while I disagree with his hatred of blue and green LED christmas lights being too much (I actually love them), I do love hearing about his process to find the christmas lights of his dreams.
I feel like this video touched some larger philosophical points about technological progress. It's to work and create with restraints. If there are no limitations you end up with an unfocused mess.
I've seen that cropping up in a lot of videos lately from tech adjacent creators. Cathode Ray Dude veered off in his video about an HP laptop that had a feature that overwrote the Windows boot splash screen with a calendar view using the "Ring -2" management system into this kind of beautiful screed about basically why society is unraveling.
Short answer, cut an extension cord in the middle and solder in a FULL BRIDGE RECTIFIER.
This gives you DC power. Now your lights will not flicker. They are also like 50% brighter.
But wait! The catch is that a lot of the strings are reversed in the middle so only half of it works on dc. You then have to cut the lights in the middle, swap the wires, and reconnect them.
That's what's so stupid about the whole problem - the solution is known and easy but it costs a tiny bit more to make so lots of manufacturers don't do it. It just needs to run off DC instead of AC. Simple.
I just looked it up and I'm fairly certain it wouldn't work. Every time the output waveform gets too low then the led would turn off, which is what creates the flicker. An led needs a constant current to stay on constantly.
I may never understand why people get pissed at creators focusing on an issue they are passionate about - because that viewers specific issue wasn't mentioned or focused on. Surely there is content that aligns with what you are seeking without forcing every other creator to monologe out every possible edge case like a US drug advert reading out side effects.
Something to that effect, yeah. I genuinely get people pointing out or raising the issue in the comments... If for no other reason than to perhaps inform the creator / community of something. But that has a far different energy than this. It almost always feels hostile.
He is promoting a product. That product possibly has what many perceive as a severe defect (flicker). He could say it doesn't personally bother him but still compare it to other lights in the same way he compared colors in detail. Is the flicker large or small?
I love his channel and watch every video. But that doesn't mean I have to ignore when he misses a detail.
I'm curious about the options coming down the pike for people that don't like flicker. I heard some of you say that you run your LEDs off of DC power somehow. How do you plug in the string of LED lights to DC power?
Short generalized answer: it depends on the strip / strand... But if the strand has a brick at the end that is converting ac - > dc with 2 wires you can typically replace that with a better driver easily. It gets far more specific when a data line is introduced. It won't fix cheap LEDs outright but it can change how they behave.
Anyone care to sum up in a few sentences what this 20+ minute video is all about?
E: fucking lemmy, lol. Donât watch youtube! Google sucks! Use alternatives! /asks for a quick summary so as to avoid youtube: lemmy: âDownvote!1!1â
Alec has been on a multi-year quest to get an incandescent color profile from LED Christmas lights. I haven't watched this episode, but he usually does a pretty good job of recapping at the start of every episode.
It's always super entertaining, in my opinion.
EDIT: I watched it. It is indeed super entertaining! This time, the recap comes after his special Christmas light repacking tip, so it's a couple of minutes in.
63 Comments
TheFeatureCreature@lemmy.ca · 51 pts · 252d
Alec out there fighting the good fight for us.
BallShapedMan@lemmy.world · 40 pts · 252d
I bought these lights, they're sitting on the kitchen table waiting to be opened and put on a tree! I'm so excited!
renegadespork@lemmy.jelliefrontier.net · 32 pts · 252d
I literally wait every year for this video.
Nima@leminal.space · 26 pts · 251d
while I disagree with his hatred of blue and green LED christmas lights being too much (I actually love them), I do love hearing about his process to find the christmas lights of his dreams.
I look forward to these videos every year đ
Tim_Bisley@piefed.social · 24 pts · 251d
I feel like this video touched some larger philosophical points about technological progress. It's to work and create with restraints. If there are no limitations you end up with an unfocused mess.
captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works · 18 pts · 251d
I've seen that cropping up in a lot of videos lately from tech adjacent creators. Cathode Ray Dude veered off in his video about an HP laptop that had a feature that overwrote the Windows boot splash screen with a calendar view using the "Ring -2" management system into this kind of beautiful screed about basically why society is unraveling.
acosmichippo@lemmy.world · -12 pts · 251d
only if you're a shitty designer or a consumer with shitty taste.
rollerbang@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 251d
Taste is subjective.
Beacon@fedia.io · 15 pts · 252d
Did he ignore flicker problems again like last year? Because flicker ruins lights for a lot of us
Steve@startrek.website · 9 pts · 251d
I actually ran my outside lights on rectified DC power last year because the flicker kills me
sem@piefed.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 251d
Say more about this. I also don't like flicker
Steve@startrek.website · 4 pts · 251d
Short answer, cut an extension cord in the middle and solder in a FULL BRIDGE RECTIFIER.
This gives you DC power. Now your lights will not flicker. They are also like 50% brighter.
But wait! The catch is that a lot of the strings are reversed in the middle so only half of it works on dc. You then have to cut the lights in the middle, swap the wires, and reconnect them.
Its a lot of farting around but looks nice.
credo@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 251d
I dunno. I just bought the Sylvannia led traditional white lights. Flicker free. Finally.
Beacon@fedia.io · 7 pts · 251d
That's what's so stupid about the whole problem - the solution is known and easy but it costs a tiny bit more to make so lots of manufacturers don't do it. It just needs to run off DC instead of AC. Simple.
captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 251d
I wonder if you could use four of the LEDs themselves to form a full bridge rectifier?
davidgro@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 251d
Would still need a capacitor or something or it would flicker at 120Hz (in the US) but that's not much more cost I would hope.
Also those 4 would flicker more than the rest of the string.
sem@piefed.blahaj.zone · 4 pts · 251d
Electroboom needs a lemmy
Prunebutt@slrpnk.net · 2 pts · 251d
Did you read "full bridge rectifier" in his voice, too?
sem@piefed.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 251d
Of course!
captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 250d
I typed it in his voice.
Beacon@fedia.io · 1 pts · 251d
I just looked it up and I'm fairly certain it wouldn't work. Every time the output waveform gets too low then the led would turn off, which is what creates the flicker. An led needs a constant current to stay on constantly.
Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 252d
His obsession over color quality while ignoring the flicker is very annoying.
LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyz · 30 pts · 252d
He mentions flicker several times in the video.
Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 252d
I meant ignore in the context that he said it doesn't personally bother him.
Prunebutt@slrpnk.net · 22 pts · 252d
But he mentions that there is stuff coming for flicker-sensitive folks.
yggstyle@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 251d
I may never understand why people get pissed at creators focusing on an issue they are passionate about - because that viewers specific issue wasn't mentioned or focused on. Surely there is content that aligns with what you are seeking without forcing every other creator to monologe out every possible edge case like a US drug advert reading out side effects.
captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 251d
Yeah, none of you guys are the main character, I'M the main character.
yggstyle@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 251d
Something to that effect, yeah. I genuinely get people pointing out or raising the issue in the comments... If for no other reason than to perhaps inform the creator / community of something. But that has a far different energy than this. It almost always feels hostile.
Auli@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 250d
I mean it's his video so he's the main character. People who care about the flicker can make their own video.
Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world · -8 pts · 251d
Careful reviewers cover all factors independent of their personal bias.
MediumGray@lemmy.ca · 8 pts · 251d
It's not a review though?
Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world · -5 pts · 251d
He is promoting a product. That product possibly has what many perceive as a severe defect (flicker). He could say it doesn't personally bother him but still compare it to other lights in the same way he compared colors in detail. Is the flicker large or small?
I love his channel and watch every video. But that doesn't mean I have to ignore when he misses a detail.
01189998819991197253@infosec.pub · 10 pts · 251d
As always, he created a delightful video!
curiousfurbytes@programming.dev · 8 pts · 250d
I love Technical Connections!!
SoleInvictus@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 250d
Same! I saw that characteristic lighting in the preview thumbnail and got so excited.
chunes@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 250d
I would be happy if I ever care about anything 1/10th as much as this guy cares about Christmas lights.
lemmy_st3v3@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 250d
He should do one on car headlights... :)
hereiamagain@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 250d
Like this one?
Or this one?
lemmy_st3v3@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 249d
Oh thanks! Gonna watch these.
sem@piefed.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 251d
I'm curious about the options coming down the pike for people that don't like flicker. I heard some of you say that you run your LEDs off of DC power somehow. How do you plug in the string of LED lights to DC power?
yggstyle@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 251d
Short generalized answer: it depends on the strip / strand... But if the strand has a brick at the end that is converting ac - > dc with 2 wires you can typically replace that with a better driver easily. It gets far more specific when a data line is introduced. It won't fix cheap LEDs outright but it can change how they behave.
acosmichippo@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 251d
i'm sure they're not perfect but i've had good luck with C7 ceramic LEDs from amazon.
lemmy_st3v3@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 249d
RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world · -5 pts · 251d
Anyone care to sum up in a few sentences what this 20+ minute video is all about?
E: fucking lemmy, lol. Donât watch youtube! Google sucks! Use alternatives! /asks for a quick summary so as to avoid youtube: lemmy: âDownvote!1!1â
ilinamorato@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 251d
Alec has been on a multi-year quest to get an incandescent color profile from LED Christmas lights. I haven't watched this episode, but he usually does a pretty good job of recapping at the start of every episode.
It's always super entertaining, in my opinion.
EDIT: I watched it. It is indeed super entertaining! This time, the recap comes after his special Christmas light repacking tip, so it's a couple of minutes in.
RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 251d
Thank you. That would be lovely. I find LEDâs flicker sometimes and are too âhardâ, they lack the softer, more yellow profile of incandescents.
Probably what his rant is all about.
ilinamorato@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 250d
It's been a fun journey. And he's on the Fediverse! https://mas.to/@TechConnectify
(not tagging him directly because I feel like he probably gets that enough)
cepelinas@sopuli.xyz · -2 pts · 250d
You haven't heard of adblock or youtube frontends haven't you or you have the attention span of a goldfish
RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 250d
Assume whatever makes you feel better.
cepelinas@sopuli.xyz · 0 pts · 250d
Thanks.
schwim@piefed.zip · -41 pts · 252d
Never watch a video that ends a statement with a question mark In the thumbnail.
Prunebutt@slrpnk.net · 42 pts · 252d
It's technology connections, chill.
KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 27 pts · 252d
Bad take in this case.
Holytimes@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 247d
So... You just have a random hate boner for retortical questions...?