T. Bennett Posted June 15, 2011 Posted June 15, 2011 This will be my 2yr with LOR. I ran 16ch last year just to get my feet wet, and in my opinion (and many passer-bys) the first year was a big success. I have all of you on LOR to thank for that success. Without everyone's help, i would've been clueless....So to the purpose of this post...Between enjoying the summer, work and the family, I am starting to work on my Halloween and more IMPORTANTLY LOR Xmas show for this year. I have already decided that I am to get another controller this year, as I want to broaden my horizons. I have been doing a lot of reading on the posts and want to try my hand at Leaping Arches this year.Reading through the posts I realized I would need at least one more controller if not two to make "effective" arches. I have a fairly small yard, so I was looking at "small" arches of 7' wide, 3-4" tall. I would like to do three arches I think, but to do 7 channels/arch means 21 channels, thus 2 controllers just for the arches.Then I started to read about the Color Ribbons. So here it is:For the $$$, what is a better method to achieve the effect? More controllers with arches or going with the CCR's?Looking forward to hearing your responses.Tim
vipzach Posted June 15, 2011 Posted June 15, 2011 I am not sure how many channels it takes to program a CCR, but something I like about the CCR is how many different colors and effects you can create.
T. Bennett Posted June 15, 2011 Author Posted June 15, 2011 vipzach wrote: I am not sure how many channels it takes to program a CCR, but something I like about the CCR is how many different colors and effects you can create.That was another question that I forgot to add to my original post.How many channels does a CCR require for what effects?Good point Zach....
Ron Amedee Posted June 15, 2011 Posted June 15, 2011 Each CCR is 157 channels..You are really only programming 50 plus 7 micro channels.By using the fade tool you pick your color (only around 6 million, So no big deal:shock:)There is a learning curve, Yet plenty of help right here on the forum.Best advice is add a CCR to your sequence and start playing with it. The visualizer will give you a good idea what it will look like.Have Fun
T. Bennett Posted June 15, 2011 Author Posted June 15, 2011 Ron Amedee wrote: Each CCR is 157 channels..You are really only programming 50 plus 7 micro channels.By using the fade tool you pick your color (only around 6 million, So no big deal:shock:)There is a learning curve, Yet plenty of help right here on the forum.Best advice is add a CCR to your sequence and start playing with it. The visualizer will give you a good idea what it will look like.Have FunExcuse my (2yr) Newbie ignorance, but are you saying here that you need 50 channels on controllers to run 1 CCR? If this is true, it seems based on my initial post, to do leaping arches, avoid CCR and go with additional controllers?Perhaps I am thinking about this all wrong....Do CCRs require any connection to a controller (other than the Cat5). Is it right that they require no channels from the controller?
Don Posted June 15, 2011 Posted June 15, 2011 The CCR's come with their own controller. If the only thing you wanted to use was a CCR in your display, you would NOT need a regular controller.The CCR controller and a regular controller can be connected together, just like two regular controllers.
edvas69 Posted June 15, 2011 Posted June 15, 2011 T. Bennett wrote: Ron Amedee wrote: Each CCR is 157 channels..You are really only programming 50 plus 7 micro channels.By using the fade tool you pick your color (only around 6 million, So no big deal:shock:)There is a learning curve, Yet plenty of help right here on the forum.Best advice is add a CCR to your sequence and start playing with it. The visualizer will give you a good idea what it will look like.Have FunExcuse my (2yr) Newbie ignorance, but are you saying here that you need 50 channels on controllers to run 1 CCR? If this is true, it seems based on my initial post, to do leaping arches, avoid CCR and go with additional controllers?The CCR uses 50 RGB channels (150 normal channels) but the controller that comes with the CCR controls that so there is no need to buy anything else to run the CCR. You can also use macros where you can get leaping arch effect by just controlling upto 7 different macro channels.When you weigh it all up, the time it takes to create traditional arches and the cost in controllers it is actually better off going for the CCR as it has a higher resolution, brighter lights and many more colors than creating a tradintional arch and as well it ends up being similar in price.The one draw back of using a CCR and its only a draw back for a few is that the strip can only be viewed from one side so if you wanted an arch to be viewed from both sides than you would require 2 CCRs
T. Bennett Posted June 15, 2011 Author Posted June 15, 2011 Don wrote: The CCR's come with their own controller. If the only thing you wanted to use was a CCR in your display, you would NOT need a regular controller.The CCR controller and a regular controller can be connected together, just like two regular controllers.Don, Okay, I think I am beginning to understand this now. That being said, if you were going to start from scratch for Leaping Arches, (as I am), would you build arches, buy lights and more controllers to run them, or go with CCRs? If CCRs are the answer, can someone use the CCR for an Arch? If I wanted 3 arches say....7' wide, 3-4' tall (small), then how may CCRs to do this? 1 per Arch?Any input is appreciated...Tim
edvas69 Posted June 15, 2011 Posted June 15, 2011 T. Bennett wrote: Don wrote: The CCR's come with their own controller. If the only thing you wanted to use was a CCR in your display, you would NOT need a regular controller.The CCR controller and a regular controller can be connected together, just like two regular controllers.Don, Okay, I think I am beginning to understand this now. That being said, if you were going to start from scratch for Leaping Arches, (as I am), would you build arches, buy lights and more controllers to run them, or go with CCRs? If CCRs are the answer, can someone use the CCR for an Arch? If I wanted 3 arches say....7' wide, 3-4' tall (small), then how may CCRs to do this? 1 per Arch?Any input is appreciated...TimThe CCR is 5 metres long (approx 16 foot) per CCR strip and controller. The CCR has 30 LEDs per metre which can be controlled in groups of 3 leds so thats 10 controllable sections per metre (approx 3.8ft)You can also cut the CCR down to 100mm (4inches) sections but this will also void the warranty but isnt that hard to do.
T. Bennett Posted June 15, 2011 Author Posted June 15, 2011 It almost sounds like I could do two arches with one CCR, without cutting the CCR.Again I appreciate the help.
ainsworth Posted June 16, 2011 Posted June 16, 2011 Steve Synek did what you are talking about, only he used 3 CCRs to make 6 arches.There is a thread in the CCR forum where he talks about what and how he did it.http://forums.lightorama.com/reply.php?topic_id=26722Assuming you buy the CTB16PC kit (no soldering but you have to hookup the power cords) at $206 each, 3- 7 channel arches would require 2 controllers with 11 channels extra. Then you have to buy the lights. If you go with 70 string LEDs you would need 21 strings of lights. At $15 per string thats another $315 and you would have 3 single color LED arches for $727. If you use incandescent lights the cost would drop to $450 for 3 arches.If you get 2 CCRs at $250 each you can make 3 arches and you will have 1/2 of a CCR left. So for $500 you have 3 arches with millions of colors. I doubt you would ever use more than about 10 colors but the option is there if you want it.Many things, other than price, enter into your final choice. Do you need 11 more channels? Do you like the look of the traditional arches more than the CCR arches? Do you need more than 1 color. Can you fit 4 arches rather than 3 (so you don't have 1/2 a CCR doing nothing)? Do you mind sequencing 150 channels rather than 21(I don't use marcos so that's why I say 150)?The choice you make will be the right one for you. Have lots of fun!
steve synek Posted June 16, 2011 Posted June 16, 2011 I highly recommend the ribbon method. Hopefully they will be on sale again shortly for around $200 each- which easily makes two 8' arches. You can see that they are working from the back side, but it is nothing like seeing them head on.Steve
jimswinder Posted June 16, 2011 Posted June 16, 2011 There is also another option on the horizon...if and when CCB's are released and put on sale.I think they will be a lot more versatile than the CCR's...
crackchecker Posted June 16, 2011 Posted June 16, 2011 jimswinder wrote: There is also another option on the horizon...if and when CCB's are released and put on sale.I think they will be a lot more versatile than the CCR's...That's what I'm waiting for....Plan on using the CCB's on the roof lines and peaks.... We'll see.
George Simmons Posted June 16, 2011 Posted June 16, 2011 jimswinder wrote:There is also another option on the horizon...if and when CCB's are released and put on sale.Using CCB's for arches will look very much like the Firefly product from a couple years ago. It's definitely a different look from conventional arches. Probably will be visible from more directions than a CCR, though.
jimswinder Posted June 16, 2011 Posted June 16, 2011 George Simmons wrote: jimswinder wrote:There is also another option on the horizon...if and when CCB's are released and put on sale.Using CCB's for arches will look very much like the Firefly product from a couple years ago. It's definitely a different look from conventional arches. Probably will be visible from more directions than a CCR, though. I think it will depend a lot on how you mount the bulbs...if they are 8" spacing you could:* mount them all pointing up and very close together* mount them pointing out, but in columns of 3 or 4 bulbs per column* I suppose you could even do a "conventional" wrapping...
Guest Don Gillespie Posted June 16, 2011 Posted June 16, 2011 jimswinder wrote: George Simmons wrote: jimswinder wrote:There is also another option on the horizon...if and when CCB's are released and put on sale. Using CCB's for arches will look very much like the Firefly product from a couple years ago. It's definitely a different look from conventional arches. Probably will be visible from more directions than a CCR, though. I think it will depend a lot on how you mount the bulbs...if they are 8" spacing you could:* mount them all pointing up and very close together* mount them pointing out, but in columns of 3 or 4 bulbs per column* I suppose you could even do a "conventional" wrapping...Do you have something about mounting them down and very far apart Iam not holding my breath waiting for the CCB's for this year
jimswinder Posted June 16, 2011 Posted June 16, 2011 Don Gillespie wrote: Do you have something about mounting them down and very far apart **Nope...just didn't cross my mind...**Iam not holding my breath waiting for the CCB's for this year**ARGHHH...don't say that!!! My display is COUNTING on them!!
George Simmons Posted June 16, 2011 Posted June 16, 2011 I don't think people will find the 8" spacing convenient to work with for arches, poles, etc. - for those I definitely think the CCR is the way to go.TB - if you're looking for smaller arches, you could use 16 pixels per arch and get 3 per CCR with a pixel between each arch for transition. You could make each arch however long 16 pixels comes to and if you used 1/2" gray pvc it would be workable at most any length.
T. Bennett Posted June 16, 2011 Author Posted June 16, 2011 George Simmons wrote: I don't think people will find the 8" spacing convenient to work with for arches, poles, etc. - for those I definitely think the CCR is the way to go.TB - if you're looking for smaller arches, you could use 16 pixels per arch and get 3 per CCR with a pixel between each arch for transition. You could make each arch however long 16 pixels comes to and if you used 1/2" gray pvc it would be workable at most any length.I am trying to understand the "pixels/arch" concept. I am reading tons and tons of threads on these things, and slowly grasping things. Maybe a few answers would help me along.1> Is there a set number of pixels/ccr?2> Define pixel (in respect to the ccr)3> Does a pixel constitute a channel on the CCR, (one of the 150 or 50)?I dont know what else right now, just trying to understand the "appeared" complexity of these things.Thanks for the comments George.
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