Guest guest Posted September 19, 2006 Posted September 19, 2006 I'm thinking of picking one of these boards up and trying something small for x-mas...I notice that many or you have upgraded your homes with huge breaker boxes, etc... Using a standard service (no upgrades) how many of the LORs can you run... I don't really want to have to upgrade my service.Second question: Would using LEDs lights exclusively dramatically reduce the power needs and increase the amount or LOR units you can run on a standard service?Thanks,Jeff Barryhttp://www.hauntedyards.com
Guest guest Posted September 19, 2006 Posted September 19, 2006 Using a standard service (no upgrades) how many of the LORs can you run... I don't really want to have to upgrade my service.Depends on what service you have in the first place. However, it might be easier to think of this way. You are limited by the total amperage available at the breaker box, not by the number of breakers. For example, I still have 6 or so breakers left on the panel in my home. If I were to fill them and use them for lights (in addition to the 6 already there.) I would be hard pressed to do much else in the home during the holiday season. Why? I'd be real close to my limit of 200amps.Second question: Would using LEDs lights exclusively dramatically reduce the power needs and increase the amount or LOR units you can run on a standard service?Correct. LED's will lower your power needs.
Guest guest Posted September 19, 2006 Posted September 19, 2006 So if I was going to build an LED mega tree and use 16 channels just for that... any ideas for a guestimate of power consumtion... from anyone who has built an LED mega tree?
Guest guest Posted September 19, 2006 Posted September 19, 2006 You need to know how many leds you will have on the tree. A quick guess-timate will be:(Total # LEDS on Tree) * 0.0008 = Total Number of Amps(This is assuming you're counting the total number of bulbs, NOT the total number of strings.) A string of 25 LEDs is .02 amps according to the PlanetChristmas power chart.) Check your boxes for your actual LED power consumption numbers, but this should get you close.
Guest guest Posted September 19, 2006 Posted September 19, 2006 hauntedyards wrote: I'm thinking of picking one of these boards up and trying something small for x-mas...I notice that many or you have upgraded your homes with huge breaker boxes, etc... Using a standard service (no upgrades) how many of the LORs can you run... I don't really want to have to upgrade my service.It depends. Do you have air conditioning in your home? Being that you aren't using that in the winter, consider that as an allowance for the electric you can use at Christmas. If you're only purchasing one board (16 channels), 30 amps max, you will be fine. More important would be what you're running on the lines you plug the unit into. If you have an outdoor outlet dedicated to a single 15/20 amp circuit, you'll be fine.Second question: Would using LEDs lights exclusively dramatically reduce the power needs and increase the amount or LOR units you can run on a standard service?Dramatically, yes, to both (again, unless you max out the amps on one of the units, in which case with LEDs you will have one helluva bright display at your place!!!!!!)
Guest guest Posted September 19, 2006 Posted September 19, 2006 I have a dedicated 20 AMP breaker right now just for the AC in the summer and in the fall my halloween stuff and plugging in the cars for winter... So it sounds like I'll be alright... I think I'll use strictly LEDs anyways just to be on the safe side... it sounds like 20 AMPs of LEDs is lot.... hehe
Guest guest Posted September 20, 2006 Posted September 20, 2006 I bet you could just about power your whole display of LEDs with 20 amps. The big problem with LEDs is the cost. I wouldn't replace my whole display with LEDs, but I may start buying more of them as the older lights die out. Luckily though, I haven't maxed out the circuit breaker yet. Maybe by the time I get big enough, LEDs will be down to $5 a strand.
Recommended Posts