My Christmas Light Display. Using Light-O-Rama controllers.

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  • actaeon277

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    I plan on using this thread to show off my Christmas Light Display, and give some instruction for those interested.
    (Transmits at FM 100.1)
    (Anyone wants to visit the display, it is in Merrillville. If you want my address, either PM me, or if you can't PM, leave a post in this thread and I'll send it to you.)

    First, here is my lights from the last two years. The song is Christmas Eve in Sarajevo, by Trans Siberian Orchestra.
    [video=youtube;L76DfSLad5o]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L76DfSLad5o&app=desktop[/video]
     
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    actaeon277

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    And this is a second song, Wizards in Winter, also by TSO.
    [video=youtube;0Gjwq8zFKds]https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&persist_app=1&v=0Gjwq8zFKds[/video]
     

    actaeon277

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    Ok. A little history first, now that I have your attention.

    As a kid, my Mom would tell my Dad to go set up the Christmas lights. We mostly just had stuff on the tree.
    I remember my Dad trying to untangle the lights, and trying to get them working.
    I also remember a LOT of words that were not very Christmasy.

    So, at first, I was using the old fashioned bulbs, going thru the same pains, and the same language, when LEDs came on the market.
    I would buy a few strings a year, and eventually it was all LED.
    But,, the lights were BORING. They didn't do ANYTHING.

    Eventually, I found a controller that had 6 outputs, each randomly on/off.I
    It was better, but not great.

    Then, someone sent me a link to Christmas Lights Gone Wild
    [video=youtube;rmgf60CI_ks]https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&persist_app=1&v=rmgf60CI_ks[/video]


    At first, I thought it was just done on a computer, not real.
    But I researched and found Light-O-Rama.
     

    actaeon277

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    So I did some research, and did some thinking.
    Then I placed my first order. (Description later)

    In the winter of 2009, this was my first display. There is no sound, because I was learning, and wanted to learn a little at a time.
    [video=youtube;HRnp-d7Egi4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&persist_app=1&v=HRnp-d7Egi4[/video]


    The "show" is made up of several "sequences".
    I try to keep the sequences short, to keep attention. I string the sequences together, till i run out of sequences. Then it repeats.
    To give you an idea of size, the big set of lights on the right are light nets, 4 foot by 4 foot.
    There are 3 nets high, by 5 nets wide. For 12 foot high by 20 foot wide. It only covers the lower third or so of the tree, and only one fourth of the tree circumference.
     

    actaeon277

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    This is the lightorama website
    Light-O-Rama

    And this is their store.
    Light-O-Rama - Computerized Lighting Controllers

    I bought an industrial rated starter set (which is way overrated for my set up), added a second 16 output controller, and upgraded the software.
    SP16ChannelsX3.jpg


    You can see in the pic, the coiled cords are 120vac input (2 cords), and there are 8 outputs left, and 8 outputs right. For a total 16 outputs on that controller.
     

    actaeon277

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    Now that controller is only an output device, it doesn't "think". It's sort of a complicated light switch.
    You can control it with a "director" or your computer.
    Since I didn't want to tie up a computer, or dealing with a wire thru a wall, I bought a cheap (relatively speaking) director.
    yhst-1552586516070_2270_12857537


    You take a card like those in your digital camera, place the show on it, plug it into this director.
    It has a mp3 output you can send to speaker or FM transmitter.
    It also outputs on a cat5 cable to the controller.

    Each of the controllers has two cat5 connectors, so as you add controllers (for more outputs), you just daisy chain them together.
     

    actaeon277

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    Ok, I was going to show the 2010 display, but it seems to be glitching a couple seconds in. I may have to re-upload it.

    Basically, I added more non-musical sequences.
    This is the second and last year with no music.
    By now, I've learned how to program the lights, it's prett easy. Basically looks like a spreadsheet.
    I will go over programming later in this thread.
     

    chef larry

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    I plan on using this thread to show off my Christmas Light Display, and give some instruction for those interested.

    First, here is my lights from the last two years. The song is Christmas Eve in Sarajevo, by Trans Siberian Orchestra.
    [video=youtube;L76DfSLad5o]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L76DfSLad5o&app=desktop[/video]

    Well worth the time to go by and see the great job Larry does. Wife, grandson, and I can't wait to see this years display.:yesway:
     

    actaeon277

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    Back to present day.
    Wednesday I finally got around to starting.

    20141203_145227_zpsc9ex8bsb.jpg



    This is everything I just brought downstairs. This is all the stuff to get me up to 2012 level
    2013 was a repeat of 2012, cause I was buying and planning a big addition for this year.
    That stuff is not present in the pic.


    20141203_172604_zps5etdlc2f.jpg


    I always start with the "tree of lights" first.
    There are 6 blue strings and 6 green strings. Each string can be individually controlled.
    Since that uses 12 of the outputs of a 16 output controller, I mount a controller to the base of the tree.
    So, no extension cords for this part.

    I grab a blue string in the middle, and tie wrap it to a ring at the top.
    20141203_174546_zpsd5y9yono.jpg




    20141203_174521_zpsnqwhipuz.jpg


    Then I anchor each end, on opposite sides.
    This gives it an inverted v look.
    I did this, because the tree is only 8 foot or so tall.
    The anchor point is the metal band with the holes.
    It is elevated to keep the lights out of the snow.
    Melting snow can cause water to rust the LED's iron legs, killing the string.
    (This can be fixed by finding the rust and cleaning it off).

    I use yellow ties to mark where the ends go, so that I don't have to refigure it out every year.
     

    actaeon277

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    20141203_172617_zps3j05cvx4.jpg



    When placing my lights I've learned to plug them into an extension cord. That way if one was knocked loose in the box, or while placing it, I will find out and can address it right away.
     

    actaeon277

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    Back to 2012.
    Here is my 3rd song.
    Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from the Nutcracker.
    [video=youtube;oG3fsYMSZzE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&persist_app=1&v=oG3fsYMSZzE[/video]
     

    actaeon277

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    Song 4
    O Come All Ye Faithful, by TSO.
    [video=youtube;wGTAuAkmZ_k]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGTAuAkmZ_k&app=desktop[/video]
     

    actaeon277

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    And my 5th and last song from 2012.
    Santa Claus is Coming on a Boogie Woogie Choo Choo Train by the Tractors.
    [video=youtube;xPRTTZra1f4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&persist_app=1&v=xPRTTZra1f4[/video]

    This song is different than the other 4.
    On the other 4, I took days going over the song, determining when each light went on/off.
    On this one I used the "Beat Wizard".
    I grouped several outputs together in the software, so I only had to deal with 5 or so groups.
    Then I told the wizard, start this group on beat #X, stay on for few tenths of a second, then repeat every Y beats.
    Next group, changed start beat, and repeat #.
    Song took 15 minutes to program.
    Fast and dirty.
    But, I don't like it, and will eventually revisit the song.
     

    mom45

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    My husband is still trying to figure out how to hook the DVD player up to the tv. We might be electronically challenged here. That's why I have a 22 year old son....he can do what we cannot. :rofl:
     

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