Flowlighting vs. Multifunctional RGB Controller (Help!)

Fellas, I could really use some help nailing down some facts about the RGB controllers and strips . I'm hoping there's a few folks that have scooped these up and tried them out before, or maybe the staff will chime in, anyway ..

The way I see it there's two serious controllers for an interior multi-color setup, the Flowlighting controller based on the controller from the Inferno V2, and the "Multifunctional LED Controller" . The Inferno kit is $99 vs the Multifunctional Controller's (MFC) $299, and seems to have a number of features the MFC doesn't, including the display, the pair of remotes, and four zones, the music interface, and the memory feature built into the controller . Given all that, why is the MFC priced at three times the value ? Is it just that the Flowlighting piece is manufactured for Oz where-as the MFC is a DMX-type controller that's probably considered a more professional-grade piece and intended for commercial use, concerts, and that kind of thing ?

Can anyone help me see where the added value is in the MFC that I might be missing ? I'm wondering if its brightness fading and color blending is much smoother then the Flowlighting controller, since I remember hearing that the Inferno V2 is still not as smooth at color blending as the ICELED controllers are . If the microcontroller had much more refined processing and gave a dramatically smoother performance it might be worth it, but you still seem to be losing a lot of functionality and the price difference is no small potatoes . Plus am I right in thinking that the MFC has no memory feature or presets you can use, and is only single-zone ?

Speaking of zones.. what exactly do the channels on the Flowlighting controller mean ? Its an underbody controller at heart.. does that mean that the four channels are just seperate connections but its a single zone in that it displays the same pattern from each channel ? Like can I set each channel seperately so one is strobing red, one is flashing blue, one is solid white, etc ? And if I'm using multicolor changes does it ever have chase functions that would go from the front to the back of a vehicle if the tubes were aligned in the usual underbody format, but that wouldn't flow evenly if the channels went to LED strips connected to different areas of a room ?

Also, does the Flowlighting Extreme RGB unit connect to either of these controllers ? The product description talks about its built in ECU but doesn't explain whether or not that can be bypassed in favor of a multi-zone controller .

Also, also.. what are the options for RGB sources that are more of a circular 'spot' construction then a linear strip of LEDs ? I don't see an obvious product choice for an application where you'd need to fit something in a small round or square space and use it as a multi-color spot . There is the RGB 3-LED Square Module for $3.99 but this is a more basic design that is limited in output and angle, and uses individual RGB chips instead of a tri-chip design, right ? The high intensity floods and super-flux units don't offer a multi-color option . Would the best option be to roll or spool up a small length of a Flathead LED Strip ? That would make a sort of spotlight of its own, but it still doesn't integrate a tri-chip design, instead using individual RGB LED's .

Props and thanks to anyone who can help me clear my head about these options.. I'm ready to drop some coin on a new interior set-up but I'm clearly a bit spun up about the options here . I really wish I could demo the Flowlighting and Multifunctional Controllers side-by-side, or that there was a comparative write-up to reference when you're picking a controller .

Here is a video showing what the V2 wheel well kit (same as the Flowlighting Controller) looks like in the Multi F mode (mode rotates 4 colors the four color zones):

*crappy cell phone camera*

The MFC is a DMX contoller and controllable device (takes and makes color commands), this requires it's own processor to make and take the communications which raised the cost. Also I don't see it stated but I'd take a wild guess at the idea that the MFC also has a higher load rating than the Flowlighting controller (2amps per channel), which again requires larger parts n pieces thus the cost. The way the specs look for this controller it shows it's got alot of control on the fade/sweep of it's colors.

The Flowlighting Extreme RGB units have a 4 pin comm line coming out of them so I'd not be too suprised that you could tap a controller into them BUT they are more designed around being tandom'd to eachother (thus you can get one with IR and others with out...). Without out knowing what the pin outs are on the unit it's a guess if it's common positive or negative...

The Zones on the wheel well kit are like 4 sections of a tube on a body kit. So you can have 4 different colors displayed (as shown above), or you can have all one color, you can have it sweep one color over another: in my car it's front driverside, rear driver side, rear passenger and front passenger, this means if I have say red ground and a blue movement color it can sweep clock-wise or counter clock-wise, it can go front to back or have just the front blue and have the back switching between or vise versa. The Multi options has serveral pre-set color options/zones as well as you can custom build each zone and save this which in turn would allow you to have 4 different colors and have two flashing and two solid. I can't remember for sure but I think when using color fade it light up all four tubes and is unable to sweep scan from tube to tube.

For "spot" perpouses I'd say the RGB 3 led square module a good option, if you want to be a bit more custom I'd say either 3 of the prewired superflux 4 chip leds OR build your own spots with either 3 ledsor RGB led for a single led "spot" effect... The Flatehead led strips while nice are not that flexable and are prone to failure from being moved too much (I lost a few led groups cause I kept playing with mine...) as well as would be much bulkier than simply building your own spot array.



Now after saying this I can say for sure it is a hard choice. I'm currently running 2 rgb controllers in my car, one is the V2 wheel well kit for my floor lighting (was planning on adding 2 more de-tube'd strips for a flood effect but I sold them with my V2 undercar kit) and a Big Clive controller for my gauges. I love the wheel well kit since like the underbody kit it has a lot of options/features, it's color fade is the same like with the undercar kit in which it is a but strobe-ish/chuncky on going from color to color. With my gauges I planned to only use one color most of the time (red makes for less eye strain, I learned from my retardedly bright blue glow I had before ) but when I wanna screw around (THIS and THIS - note the pod gauges are internally controlled and not linked to big clive controller) I'm a quick button click and 31/32 (red version is 31, green is 32) options to quickly sweep thru.

My opinion, if you want 4 different colored sections and wireless control I'd say the flowlight controller is the best option, if you are just looking for a good RGB controller I'd say while the MFC is a good unit, for automotive perpouses I'd go with something smaller (like the big clive or the Freedom RGB Controller for the wireless option) for space saving installation.

Wow, great info, thanks Black ! I think the flowlighting controller is my better option at this point considering the remote, multizones, and not insubstantial cost difference . I really wish I could see an example of the MFC or another DMX style controller in use in a residential environment though, and I'd looove to see a side-by-side display of their features in action in some video where you could judge things like how smooth a blend is and what 'twinkling' would look like on your living room wall, etc . (Note to Oznium marketers) .

Also, thanks for pointing out the Big Clive Controller, that looks like a great solution for an area that would be impractical to connect to the main controller due to wiring or area constraints but that I'd still want full color control over . The bare PCBs for the superflux RGB lights are a cool product that I might look into as well, thanks !

Lol Yea it's why I chose the wheel well kit for my interior over getting the zen controller for the trons I have but I also planned to get the V2 undercar kit to make it all match....

DMX controllers are what clubs, concerts and plays use at some rate or another depending, so if you've been to some form of the before mentioned you have seen some DMX in action. I too am currious on the rates of fade with the MFC but I'm just not that currious lol...


I can't remember who/how I found Big Clive's site (I think somebody else was using his controller and I searched it out) but I've been really impressed with the controller and his kits. I like how he's made things to support his other kits and his costs are crazy low, my controller shipped was like 35 bucks at the time. The thing I loved most with the controller is that for my gauges I wanted to have ANY color wanted at hand, and it's a simple click away (I really like the marker colors for quick 7 color options)...