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General Power Layout and Basic LOR Questions


OregonLights

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Hello everyone-
This is my first post here. I've been spending quite a bit of time reading the forums and want to thank everyone for the helpful discussions and suggestions.

I've had a love for Christmas lights since my childhood. My static display grows each year. The last two years I've noticed people driving by my house just to see my display. Kids say "thank you"...I'm hooked on growing the display! When I visit this forum, I see I'm only a newbie of newbies!

I am planning on LOR for this next year. Starting with 1 or 2 LOR controller kits I plan to run off my computer. I have some basic questions I haven't seen addressed in other posts:

1)Why do some use so many separate circuits (30+)? I have two 20A GFCI circuits available in the yard, but have plenty more in my garage if needed. I think I can run several controllers off each circuit since most of my lights are LED...but looking at the excellent examples of controller boxes in the forums, I commonly see two circuits to feed one controller. Multiple circuits to feed a bank of controllers.

Is this because they are pulling high current (incandescent)? If I were to use say 8 LED strings on each channel that would only be .16a/ch (.02a/string of 25 x 8) or a total of 2.6a per controller. Using this usage, for the sake of my understanding, could I plan on powering 7 controllers with one 20a circuit? Just wondering if I'm missing something. I currently run my whole static display on a 20a circuit.

2) My circuits are GFCI protected. Is it typical to run a grounded power supply from the main plug to each controller, then use 16/2 (current within capacity) zip cord to each string of lights (ungrounded)? As noted by others, it rains here in Oregon almost constantly during December.

3) I like the discussion about the DIO cards in the DIY forum. I'd like to add a card to expand my channel count and add simple on/off switching of some lights without spending lots of money. Did LOR add this option, or does someone have some left over cards? I see a DIO from LOR, but it's only 32 channels, not 96 and is rather expensive ($/ch).

4) Any suggestions for sales/timing on the 16 ch kits? As others have noted, it's tough to make a case to my wife to make the leap to LOR!

Again, thank you everyone!

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Welcome,

Personally, the reason I use so many receptacles/individual circuits is because I have them from back in the static days. Your calculations look correct - with mostly LED's you should easily be able to run everything from what you have.

You will want to raise up off the ground all the connections you can to try to eliminate problems with the GFCIs. I power all my channels from the controllers with lamp cord or zip cord.

LOR has an inventory clearance sale sometime in Feb usually and a summer sale in June or July.

The best way to bring your wife on board is to show her some videos, and make sure she likes most of the songs you sequence. Until she sees the show with her own eyes, that might be the best you can do.

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OregonLights wrote:


1)Why do some use so many separate circuits (30+)? I have two 20A GFCI circuits available in the yard, but have plenty more in my garage if needed. I think I can run several controllers off each circuit since most of my lights are LED...but looking at the excellent examples of controller boxes in the forums, I commonly see two circuits to feed one controller. Multiple circuits to feed a bank of controllers.
I have wired most of my controllers to only use a single power feed. In some cases - where I have 5 boards in a single enclosure - I still only use one pwer feed for all five boards.

Is this because they are pulling high current (incandescent)? If I were to use say 8 LED strings on each channel that would only be .16a/ch (.02a/string of 25 x 8) or a total of 2.6a per controller. Using this usage, for the sake of my understanding, could I plan on powering 7 controllers with one 20a circuit? Just wondering if I'm missing something. I currently run my whole static display on a 20a circuit.
If a single 20 amp circuit powers you static display - and the only thing you add is the contollers, but your light count stays the same, then YES

2) My circuits are GFCI protected. Is it typical to run a grounded power supply from the main plug to each controller, then use 16/2 (current within capacity) zip cord to each string of lights (ungrounded)? As noted by others, it rains here in Oregon almost constantly during December.
I use 18/2 SPT1 zip cord

3) I like the discussion about the DIO cards in the DIY forum. I'd like to add a card to expand my channel count and add simple on/off switching of some lights without spending lots of money. Did LOR add this option, or does someone have some left over cards? I see a DIO from LOR, but it's only 32 channels, not 96 and is rather expensive ($/ch).

4) Any suggestions for sales/timing on the 16 ch kits? As others have noted, it's tough to make a case to my wife to make the leap to LOR!

Again, thank you everyone!

The majority of my display is LED
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OregonLights wrote:

Hello everyone
This is my first post here. I've been spending quite a bit of time reading the forums and want to thank everyone for the helpful discussions and suggestions.
You are in trouble!I've had a love for Christmas lights since my childhood. My static display grows each year. The last two years I've noticed people driving by my house just to see my display. Kids say "thank you"...I'm hooked on growing the display! When I visit this forum, I see I'm only a newbie of newbies! I think a lot of us are newbies for many years.

I am planning on LOR for this next year. Starting with 1 or 2 LOR controller kits I plan to run off my computer. I have some basic questions I haven't seen addressed in other posts:I bet you will have 3 or 4 for Christmas 2011

1)Why do some use so many separate circuits (30+)? I have two 20A GFCI circuits available in the yard, but have plenty more in my garage if needed. I think I can run several controllers off each circuit since most of my lights are LED...but looking at the excellent examples of controller boxes in the forums, I commonly see two circuits to feed one controller. Multiple circuits to feed a bank of controllers.
I can't answer for those people but I have 112 channels (or so) using 4 15 amp circuits but while testing I ran it all on one 15 amp cicuit. Buy a Kill O Watt meter and add everything up. You can run a lot of LED lights on a single 15 amp cicuit
Is this because they are pulling high current (incandescent)? If I were to use say 8 LED strings on each channel that would only be .16a/ch (.02a/string of 25 x 8) or a total of 2.6a per controller. Using this usage, for the sake of my understanding, could I plan on powering 7 controllers with one 20a circuit? Just wondering if I'm missing something. I currently run my whole static display on a 20a circuit.

2) My circuits are GFCI protected. Is it typical to run a grounded power supply from the main plug to each controller, then use 16/2 (current within capacity) zip cord to each string of lights (ungrounded)? As noted by others, it rains here in Oregon almost constantly during December.
GFIs are good idea not sure about the rain because in Northern Alberta it doesn't rain in the winter. But if you are not tripping them now adding controllers won't make a difference
3) I like the discussion about the DIO cards in the DIY forum. I'd like to add a card to expand my channel count and add simple on/off switching of some lights without spending lots of money. Did LOR add this option, or does someone have some left over cards? I see a DIO from LOR, but it's only 32 channels, not 96 and is rather expensive ($/ch).

4) Any suggestions for sales/timing on the 16 ch kits? As others have noted, it's tough to make a case to my wife to make the leap to LOR!
Sales around Feb and July. Wife might have have a change of heart when she sees all the work you have done come to life in Dec 2011!
Again, thank you everyone!

Welcome to the madness (start buying extension cords)!
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I'm only running 3 controllers and have 6 20A GFCI circuits for them. I am an electrician so adding those 6 to the 3 shared circuit GFCI's was no big deal. I am planning on adding at least two more controllers and was wondering where I could get the power... Then like a very bright Christmas display, it hit me... I have a 50A receptacle in my front yard for the parents RV to plug into when they visit! Hmmmm A weatherproof panel and a few more GFCI plugs, plus switching most of the display to LED's. I could add 8 or more controllers! How ever... SWMBO has already put a limit on the budget for LED's and controllers :( I am trying to figure ways around that :)



Good Luck with your display!



Tom Straub

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Thanks everyone for the information. I just put away all my lights and cataloged what I've got in hand. Hit up Wal-mart for a few more sequencing LED net lights on 75% clearance and am going to start the planning.

Sounds like the sequencing is a large hill to climb!

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testraub wrote:

I have a Greenlee Clamp meter with true RMS (root mean squared). It's what I use for work and does fine for me. Most seem to use something like this http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xh7/R-202196388/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053


Won't last long, but good deal while it lasts. Regular price is even pretty good. (I order from them frequently).

P3 International Kill A Watt P4400, Large LCD Display Electricity Usage Monitor

Coupon Code :MLC203005010520NL1 limit 200 uses


Regular Price: $20.99
Final Price: $16.99 Free Shipping!

http://www.meritline.com/p3-international-p4400-kill-a-watt-the-electricity-detector---p-22980.aspx
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Will the sequencing lights last very long using a LOR controller? I have a star and tree that changes colors and patterns. Could i set the controller to just full power it and make it do its thing.

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