Setting up a system like this

[maddog]

Hi there, I've been looking through your site on the Xmas light setup you have and it's excellent. Great work!

I'm moving into a suburb in Sydney in 2 weeks which heavily participates in the Xmas light thing throughout December and I'm keen to set up a synchronised light show somewhat similar to yours, but different obviously . I've been looking through the gear at light-o-rama and have priced it up and exchanged some emails with them about bits and pieces.

What I wanted to get was a feel from someone who's done it as to how much is involved in setting this up. I was looking at the 128 channel controller starter kit and a low power FM transmitter from the light-o-rama guys then sourcing the actual lights locally. So my question is this, how hard is it to program the software to the music and how complex is the connection of the strands of lights to the controller?

I'm assuming the main power is fed into the controller and it distributes power to all the lights as per your design in the software? Does this mean it's simply (and I use that word loosely) a matter of wiring each strand into a controller output and away you go?

Are there any issues running a step-down transformer with the system, as I assume it'd be a 110v system from the US.

Any info you can give me from your experience would be great, and any pictures you're happy to share of your controller wiring would be excellent to give me an idea about what level of committment I'll need to carry this out.

Thanks in advance

[marquisite]

Hello Maddog, and all aboard the Christmas lighting express (so to speak)!

Light O Rama offer their software in a demo format (unable to control lights but if you upgrade to the full one you can use the sequences you've created to control the lights). I wouldn't say sequencing lights is hard, but it takes a long time to get right. I'd also suggest that you start at a smaller scale (say no more than 64 channels) in your first year.. because it is a big step. You can always add more in later years.

When you say starter kit, it sounds to me like you mean the Showtime range.. which I believe is suitable only for use in 110 volt countries.

There are two types of controllers that are suitable for use in Australia. The first being the 'PlanetChristmas' line of controllers which I introduced into my display last year.. they control the power at the 240 volt side which means you can use rope lights. When ordering, make it clear that you will be using it in Australia so that it can be preset to 240 volt operation. (Don't want any fires/explosions/etc when you first turn it on due to wrong voltages). So no step down transformer is necessary. As it is mains voltage, you can also connect more than one set of lights to one "channel". I did this with several lights last year (for example you'll notice the white and blue lights in the left/right gardens were basically mirrored.. as in the front most bush from the left garden would light at the same time as the front most bush from the right garden would)

The controller will come with a full colour easy to read manual explaining how to set it up. Also you can now get Australian plugs already with the necessary connections (spade lugs) packaged the controller so you don't need to run down to your local electronic or hardware store every five minutes. I didn't have that luxury .

You can also get a waterproof enclosure from them, however I have been told by other lighting enthusiasts that the openings at the bottom are not quite big enough to fit all the cords in because Australian cables are apparently a little thicker. So I opted to look elsewhere and eventually my Grandpa helped out by designing a decently sized wooden enclosure.

A word of warning that if you are going done this method I'd seek advise from a qualified electrician to make sure you can power all of the lights without overloading anything.

The second option is using a DC board. This is most suitable for low voltage DC LED light sets. I've not made use of a DC board though, so I cannot give you any assistance on this.

Regarding the FM transmitter.. I'd look at a local product as Australia has different broadcasting regulations to the USA so you might get yourself into hot water using an overseas product. I use a transmitter provided by an old school friend, but many others use one built by "Fordray Electronics" (the FMT_LP model as it is the only one that doesn't require a broadcasting licence).

I recommend that you search Google for the "Aussie Light-O-Rama Users" Google group where you'll be able to get many other Australian LOR users putting their two cents in to help you on your way.

PS: I'd also hold off from purchasing any controllers until the mid year sale where prices are dropped. This happens in June/July usually. You can sign up to a mailing list on the LOR site to be told when the sale will be.

[maddog]

Thanks a lot for the prompt reply and the excellent info.

I'll get hold of the demo software as a start to see how I go with it, and look at purchasing the equipment when it goes on sale and do some more research in the mean time.

Thanks again.