Denise Brunner 7 Posted August 4, 2011 This is my new 64 channel controller that will control one of my two new spiral mega trees. The tree is 100% LED, 60 channels of the tree itself, 1 channel for strobes and 3 for the star on top. Did an amp check on the entire load (without strobes) and draw was only 7 amps on all 63 channels. This allows for the wire size, the single power supply and the low power heat sinks. Can't wait to light up tree one this weekend. Controller took a few nights to build, waiting for summer sale to buy the four other controller board for the second set of controllers Attached files 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Surfing4Dough 191 Posted August 4, 2011 Very clean wiring. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Donny M. Carter 5 Posted August 4, 2011 Dang that's nice!:) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John Slade 10 Posted August 4, 2011 GREAT JOB Denise!!! Very clean wiring indeed!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BrownOut 6 Posted August 5, 2011 Looks good!Is the second set of controllers you are buying going to be for a 160 channel box? Bigger is better, right? ;-) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denise Brunner 7 Posted August 5, 2011 Thanks guys, I think the controller does look pretty cool. But why do you guys always think bigger is better???? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2011 Denise Brunner wrote: Thanks guys, I think the controller does look pretty cool. But why do you guys always think bigger is better????Its a controller thing...Bundles of green wire, neatly ty-rapped...gotta' love it.Great job! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
caniac 386 Posted August 5, 2011 Denise Brunner wrote: This is my new 64 channel controller that will control one of my two new spiral mega trees. The tree is 100% LED, 60 channels of the tree itself, 1 channel for strobes and 3 for the star on top. Did an amp check on the entire load (without strobes) and draw was only 7 amps on all 63 channels. This allows for the wire size, the single power supply and the low power heat sinks. Can't wait to light up tree one this weekend. Controller took a few nights to build, waiting for summer sale to buy the four other controller board for the second set of controllerswow, i am impressed!! are you married? if so do you have a sister that is LOR gifted? lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan C 3 Posted August 5, 2011 Great job! Indeed I agree with everyone else, good wiring skills. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denise Brunner 7 Posted August 5, 2011 Thanks, from you guys thats a great compliment. Yes I am married, but I also have an unfair advantage, I own a HVAC / Plumbing firm and have been in the trades since I was 14 (last week, HA HA). Controls are my speciality !! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
caniac 386 Posted August 5, 2011 Denise Brunner wrote: Thanks, from you guys thats a great compliment. Yes I am married, but I also have an unfair advantage, I own a HVAC / Plumbing firm and have been in the trades since I was 14 (last week, HA HA). Controls are my specialty !!you are such a hottie!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
therealbigjim 3 Posted August 5, 2011 Any problems with heat or is there venting in the cover? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
james campbell 74 Posted August 5, 2011 therealbigjim wrote: Any problems with heat or is there venting in the cover?caniac seems a little hot:shock: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denise Brunner 7 Posted August 5, 2011 Have not run any amount of time with a heavy load, but with under a 7 amp draw, I am not expecting any heat issues. I intend to run it this weekend with a remote sensing thermometer inside to see where it is at. Also during the show the ambient temp will be about 30-50 degrees cooler so if it passes now, it will be good in December !!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RaceMedic 5 Posted August 5, 2011 Going back to being a newbie type question ...With the PC controllers I had to ground the green wire for all 16 channels ... Did u do the same for this box ... it looks GREAT !Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denise Brunner 7 Posted August 5, 2011 Christmas lights are a two wire (hot and neutral) 110v system. There is no ground on the light strings. I have a ground coming in the supply but it terminates in the box itself, the box being plastic can not be grounded and there is no place on each individual card for a ground. So the answer is that yes there is a ground going into the controller box, but does not leave the box and really has nothing to attach to. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JBullard 22 Posted August 5, 2011 I have a similar setup (80 channels) for my megatree. I have my supply ground going to the heat sink on the first card, then I bonded all the remaining card heat sinks with braided strap to each other. Necessary? Don't know, just the way I felt more comfortable.Great work on your wiring and etc, looks fantastic. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimswinder 181 Posted August 5, 2011 Denise Brunner wrote: But why do you guys always think bigger is better????because all our female friends tell us that...very nice job on the box...you put my 64 channel box to shame!!is the box the 12x12x6 from Lowes? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denise Brunner 7 Posted August 6, 2011 Chalk one up for us girls, some of us do know a thing or two. I can tell you a ton of mechanic stories. Anyway, yes that is the Lowes 12 X 12 X 6. Hopefully today I will get it outside on the 20 foot tree that has been set up in my back yard for the last two weeks waiting for some computer signals !!!.But thanks Guys for all the compliments, it actually is an easy task but time comsuming, compared to some of the control wiring I do. If the weather holds up I will play outside in a little while.Later:D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimswinder 181 Posted August 6, 2011 Denise Brunner wrote: Anyway, yes that is the Lowes 12 X 12 X 6.After I built my 9 boxes with the Lowes enclosures, I wished I would have spent a little more money and got some hinged boxes... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denise Brunner 7 Posted August 6, 2011 How often do you need to get into the enclosures. Once they are built, everything is external !! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Surfing4Dough 191 Posted August 6, 2011 Denise Brunner wrote: How often do you need to get into the enclosures. Once they are built, everything is external !!Jim just likes to keep opening them to admire his fine work. He is so proud of himself! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimswinder 181 Posted August 6, 2011 Denise Brunner wrote: How often do you need to get into the enclosures. Once they are built, everything is external !!Yeah...that's what I thought. But I had some channels not work...and usually the full 8 on one side of the board or other...and they only thing I could figure what happened was they got wet somehow...so I had to open them up and dry them out with a blow dryer...and whola..they started working again.Though I only had this problem the first few days...rest of the season had no issues...though I did put some of those silica gel packs into the few boxes that did have problems... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denise Brunner 7 Posted August 6, 2011 Got it up and working.... my only problem is that channel 16-2 and 16-9 both come on when you address either one. They dim fine so I know that the triac is fine but will have to go into the box and check it tomorrowOoopps - no they do not dim correctly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denise Brunner 7 Posted August 6, 2011 I will take it back, then don't dim like the rest. Not sure what is going on right now. Will have to play with it tomorrow. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
