Programmable Rigid Light Bars from China’s Most Reliable Manufacturers

SDIP is the number one Chinese manufacturer of addressable rigid light bars.

 

Rigid light bars are ideal for domestic, commercial, and retail lighting. In terms of the installation process, there are two options: fixed or flexible. The addressable LEDs rigid bar has low power consumption, low heat output, no glare, and is impact resistant. high levels of protection and dependability The programmable LED rigid bar illuminates a 120-degree viewing angle.

 

In addition to physical light bars, SDIP provides one-stop solutions such as site audits, layout design, lighting effect, and programming focused on LedEdit or Madrix software systems, product development and deployment, implementation and debugging, and field engineer teams ready to visit the sites. You can also request customized designs based on preference.

We have a 15-day free refund or swap scheme, a one-year free maintenance policy, and a 12- to 18-month manufacturer warranty.

The Ultimate FAQ Guide – Rigid Light Bar

A rigid light bar is one of the most popular LED light bars among the LED bars series. You can use this bar perfect for regular and straight places. A rigid light bar cannot bend like a flexible one. It is profiled creatively into an aluminum profile that makes it rigid. The casing over the rigid light bar is what makes it unable to bend and cut into various segments.

1. What is Meant by a Rigid Light Bar?
2. What is a DMX512?
3. What is Meant By a DMX LED Bar?
4. What Do You Mean By A DMX Controller for Rigid LED Light Bar?
5. What is the process of working for a DMX LED Bar?
6. How to Wire a DMX Light Bar?
7. How can you Setup the Installation of a DMX LED Light Bar?
8. How does the Network Topology of a Programmable LED Light Bar look Like?
9. How can you Connect a DMX Bar Light?
10. Do you need a lot of electricity while using a Programmable LED Bar?
11. Is it necessary to take Safety measures while Connecting a Rigid Light Bar?
12. How can You reduce the Current usage of an addressable LED Bar?
13. Is it possible to cut a Programmable LED Bar?
14. Can I bend my Rigid Light Bar?
15. How much cost do I need to buy a DMX LED Bar?
16. How bright can be a DMX LED Bar?
17. Can a DMX LED Bar cause me cancer?
18. Which Color Should I choose for my DMX LED Bar?
19. What is the best way to Choose a controller for a DMX LED Bar?
20. Is it necessary to use a Transformer for your DMX LED Bar?
21. How can you figure out if a DMX LED Bar is burnt Out?
22. Does a Raspberry PI work with a DMX LED Bar? If Yes. How?
23. What is the Difference between a Radio Frequency Preset Controllers For Addressable LED Bar and a DMX?
24. Is it Possible to Use a Normal RGB LED Bar For a DMX Lighting?
25. Are there any chances of catching Fire for the DMX LED Bar?
26. Do bugs find it attractive to fly near the Programmable Light Bar?
27. Can I sync my Addressable LED Bar to Music?
28. What is the total number of DMX channels Required for LED Bar RGB DMX?
29. Is it Possible to Daisy-chain DMX Bar Light with DMX? How?
30. In which way can I program my Programmable LED Light Bar?
31. Which Software can be Best for my DMX LED Light Bar?
32. Can I use a Lightning Console for my DMX LED Bar?
33. What can be the length of my DMX LED Bar?
34. Can a DMX provide power to my Rigid LED Light Bar?
35. What is the difference between a Rigid LED Bar and a Flexible DMX LED Strip?
36. Is DMX Rigid Light Bar better than DMX Flexible LED Strip?

 

1.   What is Meant by a Rigid Light Bar?

Rigid light bar is a type of LED bar that is not flexible. It is rather hard and rigid.

You can not bend it according to your choice because it is a hard bar. In a rigid LED bar, individual LEDs are creatively arranged in a row.

The LEDs in a rigid light bar are together profiled within an aluminum material.

It is like a hard stick and you can easily fix it at whatever place you want.

Keep in mind that you cannot cut the Rigid LED bar as it is a fixed-sized single bar with an aluminum profile.

Rigid LED Bar

2.   What is a DMX512?

DMX512 is the standard for digital communication of signals.

DMX stands for digital multiplex and the number 512 denotes the number of channels that a DMX controls.

It controls 512 channels with the help of only one data cable.

It controls networks of digital communication.

You can use DMX512 for stage lighting.

You can also use DMX512 for different lighting effects.

DMX512 easily controls light dimmers.

It remotely controls the lighting fixtures very creatively.

You will find it interesting to know that each channel in DMX consists of 255 steps.

Each step controls attributes of lighting features.

DMX512

3.   What is Meant By a DMX LED Bar?

If a DMX controls an LED Bar, then such a Bar is known as a DMX LED Bar.

A DMX LED bar is embedded in an aluminum casing.

All the lighting functions in the rigid light bar are controlled by a DMX.

In simple words, you can say that a DMX LED bar uses DMX signals to work.

You may find it surprising to know that if any pixel is not working in a rigid light bar, then it cannot stop the signals transmission or working of a DMX LED Bar.

It is an addressable LED bar. It ensures pure flexibility in the case of lighting effect programming.

DMX LED Bar

4.   What Do You Mean By A DMX Controller for Rigid LED Light Bar?

A DMX controller is the most important component for a DMX Rigid LED Bar.

It controls the lighting attributes of a DMX LED Bar.

As a human is controlled by his brain, the same process works between a DMX controller and a DMX LED bar.

A DMX controller works as a brain of the rigid light bar.

The most important thing to know is that the DMX controller depends on the structure of the DMX LED bar.

It depends upon the total number of fixtures that a DMX LED Bar contains.

It also depends upon the number of channels that are required to control by DMX Rigid LED Bar.

DMX controller works in three different sections.

There is a playback section, effect section and a section that controls movement, color and fixture selection.

5.   What is the process of working for a DMX LED Bar?

A lighting console plays an important role in the working process of a DMX Rigid LED Bar.

It helps the signal pulses of electricity to travel in the form of data.

This data further travels to the DMX Rigid LED Bar.

The fixtures in the rigid light bar receive the data.

This process controls the lighting attributes of the DMX rigid LED light bar.

You can buy the lighting console for your DMX rigid LED light bar from any manufacturer irrespective of the brand.

You can easily use any lighting console for the working of your DMX rigid LED light bar.

6.   How to Wire a DMX Light Bar?

Here is the video that can help you in the installation process of DMX Light bar Wiring :

 

7.   How can you Setup the Installation of a DMX LED Light Bar?

Installation of DMX bar light is a bit tricky but you can still learn it.

Before installing the DMX LED Bar, you should check carefully that there is no damage in the bar.

You can set up the installation of your DMX Bar light on the wall, floor or ceiling.

While installation, make sure that you are also using safety equipment.

While mounting the DMX Bar light on the stand, make sure that the stand is strong enough to carry your rigid light bar.

It should be in a stable position as well.

You should use dedicated DMX cables for this purpose.

It will help you to avoid errors in DMX signals transformation.

You have to establish all the connections while the DMX Bar light unit is switched off. Now you have to connect the DMX input of the device to the output of a DMX controller. You will be connecting the output of one DMX device to the input of another DMX device. It will create a daisy chain. You should make it sure that the last DMX is connected to a terminator resistor.

`Installing DMX LED Bar

8.   How does the Network Topology of a Programmable LED Light Bar look Like?

The network topology of a programmable LED Lightbar is the best in which the specific LED bar is arranged.

It includes all the logical and physical descriptions of a programmable LED light bar that explains how each and every link, as well as nodes, are attached to each other to perform a better function.

In the case of the Network Topology of a programmable LED light bar, You will see the structure of the LED light Bar.

It helps you to find out about the network topology of your programmable LED Lightbar. The main thing to focus on in network topology is the network of LED strips that are embedded inside that programmable DMX LED light bar.

A very basic thing to understand about the network topology of rigid light bar is that it uses “bus topology”.

Here is an image that explains how a rigid strip is held creatively inside a DMX led bar :

Network Topology of DMX LED Bar

9.   How can you Control a DMX Bar Light?

You can control your DMX bar light by understanding its process of working.

As DMX is mostly used as a protocol to fog lights or machines, it works as a unidirectional signal.

A unidirectional signal tends to travel in one direction only.

Based on its unidirectional nature, a rigid light bar possesses different modes of operation.

Those different modes of operation are known as 4-channel mode, sound active mode, and a 7-channel mode, etc.

Even if a DMX Bar light operates through these modes, it will always depend upon its mode of operation.

It is because these modes tend to vary with devices.

You may find it surprising to know that you can also connect your DMX light bar without a controller if you are using its mode of operation as a sound active mode.

This process can also happen if you set them all to automatic.

Here is the tutorial video for DMX512 Controller :

DMX512 Controller

10.   Do You Need A Lot Of Electricity While Using A Programmable LED Bar?

It is the ideal quality of a rigid light bar that usually don’t need a lot of electricity.

LED bar RGB DMX are also known for generating the lowest heat output.

That’s why these rigid light bars are considered as ideal to use for various purposes.

There are still few things to keep in mind regarding electricity usage of the LED bar RGB DMX.

Length of your LED bar RGB DMX and the total number of LEDs in a Bar are highly responsible for using high or low electricity.

Suppose that your strip contains 80 bulbs at each meter.

It means that it must be using 8 watts for every meter of the strip.

One more thing that matters is that different colors of LEDs for strips utilize different amounts of electricity.

11.   Is It Necessary To Take Safety Measures While Connecting A Rigid Light Bar?

It is always necessary to take safety measures whenever you use any kind of product.

Same is the case with your programmable Light bar.

You should consult your programmable light bar manufacturer regarding the safety measures for this product.

You can also read the instructions paper that is attached with your product.

In case there is no instruction paper or you cannot consult the manufacturer then here are few things to keep in mind while connecting a programmable light bar.

You should be wearing plastic shoes to avoid the current exchange between the power supply and your body.

You should be wearing plastic gloves to avoid the current exchange.

The last thing to keep in mind is that you should use special instruments while cutting and connecting the wires.

12.   How Can You Reduce The Current Usage of An Addressable LED Bar?

Current usage of an addressable LED bar can be reduced in different ways.

A simple way to reduce current usage is by using small wires and a small power supply.

One of the most creative and effective ways to reduce the current usage is by using the FASTLEDs library.

These are the only few factors that can help a person to limit or reduce the current usage of an addressable LED bar.

13.   Is It Possible To Cut A Programmable LED Bar?

It is not possible to cut a programmable LED bar.

This fact is obvious from the structure of a programmable LED bar.

It is profiled into the aluminum casing and then a glass cover is also embedded over the product.

This shows that there is no possibility of cutting a programmable LED bar.

Here is the structure of a programmable LED bar.

You can see that it is not possible to cut it from anywhere :

`Programmable LED bar

14.   Can I Bend My Rigid Light Bar?

You cannot bend your rigid light bar

in any way.

This is due to the hard structure of your rigid light bar.

rigid light bar consists of a high-end aluminum alloy profile.

It also consists of die-casting molding.

A rigid light bar is highly stable due to the embedded components as well as circuits.

It has a very moderate shape that gives it a straight and rigid structure.

These are the factors due to which you cannot bend your rigid light bar.

It can work highly effectively without bending.

Bending capability lies only inflexible LED strips but you cannot find this capability in a rigid light bar.

15.   How Much Cost Do I Need To Buy A Rigid LED Bar?

Costs of a rigid light bar varies depending upon the quality of the bar.

It may also vary depending upon the colors used in a rigid light bar.

A high-quality rigid light bar will lead to a high cost.

While having a low-quality rigid light bar has mostly cheap prices.

On the other hand, different color LEDs in a rigid light bar may correspond to different costs of your rigid light bar.

On average, the price of a DMX LED ranges between $10 to more than $30.

Better the quality, the higher will be the cost and vice versa.

Cost of a rigid light bar may also depend upon the length of a rigid light bar.

A rigid light bar with a longer length may cost higher as compared to the one with smaller length.

16.   How Bright Can Be A Rigid Light Bar?

The brightness of a rigid light bar may be varying with the purpose of use.

However, it has been observed that rigid light bars usually have a 3 watts Cree LED.

It has been estimated that a 50 inches rigid light bar may be possessing 90 or more than 90 LEDs in its structure.

Such rigid light bars may have a lumen rating equal to 27000 or more than that.

The most important thing is that its brightness may also vary based on the manufacturer.

Having a better quality of a rigid light bar, bought from a good manufacturer may lead to higher brightness.

On the other hand, a low-quality rigid light bar may have lower brightness.

In the end, it only depends upon your purpose of using a rigid light bar.

If you want to have a rigid light bar for accent lighting, you will choose a Rigid LED Bar having per foot brightness of 200 lumens.

17.   Can A Rigid Light Bar Cause Me Cancer?

There is no possibility of cancer caused by a DMX LED bar.

This is the main reason behind their high demand among customers.

It can not harm you in any way.

You can easily turn them on for a long time period.

You can choose your favorite color of a DMX LED bar without having a risk of cancer or any other disease.

Normally, a DMX LED bar cannot cause harm to humans.

But, it has been found by a recent study that blue light emitted by DMX LED bar can prove to be harmful.

It may cause cancer in the human body if there is long exposure to it.

It is also said that a long exposure of the lens, as well as retina of a human eye towards blue peaks, can result in an increase in an age-related macular degeneration as well as the risk of cataracts may also increase.

According to a new study by researchers, Blue light of DMX LEDs may also lead to prostate or breast cancer.

18.   Which Color Should I Choose For My Rigid Light Bar?

You can choose any color for your rigid light bar.

You can select your rigid light bar based on your favorite color.

but if you are expecting some benefits from the chosen colors, then you should be aware of the psychology of different colors.

Choosing the right color may also give you different benefits.

Apart from making the environment beautiful, it may also give you some mental and physical health benefits.

Blue color can be the best color for your blood flow.

A sunny yellow color can make you feel happier and joyous.

This is the reason that sunny yellow color is highly used in different mental health clinics to treat depression among patients.

A yellow hue color may give you mental peace when you are feeling down.

Color of

19.   What Is The Best Way to Choose A Controller For A Rigid LED Bar?

This video can be a best helping video material if you are looking for a right controller for your rigid light bar :

Apart from this video, you should also keep in mind the number of fixtures or sections that you are willing to control through your DMX controller.

It can be helpful to you in choosing the right controller.

It makes sense because the controlling capability of a DMX controller can be limited to the number of channels.

For a DMX controller, the memory capacity can also be limited to the number of channels.

20.   Is It Necessary To Use A Transformer For Your Rigid Light Bar?

Yes. It is always necessary to use a transformer for your rigid light bar.

It makes sense the most during the times when you are trying to connect your DMX LED bar to mains.

A rigid light bar may have low voltage.

A transformer can help it to achieve a higher voltage.

Before choosing a right transformer for your rigid light bar, you should be able to figure out a few terms and conditions.

These terms and conditions can be the total length of your Rigid Light Bar, a total wattage used by your Rigid LED Bar as well as watts per chip in your Rigid LED Bar.

Suppose you have an LED bar having 5 meters in length with 70 small chips, then it must be requiring 35 Watt LED transformers.

21.   How Can You Figure Out If A Rigid Light Bar Is Burnt Out?

It is very simple to figure out if your rigid light bar is burnt out or not.

You can find out by switching your rigid light bar into a power supply, if it lights up properly without a single LED turned off, then it means it is not burnt out.

If it doesn’t light up properly, it may be due to the fact that it is burnt out.

To avoid your rigid light bar from burning, you should make sure that you are buying your rigid light bar from a good manufacturer.

Having a low-quality rigid light bar can easily burn out if turned on for a long time period.

It is a very interesting fact in the case of a rigid light bar that any kind of failure pixel in the bar does not affect the transmission of the signal in the rigid light bar.

The DMX signals will still keep going.

If the rigid light bar is not lighting up completely, it may be the Rigid LED Bar is defective or completely burnt out.

On the other hand, if only a single LED is not working, then it shows only a single LED is burnt out.

22.   Does a Raspberry PI Work With A DMX LED Bar? If Yes. How?

Yes. A Raspberry PI can easily work with a DMX LED bar.

It can happen because a Raspberry PI acts as a DMX light controller.

It works in a way that it continuously sends signals to the DMX controller via USB.

The DMX controller then changes the LED color by sending DMX command to light fixtures,

Raspberry PI can prove to be a source for controlling lights in case of a DMX LED bar.

An RS-485 is highly used as a physical layer in a DMX512 bus system.

An internal UART is being used for the functioning of RS-485 HAT with a raspberry PI.

UART usually has a connection through an internal Bluetooth module.

Raspberry PI working process with a DMX LED Bar can be figured out once you know about its working process with a DMX512 bus system.

An RS-485 HAT will be existing in a DMX512 bus line system.

You have to switch the terminator resistor ON and OFF.

Make sure that when the HAT is on, you should turn on the resistor while you have to turn it off when the HAT is off.

23.   What Is The Difference Between A  Radio Frequency Preset Controllers For Addressable LED Bar and a DMX?

There are a lot of differences between a DMX and a radio frequency preset controller.

These differences show why DMX can be much better than a radio frequency preset controller for an addressable LED bar.

It is the main quality of DMX that it actually consists of a standard protocol in case of light production.

While there is no such case with a radio frequency preset controller.

It is rather controlled and managed by a wireless remote.

DMX consists of capabilities that can modify sequences of light as well as other presets.

While a radio frequency preset includes a setting that is pre-programmed.

It also consists of pre-programmed lighting effects.

There lies an independent control in case of DMX.

While a radio frequency preset controller properly controls speed as well as brightness.

DMX has the ability to sync multiple zones.

All these qualities of DMX shows that it can have larger applications as compared to a radio frequency preset controller.

Due to the limited qualities of a radio frequency preset controller, it may have shorter applications.

These differences between a DMX and a radio frequency preset controller for an addressable LED bar shows that a DMX can be much better than a radio frequency preset controller.

Here is a video for further guidance :

DMX VS RF

DMX VS RF

24.   Is it Possible to Use A Normal RGB LED Bar For a DMX Lighting?

Yes. You can use a normal RGB LED bar for a DMX lighting purposes.

There is no restriction on using any kind of LED bar for DMX lighting as long as it consists of an appropriate connection to the controller.

All you really need is an appropriate controller.

If you have the right appropriate controller, it will be capable of receiving a DMX signal.

It will automatically convert DMX signals according to the requirements of whatever LED bar you are using for a DMX lighting.

Suppose you possess a common anode RGB LED bar.

For this LED bar, you must be needing a controller which should accept DMX input having common anode support.

25.   Are There Any Chances Of Catching Fire For The Rigid LED Bar?

A Rigid LED Bar cannot catch fire as long as the quality of the Rigid LED Bar is good.

If you are providing the rigid light bar, a proper power supply and you bought it from a good manufacturer, there are very less chances of catching fire.

Apart from all these cases, rigid light bars are known as ideal bars to be used for any purpose.

rigid light bars are the safest LED bars.

Normally, there are no chances of catching fire.

In order to avoid any chances of fire, you should go for a better quality product.

For this purpose, you should buy your rigid light bar from a good manufacturer.

26.   Do Bugs Find It Attractive To Fly Near The Programmable Light Bar?

Normally, bugs wander near light sources.

In the case of LED programmable Lightbars, there are also chances that bugs find them attractive.

This can cause the bugs to fly near the programmable Lightbar.

It has been found by studies that bugs find it more attractive to fly near a programmable LED bar.

The attraction of bugs towards a programmable Lightbar can be reduced by choosing the right color for your programmable Lightbar.

It should be reduced because bugs flying near a rigid light bar can result in a kind of disturbance in the natural ecosystem.

There are so many living organisms that depend upon bugs for food.

When they will not find bugs, it may disturb the natural ecosystem.

LED Bars attract bugs

27.   Can I Sync My Addressable LED Bar to Music?

Yes. You can sync your addressable LED bar to music.

This tutorial can be helpful in guiding the process to sync your addressable LED bar to music:

 

28.   What Is The Total Number of DMX Channels Required for LED Bar RGB DMX?

Total number of channels required for the LED bar RGB DMX depends upon the total number of colors you are using for your LEDs.

In case of an RGB rigid light bar, you should have 3 DMX channels.

As there are three colors in an RGB DMX bar, red blue, and green.

If you are using a Rigid LED Bar which is RGBW, then you must require four DMX channels as there is an additional white color in the RGBW series.

Even if you are using a single-colored Rigid LED Bar, then there is no need of requiring three or four DMX channels.

You will rather need a single DMX channel for a single colored Rigid LED Bar.

29.   Is It Possible To Daisy-Chain DMX Bar Light With DMX Rigid Light Bar? How?

The LED bar strip that lies inside the DMX LED bar can be daisy-chained easily.

In order to daisy-chain your DMX bar light, you should always remember a 32-fixtures rule.

According to a 32-fixtures rule, you can only make connections of 32 fixtures in one daisy chain.

Having more than 32 fixtures in a DMX LED bar can make it difficult to transmit the DMX signals properly along the DMX bar LED.

Therefore, the range of fixtures should be a maximum of 32 or it should always lie between 16 and 32.

Having a standard of this range is because some units in a daisy-chained DMX LED bar can be heavier than rest of the units.

30.   In Which Way Can I Program My Programmable LED Light Bar?

Here is an easy video tutorial to program your programmable LED light bar more effectively :

 

31.   Which Software Can Be Best For My DMX LED Light Bar?

There are various software’s in the market for your DMX LED light bar.

Only high-quality software can produce better results.

Therefore you should buy your rigid light bar software from a good manufacturer.

Here is a list of the best software for your DMX LED light bar :

1. ADJ Products DMX Controller
2. CHAUVET Universal Controller
3. MADRIX Nebula Advance controller For Digital LEDs
4. Enttec DMX USB DMXIS Lighting Controller Interface & Software.
5. CO-Z 192 DMX 512 Light controller
6. YaeCCC DMX512 Controller
7. Rockville ROCKFORCE DMX Lighting Controller

 

32.   Can I Use A Lightning Console For My DMX LED Bar?

Yes. You can use a lighting console for your DMX LED bar,

You should keep in mind that you are using an intermediate lighting console for your DMX rigid light bar. Here is the reason why you should use an intermediate lighting console :

 

33.   What Can Be The Length Of My DMX LED Bar?

The length of  a DMX rigid light bar can be different depending upon different factors.

If your DMX LED bar is made of a long DMX LED strip then it must have a longer length.

It usually ranges between 16 inches to a length of more than 16 inches.

The longest LED bar till now is the K-force LED light bar.

The length of your DMX LED bar may also be varying on the basis of the purpose for which you are using your DMX LED bar.

Length of a DMX LED bar

34.   Can A DMX Provide Power To My Rigid LED Light Bar?

A DMX can never provide power to your rigid light bar as there is no link of DMX with providing power to your rigid LED light bar.

It is a very clear fact that a DMX is just a platform for communicating light signals in your rigid LED light bar.

Therefore, you can only use a DMX for the communication of signals and for the purpose of providing power.

It is important to keep in mind that a DMX fixture needs its own power supply.

DMX is the largest standard on the global scale, for the communication of light signals.

It is now even used for communicating signals in fog machines as well.

35.   What Is The Difference Between A Rigid LED Bar And A Flexible DMX LED Strip?

The difference between these two products is obvious from the names of these products.

In the case of a DMX rigid light bar, You can not bend it according to your choice because it is a hard bar.

In a DMX rigid LED bar, individual LEDs are creatively arranged in a row.

The LEDs in a Rigid LED bar are together profiled within an aluminum material.

It is like a hard stick and you can easily fix it at whatever place you want.

Keep in mind that you cannot cut the Rigid LED bar as it is a fixed-sized single bar with an aluminum profile.

On the other hand, a flexible DMX LED strip is quite different from a DMX rigid led bar.

You can easily bend it according to your choice.

You can even cut it from wherever you want.

You can use your DMX LED strip at irregular places, unlike a DMX rigid light bar which is used only at regular places.

36.   Is DMX Rigid Light Bar Better Than DMX Flexible LED Strip?

No one can say that a DMX rigid light bar can be better than a DMX flexible LED strip or not.

As both have their own advantages and disadvantages.

You can easily use your DMX rigid light bar at straight and regular places.

While you can use your flexible LED strip at regular as well as irregular places.

This is the main advantage of a DMX flexible LED strip over a DMX rigid light bar.

Not being able to be used at irregular places, can be the biggest advantage of a DMX rigid light bar.

Therefore if you want to design or decorate irregular places, you should always go for a DMX flexible LED strip.

There are also other differences that can tell which one of these two can be better for you.

If you want something that you can cut and bend according to your demand and choice, then you should always select a flexible DMX LED strip.

In case if you want something rigid and hard to fix easily at your desired place, then a Rigid LED Bar can be the best option for you.