T-8000 T-8000AC T-8000C T-8000A-TTL Pixel LED Tutorial

T-8000 Pixel LED Controller Tutorial

T-8000 is the boss of the T- Series offline Pixel LED Controllers .There are four main T-8000 series controllers namely T-8000,T-8000AC,T-8000C and T-8000A-TTL. Keep in mind that same model have different versions because every controller gets updated through out the time. This controller is expensive than the T-1000 series controllers but have some improved features . In this tutorial we will look into specifications , features , wiring methods ,software setup , programming and debugging  of the T-8000 pixel LED controller.

T-8000 Pixel LED Controller Specifications

Supply Voltage :               DC7.5-24V

Working voltage :             DC5V
Working temperature :    -30°C ~ +85°C
Working power :               3W
Product Size  :                   L170mm×W91mm×H31mm
Max. LEDs  :                    8192

Memory card type :          SD card
Memory card Capacity :   128MB-2GB
Memory card Format :      FAT

T-8000AC
Voltage :                             110-240V

Features

T-8000 series Pixel LED controllers can drive up to 8192 LEDs or pixels .It has eight Ports for LED strings or strips. Each port can drive up to 1024 Pixel LEDs . It has Controller networking capability as in the T-1000S Pixel LED controller .Supports both 3 wire Pixel LED strings or Strips ( Vcc,Data,Gnd ) and 4 wire LED strings or Strips ( Vcc,Data,Clock,Gnd ). Also supports RS485 based Pixel LED strips or strings.

Frame Rate  

Frame rate is a impotent thing when it comes to Pixel LED Programming greater the frame rate smoother the frame transition , Low frame rate means rough transition , you will start to see the frame by frame transition
If you are using less than 512 LEDs or Pixels per port you can use the 30fps (Frames per seconds) .If you are using greater than 512 LEDs or Pixels per port the frame rate will be automatically reduces .

Software 

Software plays the most important part when it comes to Pixel LED programming.LedEdit is the most advanced and most developed Pixel LED programming software today. In order to program T-8000 controller you need LEDEdit 2012 or later  software version .Please download the latest LEDEdit software version from below link .

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-8000 and Drive chip name is WS2811, You should select T-8000-WS2811 from the list .

If you are using T-8000S or T-8000A controllers please select T-8000 as your controller . Because they are not listed due to the fact that they are based on T-8000 controller ( Different versions )

If you like to know more on how to use LEDEdit software please  [Click Here]

Supported LED 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,DMX Monochrome,WS2801,WS2803,D7710,QC1109,
TLS3001,TLS3008,APA102,MY9221,BS0815,BS0825,BS0901,HL32,HL1809,HL2803,
RGB,Monochrome,XB001,XB002

Note : Not every T-8000 controller supports the above listed drive chips .Please consider asking  from your seller about supported LED drive chip names .

Pin-Out T-8000 Controller

Pin-Out T-8000 Controller

Please refer to the above picture for pin output definitions .

DC 5V:              DC Power connector input ( 5Vdc )
DC 7.5 - 24 V : DC Power connector input ( 7.5v to 24Vdc )

Port Pins ( Communication )

CLK  : Clock Out ( For 4 wire Strings )
DAT  : Data Out (  For 3 wire and 4 Wire Strings )
GND : Data Ground  ( Common )

Network Mode (Synchronized)

IN A :     A Input line from Previous controller.
IN B :     B Input line from Previous controller .
OUT A : A Output for Next controller.
OUT B : B Output for Next controller.
NC :       Not Connected

Button Functions 

Button functions are same as T-1000S Pixel LED controller .Here are the Button functions.

T-8000 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 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 next powerup of the controller ,you wont get the playback as you wanted.

Versions 

When it comes to T-8000 Series Pixel LED controllers there are several diffrent versions lets look in to them .

T-8000 

T-8000 Pixel LED Controller

Above picture shows  one of the T-8000 controller this one have AC input instead of DC power input .Yes there are many different versions of the same model number .There is a T-8000 controller with DC 5V input , there is a one with 7- 24v DC input and there is a one with AC 110-230V input.This version doesn't have a display, It only have LED indicators . Other features remains the same .

T-8000AC

T-8000AC Pixel LED Controller

This is the T-8000AC controller which is designed to operate with AC supply .It has a seven segment display to show you the details like current speed , mode and  status .This version have the LED indicators as well .  Supported voltage 110- 230VAC .

T-8000C

T-8000C Pixel LED Controller

This one is same as the first one ( T-8000 ) controller the only difference is that it has two RJ45 Male ports instead of A and B input and output ports .This two ports can be used to network ( synchronize )  the controllers or can be used to connect the T-8000C controller with the LED consoles .

T-8000A-TTL

T-8000A-TTL Pixel LED Controller

This controller has a LCD display instead of seven segment display and other features remains the same .

Synchronization

Synchronization is very impotent when you have more than one controller for your pixel LED pattern .If not the pattern will be a mess . In T-8000 Controller the synchronization  can be archived by networking (cascading) the controllers together ( please refer to below wiring examples ).

Wiring Methods

There are basically four wiring methods for this controller .

Wiring Method 1 

T-8000 Pixel LED Controller Wiring Method 1

In this case a single controller used with eight sets of led strings. The controller is connected to the 3 wire  Pixel LED String or Strip so only 2 wires of the controller is connected with the LED String ( Data & GND ) . The controller powered by external 5Vdc  power adapter. single power supply is used to power the LED Strings . You can use a two or more power supplies that can deliver the amount of Amperage that needed .(Click here to know more on How to select the power supply) . Here is the connection table.

T-8000 Connection table Method - 1

Wiring Method 2

T-8000 Pixel LED Controller Wiring Method 2

In this case two T-8000 controllers are used with 16 sets of led strings .The controller is connected to the 3 wire  Pixel LED String or Strip as in the previous example. The Controllers are networked so that patterns can be synchronized .  The controller powered by external 5Vdc  power adapters.  The benefit of this method is you don't need separate SD cards for each controller , You can use a single SD card contains all pattern files for each controller .Here is the connection table .

T-8000 Connection table Method -2

Wiring Method 3

T-8000 Pixel LED Controller Wiring Method 3

In this case a single controller used with eight sets of led strings. The controller is connected to the 4 wire  Pixel LED String or Strip so 3 wires of the controller is connected with the LED String ( Data Clock & GND ) . Here is the connection table .

T-8000 Connection table Method -3

Wiring Method 4

T-8000 Pixel LED Controller Wiring Method 4

In this case two T-8000 controllers are used with 16 sets of led strings .The controller is connected to the 4 wire  Pixel LED String or Strip as in the previous example (Method 2). The controllers are networked so that patterns can be synchronized .Here is the connection table.

T-8000 Connection table Method -4

[ Here is how to use DMX512 pixel LED strips /strings with T-8000 pixel LED controller ]

Program File placement

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

Single Controller

Single T-8000 controller file placement

Single T-8000 controller file placement

If you are using a single controller or multi controllers without networking them(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" .

Multiple Controllers Networked

Multiple T-8000 controller file placement

If you are using a multiple controllers networked together ,You only needs a single SD cad inserted in to the first controller in the network .You can place the each controllers programs inside that SD card.
above picture shows how to place those program files.first two digits stands for program number (00 to 16) ,The digits after the "_" character is the controller number starting from "1" .
Eg -
Controller 1 program files - 00_1.led ,01_1.led,02_1.led,03_1.led,04_1.led
Controller 2 program files - 00_2.led ,01_2.led,02_2.led,03_2.led,04_2.led
Controller 3 program files - 00_3.led ,01_3.led,02_3.led,03_3.led,04_3.led
Controller 4 program files - 00_4.led ,01_4.led,02_4.led,03_4.led,04_4.led

Troubleshooting T-8000 Controller 

Problem - Error LED flashing , No display

This is 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 I 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 and the plated gold was 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  using a PC .

*. Different controller Type - If you have selected T-1000-XXXX instead of T-8000-XXXX it will cause an error .

No error light flashing but no LED effect either

This is due to physical error - Damage wires in the LED String or Damaged or oxidized port or 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 the ports are damaged ,you have to re-solder them .If connectors are oxidized you have to use NC-Tinner to clean them ,You can use a used tooth brush and dip it in NC Tinner and brush the oxidized parts of the controller and the LED String or use contact cleaner spray.

Warnings

Hot Swapping - Never ever Pullout / Remove the SD card from the controller while the power is on (This will damage your SD card permanently or if you are lucky you can getaway with only file lost /Damage) . Always power off the controller wait for a few seconds and remove the card .

Never ever reverse the polarity .Reverse polarity protection may or may not in your controller or LED String .If there is no protection it will damage the controller and Pixel LED Driver I.C .Use a multi-meter to check the polarity of the power supply output before wiring .

Since there are thousands of  different manufacturers , Wire colors may change with the manufacturer  .Please contact the seller or the manufacturer before wiring ,If not may cause damage to the Driver chip .

Check the Feedback of the sellers before buying online .There are many fake or damaged controllers , Pixel LED strings are available on the internet .(Be aware of scammers )

Limit the amount of time you insert and remove the SD card to the controller , Because every time you doing this will cause the gold plated pins to scratch which will lead to oxidizing of the pins .

Environmental conditions may cause damage to your led string and the LED controller ,The controllers are not designed for out-door use, It's for indoor use only .If you are putting the LED string out-door please make sure to use the water sealed LED strings. But even the water sealed led strings may damage due to hash environmental conditions .

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