Build Partner Reference

COLOR DOME

Architecture & Open Gates — v1.5

The Color Dome is a touring interactive LED exhibit for Museums and Music Festivals where guests use their bodies to create color.

Inside the dome, a LIDAR sensor tracks “PersonStates,” and sends that data to a Python-based runtime stack which translates location to a three-dimensional color wheel — hue, saturation, and brightness.

The resulting color information is sent to the dome’s LED array via sACN-controlled LED output at 30 fps.

This document shares a set of assumptions for the physical build in terms of LED selection, signal processing, and power supply.

Thank you for taking a look!

40,330 addressable pixels • 11m diameter • Spiral topology

Blender renders — CDRS Preview Master

Locked

ARCHITECTURE FUNDAMENTALS

These elements are committed and stable. Strip family, voltage, and channel model are not yet locked — see Open Decision Gates below.

40,330

Addressable pixels

11m

Dome diameter

sACN

E1.31 multicast

30 fps

Default frame rate

✓ Distributed DC power (zone-isolated)
✓ Software brightness ceiling
✓ Managed switch + VLAN + IGMP snooping

✓ Advatek PixLite Mk3-class controllers
✓ Conservative ~300 px/output planning target
✓ Zone-level fault isolation

WHY WE LOVE THE GS8303 / GS8304

Color Dome’s strip decision is driven first by visual criteria, then by deployability.

Highest-priority hardware criteria

→ Smooth gradients
→ Strong low-brightness behavior
→ Minimal visible stepping or banding
→ Minimal camera flicker
→ Stable color and white rendering
→ Voltage flexibility without giving up per-pixel fidelity

Most important differentiator

16-bit color resolution

Materially better than plain 8-bit for:

• Dim-end smoothness
• Long gradients
• Subtle motion in low light
• Avoiding visible stepping in generative color fields

Directly matches Color Dome’s artistic requirement for smooth, continuous color transitions.

48 kHz PWM

Very high PWM rate is a major advantage for:

• Filming
• Slow-motion capture
• Reducing flicker artifacts
• Stabilizing low-brightness appearance on camera

The dome will be documented and filmed — flicker defects would be highly visible.

Wide voltage range (3.8V–30V)

Real architecture flexibility — evaluate either:

• 24V for easier power distribution
• 12V if required to preserve 1 LED = 1 pixel

…without changing chip family. Exactly the flexibility a 40,330-LED build needs.

Per-color current control

Easier to:

• Tune color balance
• Preserve control resolution while lowering output
• Improve white rendering and channel matching

Valuable when final visual quality matters more than commodity-strip convenience.

GS8304 vs GS8303 — both preferred, different strengths

GS8304 RGBW

Better white-channel capability and broader color-mixing flexibility.

GS8303 RGB

Lower universe count, simpler control model, cleaner RGB-only rendering path.

Both share the same high-fidelity core. Color Dome may value either depending on white-channel evaluation.

Why GS8208 remains fallback only

GS8208 is a meaningful candidate — stronger than commodity workhorse strips and practical to source. But it’s still fundamentally enhanced-8-bit class, not the same visual-performance tier as the GS8303/GS8304 family. That is why it remains the fallback branch rather than the lead.

Verify

OUR BIG QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GS8303 / GS8304

The preferred GS8303 / GS8304 path is still gated by two production-critical questions about the finished strip product — not just the chip datasheet.

Hard gate

Is the strip truly 1 LED = 1 pixel?

The project should not accept a strip simply because it advertises high LED density or a 24V architecture.

Must confirm

• Exact LEDs/m
• Exact pixels/m
• Truly 1 LED = 1 pixel
• Whether higher-voltage groups multiple LEDs into one pixel

If a 24V implementation compromises spatial fidelity through grouped pixels, fall back to 12V rather than accept the lower-resolution strip.

Production-critical

Does the strip support breakpoint resume / backup data?

Whether the finished product — not the chip-family marketing — actually supports redundant data continuation.

Must confirm

• Strip supports redundant data continuation
• Whether a failed LED interrupts downstream pixels
• Whether breakpoint-resume exists at the strip level, not just chip-family marketing language

At 40,330 pixels, field maintenance risk increases significantly if one failed pixel can disable everything downstream.

Open

OPEN DECISION GATES

These are the unresolved hardware questions. Each gates the production build and will be answered by sample procurement and bench validation.

Gate 1 — Strip Sourcing

Can we source GS8304 or GS8303 strip at 24V that preserves 1 LED = 1 pixel at 60+ pixels/m?

If yes, this becomes the preferred production branch. If no, fall back to higher-fidelity 12V instead of accepting grouped pixels at 24V.

Gate 2 — Voltage

24V preferred — only if 1:1 pixel fidelity is preserved.

24V offers fewer injection points and easier distribution, but only if the finished strip preserves spatial fidelity. Do not let a simpler power architecture degrade pixel density.

Gate 3 — Channel Model

RGB (GS8303) or RGBW (GS8304)?

RGBW raises universe count from 238 to 318 and increases power draw when white is used. The white channel must justify that overhead with real sample performance.

STRIP SELECTION LOGIC

Preferred and fallback branches in evaluation order. Bit depth and PWM frequency are the primary fidelity differentiators.

Preferred A • GS8304 RGBW @ 24V

Bit depth

16-bit

PWM

48 kHz

Voltage range

3.8V–30V

Universes

318

Highest visual ceiling. RGBW adds white-channel quality but raises universe count and power draw. Conditional on 1:1 pixel sourcing at 60+ px/m.

Preferred B • GS8303 RGB @ 24V

Bit depth

16-bit

PWM

48 kHz

Voltage range

3.8V–30V

Universes

238

Same fidelity ceiling as GS8304, simpler control. The serious branch if the white channel does not justify the overhead.

Fallback A • GS8304 / GS8303 @ 12V

Bit depth

16-bit

PWM

48 kHz

Voltage

12V

Universes

238 / 318

Same chip families at 12V. Used if 24V implementations force grouped pixels or low pixel density.

Fallback B • GS8208 RGB @ 12V

Bit depth

8-bit (12-bit gamma)

PWM

8 kHz

Voltage

12V

Universes

238

Stronger practical image behavior than commodity workhorse strips. Lower fidelity ceiling than the GS83xx family, but proven sourcing and a sound fallback if GS83xx procurement fails.

POWER ARCHITECTURE

Power planning follows a single rule: engineer from measured sample behavior of the final strip, not from a legacy strip family’s nominal current.

Locked

Design fundamentals

• Distributed DC power zones
• Per-zone fusing
• Zone-level fault isolation
• Software brightness ceiling
• Staggered zone power-up sequencing
• Injection spacing validated against real strip samples

Pending sample validation

Awaiting strip selection

• Final strip voltage (12V or 24V)
• Per-meter current draw
• Total system wattage
• Final injection interval
• Final PSU SKU and zone count
• Tech rider AC requirements

Preferred branch — 24V GS83xx

✓ Lower current for the same power
✓ Fewer injection points than 12V
✓ Easier cable management
✓ Simpler long-run distribution

PSU candidates: Mean Well SE-600-24 / UHP-500-24 / HLG-600H-24A (final selection pending sample lock).

Fallback branch — 12V

✓ Acceptable if it preserves spatial fidelity
✓ Stronger 1:1 pixel product availability
✓ Mature supply chain at this voltage
✓ Production-safe sourcing

PSU candidates: Mean Well SE-600-12 / UHP-500-12 / HLG-600H-12A (final selection pending sample lock).

CONTROL ARCHITECTURE

Protocol & Network

Protocol	sACN (E1.31) multicast
Universes (RGB)	238
Universes (RGBW)	318
Frame rate	30 fps default
Sync	E1.31 universe sync
Network	Dedicated VLAN, IGMP snooping
Switch capacity	318+ multicast groups
Cabling	Cat6 STP + Neutrik EtherCON

Controllers

Class	Advatek PixLite Mk3 family
Planning model	PixLite E16-S Mk3
Outputs per unit	16 SPI
Pixels per output	~300 (conservative)
Total controllers	9 (planning target)
Total SPI outputs	144
Pixel IC support	GS8303, GS8304, GS8208
Config	Web-based, sACN native

End-to-End Signal Path (Preferred Branch)

Brain Computer (Kurt / production host)
  ↓ dedicated sACN NIC
Managed Switch (VLAN, IGMP snooping, 318+ multicast groups)
  ↓     ↓     ↓     ↓     ↓     ↓     ↓     ↓     ↓
 9 × Advatek PixLite E16-S Mk3 (144 SPI outputs)
  ↓
Short data runs to distributed strip segments
  ↓
GS8304 RGBW or GS8303 RGB strip
24V preferred (1 LED = 1 pixel at 60+ px/m)
  ↑
Distributed 24V PSUs → zone bus bars → fused injection taps

TRADEOFF ANALYSIS

Strip families

Factor	GS8303	GS8304	GS8208
Color resolution	16-bit	16-bit	8-bit (12-bit gamma)
PWM	48 kHz	48 kHz	8 kHz
Channels	RGB	RGBW	RGB
Voltage range	3.8V–30V	3.8V–30V	12V
Universes @ 40,330 px	238	318	238
Visual ceiling	Very high	Very high	Lower
Sourcing risk	Higher	Higher	Lower
Posture	Preferred	Preferred	Strong fallback

24V vs 12V

Factor	24V	12V
Power distribution	Better	Good
Injection burden	Lower	Higher
Risk of grouped pixels	Higher	Lower
Likelihood of 1:1 pixel products	Lower	Higher
Posture	Preferred only if 1:1 preserved	Fallback if 24V compromises fidelity

RGBW vs RGB

Factor	RGBW	RGB
White quality	Better (dedicated channel)	Mixed white only
Control complexity	Higher	Lower
Universe count	Higher (318)	Lower (238)
Artistic flexibility	Higher	Strong, simpler

PROCUREMENT & VALIDATION

Priority 1

GS8304 / GS8303 @ 24V

• 1 LED = 1 pixel
• 60+ pixels/m
• Black PCB
• IP20
• 1m sample minimum

Priority 2

GS8304 / GS8303 @ 12V

If 24V cannot be sourced cleanly, source the same chip families at 12V with the same density goals.

Priority 3

GS8208 @ 12V

Maintain a fallback sample path: GS8208 RGB, 12V, 1:1 pixel, 60 pixels/m.

Sample validation questions

Exact chip used
Exact LEDs/m vs pixels/m
True 1 LED = 1 pixel behavior?
Exact strip voltage implementation
PWM behavior
Actual power draw per meter
Cut unit
Black-PCB availability
Repeat-order consistency

Top procurement risks

• Grouped pixels hidden behind high LED density
• Sample strip not matching production strip
• Unresolved breakpoint or redundant-data behavior
• Vendor cannot hold chip revision and LED binning
• Inability to reorder matching material later

CONNECTORS & CABLING

Connector philosophy is voltage-agnostic. Final cable gauges are sized after voltage and current draw lock to the production strip.

Connection	Connector	Notes
AC mains → distro	PowerCON TRUE1	Locking, IP65, touring-rated
AC distro → PSU	PowerCON 20A	Standard touring power
DC PSU → zone bus	XT60 / Anderson PP45	High-current DC, tool-free
DC bus → injection	XT30 / JST-SM 2-pin	Low-current DC tap
Switch → controller	EtherCON (NE8MX6)	Cat6, rugged, locking
Controller → strip	xConnect 3-pin / Ray Wu	Pre-terminated pigtails

Field serviceability

• All connections tool-free (push-fit, twist-lock)
• No soldering in the field
• Modular pre-wired strip segments

• Every cable labeled (heat-shrink print)
• Setup target: hours, not days
• Touring teardown discipline throughout

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE

Applicable codes

• NEC Article 518 (Assembly Occupancies)
• NEC Article 525 (Carnivals, Fairs)
• NEC Article 590 (Temporary Installations)
• UL-listed PSUs (Mean Well)
• Fire-rated cable for all AC wiring
• Local AHJ approval required per venue

Protection

• GFCI on all AC circuits
• Per-zone DC fusing
• Inline injection-tap fusing
• Star ground topology (single reference point)
• Dome frame bonded as equipment ground
• Staggered zone startup

FAULT TOLERANCE

Failure	Impact	Mitigation
Single LED fault	Strip-dependent (validated per branch)	Replace strip segment at next maintenance window
PSU fault	One zone affected	Hot-swap from onsite spares
Controller fault	~16 outputs offline (~1/9 of dome)	Hot-swap pre-configured spare
Switch fault	Entire dome offline	Spare switch, fast manual swap
Brain host fault	Entire dome offline	Backup host with engine pre-installed

Sightseer Interactive

Questions? jonathan@sightseer.fun

Last updated: 2026-05-07

Document: ColorDome_40k_Power_ArtNet_System_Design.md • v1.5 • 40,330 LEDs