minkhill Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Finished all my summer projects and yesterday closed the pool down its now time to buckle down and work on my show. This is my 2ntatear and am moving up from 16 to 32 channels. Bought the mega tree at the show and am unsure about the height and would like to run at least 3 channels. Any advice on the length of the light string on each channel and number of bulbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thevikester Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 The first year I had 32 channels 16 were dedicated t the mega tree...I ran a 10 footer...used a standard 100 count mini light string, and doubled the string in half to make it a fuller looking string... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWood Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 minkhill wrote: Finished all my summer projects and yesterday closed the pool down its now time to buckle down and work on my show. This is my 2ntatear and am moving up from 16 to 32 channels. Bought the mega tree at the show and am unsure about the height and would like to run at least 3 channels. Any advice on the length of the light string on each channel and number of bulbs.Try This http://altoonalights.com/mega/mega_calc.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minkhill Posted September 11, 2011 Author Share Posted September 11, 2011 thevikester wrote: The first year I had 32 channels 16 were dedicated t the mega tree...I ran a 10 footer...used a standard 100 count mini light string, and doubled the string in half to make it a fuller looking string...Can your give me a idea what the 16 channels did on the tree. I am going to run 4 differant colors on the tree and each color on a differant channel. Just trying to get a idea of my options on my new sequences. Before you laugh keep in mind this is my second year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfing4Dough Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 minkhill wrote: thevikester wrote: The first year I had 32 channels 16 were dedicated t the mega tree...I ran a 10 footer...used a standard 100 count mini light string, and doubled the string in half to make it a fuller looking string...Can your give me a idea what the 16 channels did on the tree. I am going to run 4 differant colors on the tree and each color on a differant channel. Just trying to get a idea of my options on my new sequences. Before you laugh keep in mind this is my second year. This page has a demo file of various effects you can do with a megatree (with written descriptions).http://www.landolights.com/main/content/view/82/39/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-Paul Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 minkhill wrote: thevikester wrote: The first year I had 32 channels 16 were dedicated t the mega tree...I ran a 10 footer...used a standard 100 count mini light string, and doubled the string in half to make it a fuller looking string...Can your give me a idea what the 16 channels did on the tree. I am going to run 4 differant colors on the tree and each color on a differant channel. Just trying to get a idea of my options on my new sequences. Before you laugh keep in mind this is my second year. Some people will run with 16 channels or strings of a single color on their mega tree. Some will use 8 channels. The 16 channels are either ran from bottom to top or maybe back down just a few inches apart. Where as those who only use 8 channels will go up and back down 180 degrees apart. Now just for a minute lets say you do 16 channels. And to keep it simple for a minute lets just say it goes straight up and ends. So, every 22.5 degrees you have a single string go up to the top. Each of these strings goes back to an individual channel. All of this for a single color. You will need more controllers for more colors. The short of it is that each controller will be for each color. Now with a tree that only uses 8 channels per color you could get two colors per controller. Draw back is that the back of the tree will mirror what the front of the tree is doing.Hope that this helps some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Rise Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Closed the pool? I've got another 6 weeks before that happens.Gotta love Florida. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minkhill Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 David Rise wrote: Closed the pool? I've got another 6 weeks before that happens.Gotta love Florida.Love Florida for a vacation but there is nothing like watching a light show in 6 inches of snow drinking a cup of hot choc. Next week is not a week to love Florida in Tennesse. GO VOLS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ Hvasta Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 Mink, welcome to the madness! First, if you can, put your city/state in your Profile, that way we can see if there's anyone close by that can help you in a crunch..Ok, on the the task at hand.. How is it secured in the ground? Dropped over Iron pipe/stake? Inserted in a submerged pipe? Those will determine how long a pole to use.. if inside a ground pipe, add abt two feet to the total length. If just slid over another pipe, or stake, measuring from the ground up, 10'-11' should be good. Figure you're going out abt 6'-8' diameter for a nice tree look. 6' or smaller diameter makes it look too pointy. a 10' above ground pole should be good with 6' diameter.. it should allow you to use a 22'-23' string of lights (most are 22'-24' long).Two easy ways to run them.. 1) put hooks at the top, have the string run up, over the hook then back down, same side, either close or spread (to fill out the tree), or 2) up an' over.You will get two different spin effects with this. Up an' down on same side will give you a wedge (spins like a pulse sprinkler), up an' over will give you a slice (spins like a card)As for channels, Up an' Down with 8 strings will let you use 8 channels for either another color or another yard element. Up an' Over with 8 may make the MT look a little sparse. 12 strings with either will look better and leave you a couple channels for a star at the top, etc. 16 seperate strings will make it look full with either Wedge(Up/Down) or Slice(Op/Over). I had Sixteen 3-color SuperStrings on my MT last year (R,G,B strings woven together). This year I'm adding White.I used 3 controllers last year, adding one more this year. Each controller was a color.If the MT is your "prized" yard element, go as all-out as you can.Oh, and do NOT forget to -securely- guy the hoop down.. Long stakes. I ended up using 18" rebar to secure the hoop. Attached files Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ Hvasta Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 MegaTree topper, IF you use screws, use heat shrinked tubing or elec tape.. taped nails would be best. This would slide into the top of the pipe, hang a couple strings over it, then walk up the pipe, set into place, guy off the pipe. Attached files Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ Hvasta Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 Better view of it.. The upper pipe would be to attach the star to. Can be shorter or left off entirely. Attached files Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
testraub Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 My new MEGA tree 15' with a 12' tree inside. I even made a text/video for it. Total of 26 Channels used. New for me this year. Upgrade the "dragline" to vinyl coated 3/32 ac cable for the final designhttp://testraub.x10.mx/testraub/my_spiral_tree_test.htmThe inside tree isn't used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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