6912,UCS7009,

UCS5903,UCS8903,UCS512,US2811,WS2821,P9813,P9823,LPD1886,GW6202,GW6201,

GW6202B,GW6204,GW6203,GW623X,TA9909,MBI6021,INK1003,LX10003,LX2003,

LX2006,TLS3100,DMX,SM16711,SM16726,SM16716,LPD6803,LPD8806,LPD1882,LPD6812,

TM1903,TM1904,TM1909,TM1912,,DMXMonochrome,WS2801,WS2803,D7710,QC1109,

TLS3001,TLS3008,APA102,MY9221,BS0815,BS0825,BS0901,HL32,HL1809,HL2803,

RGB,Monochrome,XB001,XB002

Pin out of the T1000 controller

Pin out of the T1000 controller

T-1000S Pixel LED Controller pin out description 

Button Functions 

Here are the T1000S controller button functions -

T-1000S Pixel LED Controller Button functions 

If you want a one program to be played, press and release mode button quickliy to skip to next program .keep tapping on the mode button until you get the program you want to be played and press "SET" button to save that settings.

If you need to change the speed of the playback , Use the "SPEED+" button to increase the speed of the playback and use "SPEED -" to reduce the speed of the playback .Once you reach the speed that you want, press "SET" button to save the speed settings .

If you want the program to be played one file after another , press both "SPEED+" and "SPEED-" buttons together and release them .Then press "SET" button to save the settings.

Make sure you press "SET" button after every settings change .If not ,Upon the restart of the controller ,you wont get the playback as you wanted .

Since these funtions may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer please ask for the user manual for your controller from your vendor.

Wiring The T-1000S controller

Wiring of the T-1000S controller can be done in several ways, It depends on your needs . Here are some of the common wiring methods.To drive less than 2048 LEDs you can use a single controller wiring method ,If you have more than 2048 LEDs you have to use multi-Controller wiring method.

Single Controller Wiring for a 3 wire Pixel LED Strip/String  .

Wiring of the T-1000S controller method - 1

This method can be used when you are using less than 2048 LEDs (3 wire,NZR) .Common power supply (5V) is used for both the controller and the Pixel LED string .Here are the connection between each component.

T-1000S Pixel LED Controller wiring connection method - 1

Multi-Controller Wiring for a 3 wire Pixel LED Strip/String  

Wiring of the T-1000S controller method - 2

This method can be used when you are using more than 2048 LEDs (3 wire,NZR) .Common power supply (5V) is used for the controllers and the Pixel LED strings .Here are the connection between each component .This is a example of two controller network .You can connect more than two controllers like this .With two controllers connected this way you can control up to 4096 Pixel LEDs.

T-1000S Pixel LED Controller wiring connection method - 2

Single Controller Wiring for a 4 wire Pixel LED Strip/String  

Wiring of the T-1000S controller method - 3

This method can be used when you are using less than 2048 LEDs (4 wire,I2C) .Common power supply (5V) is used for both the controller and the Pixel LED string .Here are the connection between each component .

T-1000S Pixel LED Controller wiring connection method - 3

Multi-Controller Wiring for a 4 wire Pixel LED Strip/String  

Wiring of the T-1000S controller method - 4

This method can be used when you are using more than 2048 LEDs (4 wire,SPI) .Common power supply (5V) is used for the controllers and the Pixel LED strings .Here are the connection between each component .This is a example of two controller network.You can connect more than two controllers like this .With two controllers connected this way you can control up to 4096 Pixel LEDs.

T-1000S Pixel LED Controller wiring connection method - 4

Single Controller Wiring for a 4 wire RS485/DMX512 Pixel LED Strip String

Wiring of the T-1000S controller method - 5

This method is like the 4 wire string method but the LED string is connected to the A and B terminals of the controller .These two terminals are for Pixel led driver chips that supports RS485 or DMX512 communication instead of NZR or SPI communication ,where A is (DMX+) signal and B is (DMX -) signal .DMX + (A) is connected to the DMX + (A) of the Pixel LED string and DMX -(B) of the controller is connected to the DMX - (B) of the LED string .(Wire color code may different in the actual LED string )  .

T-1000S Pixel LED Controller wiring connection method -5

Multi Controller Wiring for a 4 wire RS485 Pixel LED Strip String

Wiring of the T-1000S controller method - 6

T-1000S Pixel LED Controller wiring connection method -6

[ Learn More on how to Use DMX512 Pixel LED Strips with Pixel LED controllers ]

Connection between each String/Strip

Connection Between each String/Strip

Since the LED strings / strips are comes in 150  LED's per LED string / strip ,In order to increase the amount of LEDs you have to connect each strings together for that reason each one of LED strings have connectors on both sides (Female and Male ) and also each strings first LED have extra VCC (red wire) and GND (White/Blue) wire coming out of it .So every LED String need to be connected to the Power supply using that extra wires that coming out of the first LED.If not the LED string will stats to dim due to lack of current flow .Which means the wire diameter of a string is only enough to carry current require for a one string .Make sure that you use a wire with enough diameter to carry the amount of current required by the string/strings when you are wiring them to the power supply .

Power Supply

Please read my article on selecting the Power supply for your Pixel LED project for more info

[Click HERE]

SD Card

SD card

SD cards are used for offline controllers because they don't have a internal memory to store the program files .You have to connect your SD card to your PC VIA card reader and save your program files in the SD card .There are many types of SD cards available today (SD,MiniSD,Micro SD ). You can use any one of these cards with your controller but they are different in sizes and also pin-outs are different too. So first you need to find the type of the SD card that your controller supports and use that type of SD card (T-1000S controller supports "SD" type SD cards )or you can use a adapter of that card and insert your card inside that adapter .

eg-If you have micoSD (TF) card and your controller supports "SD" types ,You can use Micro SD to SD adapter .

Micro SD to SD adapter

Opposite also possible - SD to micro SD adapter .

SD to micro SD adapter

There also mini SD to SD adapters and SD to mini SD adapters .

mini SD to SD adapter

Most controllers supports SD card type .Make sure that the card lock switch is not in the lock state .

Lock and unlock states of SD Card

If the SD card is in the lock state you cant write data in to the SD card but you can read the data.Unlock the SD cad before using it .

Type and size of the SD card

SD and SDHC Cards

If your controller don't support SDHC type SD cards try a normal SD cad .There is no physical difference between them but SD cards memory is equal or less than 4GB and SDHC cards capable of memory more than 4GB.

Capacity 

For The T-1000S Controller ,The recommended capacity is between 128MB - 2GB ,Which means you can use 128MB , 256MB, 512MB , 1GB ,2GB SD cards .

Format

The SD card should be formatted with "FAT" file system .You can use windows default format tool to format the SD card .Insert your SD card to the card reader ,In the windows explorer ,Right click on the SD card drive and select "Format" .In the format window select the settings as below image and click on "Start" button .wait until the formatting process completed.

Format window

Program File placement

The program file placement inside the SD card depends on the controller usage.

Single Controller 

T-1000S controller program file placement

In this case every controller have a individual SD card The file placement for each controller SD card would be like this - first two digits stands for program number (00 to 16) ,Since we use single SD card for each controller The last digit is always "1" . However , You can also use the file name that generated by LEDEdit software .

Troubleshooting T-1000S Controller  

Problem - Error LED flashing , No display 
This may due to few reasons -
*. Controller cant detect the SD card - Damaged SD card,Unsupported SD card ,Unsupported file format.
fix - Check whether the SD cad is supported type (128,256,512,1GB,2GB SD card) ,Insert it to the card reader and format it using the windows format tool as mentioned previously in this tutorial .replace the files again and try again .

*. Oxidized card pins or controller pins - remove the card and check the gold plating of the pins .If they where damaged and gold plate was gone, replace the card .If the controller port is damaged or gold plating is gone , you have to replace the port .

*. Unknown file type or no file - The file type should be ".led" other file types may cause error light to flash.please recheck the files.

*. Different controller Type - If you have selected T-1000B-XXXX instead of T-1000S-XXXX it may cause an error .

No error light flashing but no LED effect either
This is due to physical error - Damaged wires in the LED string or Damaged , oxidized connectors or due to selecting wrong drive chip type in the new project window. Check the "Selecting the Controller in the Software " section at the top of this article. If port is damaged you have to resolder them .If connectors are oxidized you have to use isopropyl alcohol to clean them ,you can use a tooth brush and dip it in isopropyl alcohol and brush the oxidized parts of the controller and the LED String.