Wiring A Single Coro Prop That Uses 2+ Twinkly Controllers

First: Setup the prop in xLights

1. Identify and mark Pixel #1 for each controller per the instructions here
2. Open xLights and make sure your controller is set up per the directions in the Twinkly xLights Setup Guide; make sure the Twinkly controllers are plugged in and you see the green light for that controller in the xLights Controllers tab
3. Identify the controller that you plan to use for the large coro prop and make sure they are named something appropriate – for this example we will use “Prop-1a” and Prop-1b, but use something descriptive so it’s easy for you to identify later
4. Switch to the “Layout” tab in xLights
5. Most props will come with a file called an “xmodel”, which you usually download from the prop vendor’s website — download this file and drop it into a folder that’s easy to find
   • If your prop doesn’t come with an xmodel, it may be a prop that’s a native shape for xLights, like a star
   • If this is the case, you will need to create a native xLights model using the icons at the top of the layout tab
6. Create a new model by clicking the Import Button in the model icons in the layout visualization window on the right
7. After clicking the icon, click and drag your cursor on an open area of the layout to create a square where you want the prop — you can always move and resize it later
8. You will get a pop-up window asking you to “choose model file” — choose the xmodel file you downloaded in step 5
9. Over in the models list of the left, you should see the new model named whatever the xmodel creator specified (for example “small spinner” or something) – I will call it “new model” for the rest of this tutorial
10. Click on the “new model” name in the list on the left
11. At the bottom left, you will see all of the settings for “new model”
12. Rename the model, if desired, by changing it in the settings box (name is first item)
13. Strings should be set to 2 (or however many twinkly controllers you are using)
14. Under controller, choose “use start channel”
15. Click “Indiv Start Channels” checkbox
16. You will now see start channel box for “string 1” which is first controller and “string 2” which is second controller, etc.
17. In the string 1 start channel, put in “!Prop-1a:1” replacing “Prop-1a” with your first controller name
18. In the string 2 start channel, put in “!Prop-1b:1” replacing “Prop-1b” with your second controller name
19. Scroll down to “controller connection” section and open up that menu; make sure “port” is set to 1 for both strings
20. Hit save (red button at bottom of screen)
21. The prop is now set up in xLights! Now you can wire it (push pixels)! xLights will treat the two controllers are one prop.

Next — Wire the prop

1. In the xLights layout tab, click the name of the prop
2. Right click the prop name and choose “wiring view” from the menu
3. You will see a popup of the prop’s wiring diagram — this is the reverse view (looking at the back of the prop), since this is how you will push the lights through the coro
4. You can choose to work off the screen (you should probably maximize the view) or I sometimes choose to print the wiring diagram:
   • Right click the diagram and set the color scheme to “light” — which will give you black on white
   • Right click and set it to “smaller font” (this keeps node numbers from getting bunched together)
   • Right click again and say “export” (I have not had good luck printing directly from xLights)
   • Go open the .png file of the model you just exported, and you can print from there
5. Now you can start wiring — be very careful to find pixel #1 on the back of your physical prop and ensure you are starting at the right place — if you don’t, you will be tearing it apart and re-doing it later
6. Push the first Twinkly pixel (the one closest to the controller) into hole #1 until the bulb pops through the other side of the coro — but don’t go too far!
   • Twinkly pixels don’t have tabs on them like most WS2811 bullet pixels, since they weren’t really designed for coro — but they generally stay pretty secure
   • The bulb should be sticking out just enough to see the part that lights up all the way around (maybe 1/4 inch tops)
7. Continue to follow the wiring diagram, pushing pixels #2 to however many pixels first string has
8. When the first string runs out, the next pixel needs to be pixel #1 of string #2
9. When you get to the last bulb, you are done and can test out the prop!
   • Some props will include “submodels” and/or “states” which you can use in your sequencing
   • To check for these in the layout tab, click the prop, then look for “submodels” and “states” in the settings (click the … to open)
10. Check out the article on mounting coro props