Anybody into Christmas Lights?

Serendipity

This year I'm planning on running 50-60 amps of christmas lights, plus video projection and sound system. If I'm lucky enough, and get some of my boards completed, I'll be showing a video/PowerPoint presentation synchronized in time to the lights. Will be totally spectacular.

So - anybody here really into setting up Christmas Light displays?

I think they are a LOT of fun

movtarget

Yes.

Last year was my first real year beyond traditional decorations. Using Light-O-Rama controllers to synchronize 128 channels (48,000 lights) to music broadcast over low power FM. Added a sub-panel and 8 20 amp circuits to drive the lights.

I have not 'you-tubed' my video due to low quality of the recording.

It's awfully addicting.

Movtarget in NC

Serendipity

movtarget wrote: »

Yes.

Last year was my first real year beyond traditional decorations. Using Light-O-Rama controllers to synchronize 128 channels (48,000 lights) to music broadcast over low power FM. Added a sub-panel and 8 20 amp circuits to drive the lights.

I have not 'you-tubed' my video due to low quality of the recording.

It's awfully addicting.

Movtarget in NC

Have you considered building your own boards? Light-O-Rama is cool, but for a 18 year old like me, it's just too expensive. Plus my Electrical Engineering professor is nice and helps me out with this kind of stuff...

I'm in the same boat as you with power though. Have a subpanel with (2) 20 amp circuits and (6) 15 amp circuits for the rest of the lights. It's just that there is a constant need for more power and power in NYC is insanely expensive. The current service I have will serve me well, though...

I am not broadcasting over FM as the neighbors are completely okay with my outdoor speakers. In fact, when I asked my neighbors if the music was too loud, they said "no, it's not loud enough!" They wanted me to turn up the volume!!!

Anyways, this year I will be adding video projection to the lights and will be showing either a video or powerpoint presentation from a PC. Will most likely be a 100" rear projection screen on a window.

Good luck with your display!

Oh yeah, it's SO awfully addicting!!!:):):)

sucks2beme

I'll be wandering about my neighborhood with my heavy insulated wire cutters
to stop all the escalating lighting displays. I'm hoping the ones I don't get to
just burn down the house. If you want to celebrate Christmas, send a gift to the
troops overseas, or volunteer at the homeless shelter. Burning up
megawatts of power and run up energy bills is getting old.
And why have the xmas displays been up in stores for three weeks?
Yeah, I know. I'm getting a lump of coal in my stocking.:mad:

janmike

I would never wish anyone's house to burn down.

Serendipity

sucks2beme wrote: »

I'll be wandering about my neighborhood with my heavy insulated wire cutters
to stop all the escalating lighting displays. I'm hoping the ones I don't get to
just burn down the house. If you want to celebrate Christmas, send a gift to the
troops overseas, or volunteer at the homeless shelter. Burning up
megawatts of power and run up energy bills is getting old.
And why have the xmas displays been up in stores for three weeks?
Yeah, I know. I'm getting a lump of coal in my stocking.:mad:

Actually I donate money to build housing and schools for children in Tibet who otherwise would not have the ability to get an education. Went to Tibet this year to see the progress and saw how poor it was there. We spent approximately 1 month in the mountains alone and did a lot of filming in Tibet. We are working on this documentary for our temple to support poor families in Tibet who live below the poverty line. Hopefully the money we collect from showing the documentary will help poor children in Golok, Tibet which will receive food and health care:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck0PInFlstY is some old footage our foundation made just to show what it's like there...

Mike682

This is the 2nd year at our house. I had a basic setup last year and looking to add more this year.

Putting up lights is fun!

Serendipity

Mike682 wrote: »

This is the 2nd year at our house. I had a basic setup last year and looking to add more this year.

Putting up lights is fun!

Glad to hear you're into lights. It sure is a lot of fun!

P.S. I would never wish anyone's house to burn down.

sucks2beme

janmike wrote: »

I would never wish anyone's house to burn down.

That was a bit strong. Sorry. But it's a wonder they don't. Cheap Chinese light strings and extension cords laying on the wet ground.
It just bothers me that they can put that much energy into something
just for show. I hope they just blow a breaker!

Serendipity

sucks2beme wrote: »

That was a bit strong. Sorry. But it's a wonder they don't. Cheap Chinese light strings and extension cords laying on the wet ground.
It just bothers me that they can put that much energy into something
just for show. I hope they just blow a breaker!

I don't do it just for show. See my other post...

shadowofnight

appadv wrote: »

This year I'm planning on running 50-60 amps of christmas lights, plus video projection and sound system. If I'm lucky enough, and get some of my boards completed, I'll be showing a video/PowerPoint presentation synchronized in time to the lights. Will be totally spectacular.

So - anybody here really into setting up Christmas Light displays?

I think they are a LOT of fun

There is a neighbor 2 blocks from me...you could see their house from the space shuttle in orbit ....you literally can almost not look in its direction without getting flash blinded

Serendipity

shadowofnight wrote: »

There is a neighbor 2 blocks from me...you could see their house from the space shuttle in orbit ....you literally can almost not look in its direction without getting flash blinded

That's just overkill.

Do they do anything for charity?

Ron-P

Anybody into Christmas Lights?

Nah, too boring and a waste of time.

McLoki

I just do the normal christmas light thing, but do enjoy driving around and looking at them. (and sometimes, admittedly, I am glad I don't live next to some of these guys... )

Michael

Serendipity

Ron-P wrote: »

Nah, too boring and a waste of time.

Not if it's for charity...

The kids like it too!

Systems

I don’t like the idea of actually running outside lights on my house. We usually put up a little reindeer display on the lawn with the big spike based lights around the lawn edges and then put lights in our big front and rear windows (inside).

Serendipity

Silverti wrote: »

I don’t like the idea of actually running outside lights on my house. We usually put up a little reindeer display on the lawn with the big spike based lights around the lawn edges and then put lights in our big front and rear windows (inside).

That's kinda like what I do. Nothing overkill, approximately 10-12 strings of lights inside the front window and another 40 or so outside along with a reindeer display.

This year I will be adding video projection to the show.

For those guys with animated lights, besides Light-O-Rama, what else do you use? Do any of you have outdoor speakers? Video projection? Moving reindeers? etc.

Serendipity

Oh yeah, since this is the Polk forum, how well will the Atrium 55 do for a Christmas Light display?

I'm looking for high-quality, dynamic sound but something that is not too bright or "forward" sounding so that it's easy to listen to for extended periods of time...

And needs to be able to stand VERY harsh weather (snow, ice, rain, etc.)

Serendipity

Haha,

I also enjoy driving around and looking at the other Christmas light displays in my area. Anyone in the NY/NJ area should visit Dyker Heights, Brooklyn - every year they have some beautiful Christmas light displays! And no, they are not the "outdo the Smiths" type...

Rivrrat

We do quite a bit, and we have some quirky southwest themed lit yard displays we designed. We along with a few others have turned our neighborhood into a bit of a destination street.

Now, last year, I had won our region championship, and was busy getting my soccer team ready for an area tourney, while also getting the all star team going at the same time, and some of the neighbors whined about how we had done less lights than usual. My response was sorry, we've been busy, but if want to help next year.......

I'm ready to just put up a Charlie Brown tree and a string of lights in my yard this year and call it good. We spend a lot of time doing this every year, and truthfully I don't want to hear people whine about me not doing the same if not more every year.

Serendipity

Rivrrat wrote: »

We do quite a bit, and we have some quirky southwest themed lit yard displays we designed. We along with a few others have turned our neighborhood into a bit of a destination street.

Now, last year, I had won our region championship, and was busy getting my soccer team ready for an area tourney, while also getting the all star team going at the same time, and some of the neighbors whined about how we had done less lights than usual. My response was sorry, we've been busy, but if want to help next year.......

I'm ready to just put up a Charlie Brown tree and a string of lights in my yard this year and call it good. We spend a lot of time doing this every year, and truthfully I don't want to hear people whine about me not doing the same if not more every year.

I hear ya. One year I was really busy and didn't put out ANY lights, and the neighbors were like "what happened this year, where's the lights?"

So this year I'm going to do a little bit more than normal - since the neighbors really like it. The kids in my area really like it too!

BobMcG

Ummm, no.

Serendipity

BobMcG wrote: »

Ummm, no.

It's a lot of fun. Even if you only have a few strings of lights.

And no, you don't have to get 60,000 lights to put up a good display. I've got approximately 45-50 strings of lights and that's more than enough for a nice-looking display.

Serendipity

Oh yeah, since this is the Polk forum, how well will the Atrium 55 do for a Christmas Light display?

Looked around a few places but none of them have the Polk Atrium 55 in stock. Would like to hear these speakers first before buying them for the christmas light display.

Anybody have these speakers?

Serendipity

Some people have WAY too many lights



Thank god I'm not one of them...

VR3

Sure looks like you are replying to yourself --

But the Atriums are rock solid...

Good volume up to about 20-25 ft from their sitting position, lifted about 10 ft off the ground...

Pretty much no bass

Serendipity

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote: »

Sure looks like you are replying to yourself --

But the Atriums are rock solid...

Good volume up to about 20-25 ft from their sitting position, lifted about 10 ft off the ground...

Pretty much no bass

Thanks.

Haha, I knew there had to be someone on CP who owned Atrium 55's.

Do you mean they need to be paired with a sub?

Systems

I have Atrium60's and they sound great!

Serendipity

Silverti wrote: »

I have Atrium60's and they sound great!

Thanks!

I should've made this a poll, but when do you guys think is the "generally acceptable" time to start putting out Christmas lights?

I'd think somewhere in the ballpark of Thanksgiving but I've seen some houses with Christmas lights already!

What do you guys think?

sucks2beme

They already have started around here. It takes a month to get them all up.
I guess they also want to avoid the cold weather.
Of course, some NEVER take them down. I lot more than you'd expect.:eek: