WiggyHD Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 After reading through some questions and answers, can I assume that the regular led light strings that I bought last year from Walmart are dimmable? I am just trying to figure out if I have the right stuff to be able to talk my lovely wife into letting me get a Standard unsoldered setup this year. I will have a total of 10,200ish led bulbs in total. If I attached the picture right, I have 4800 bulbs on the house (2010).THANKS!Mark Attached files Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shfr26 Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 If they do not dim correctly, you can add snubbers, an extra c7 or c9 to help. And welcome to the forum. If I stated this wrong, someone that has used snubbers will correct me and help you out.Edit: By the way, there are no dumb questions.2nd edit: If you have not done so yet, download the demo software and start playing with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denise Brunner Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 House looks great for an animated display.... can't wait to see videos. If the LED are half wave they will not dim without some flicker with or without snubbers. If they are full wave and the lights have some shimmer then snubbers will help smooth out the fade. I have all LED lights (except for the arches) and have never (of course now this year I will have to since I have said something), have never needed snubbers. Try them out with the controller is the best way to determine if they will be OK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james campbell Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 I would go ahead and dowload the software form the Light o rama website( it's free) and play around with the programing. Then if you decide to get a controller you will be one step ahead. btw if you decide to get a controller you will need to but a license for your software ,the demo won't controll the lights Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ Hvasta Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 Hi Mark, welcome to the madness, and the greatest group of "just-not-right" people on the planet!! I can see that house is just begging to be animated! Such a great setup you've got there!! the small trees out front, wrapped with lights, a set of tomato-cage mintrees across the yard.. ah, yes... hey, wanna sell?? :shock:Ok, for your first controller, you'll need 1) a controller (obviously) and 2) a Starter package. the license comes with that.. you'll be able to run.. it's either two or four controllers with the Basic level, cant remember which.. but Starter will cover you for now. Also, now, NOW!! Get a CTB16PC http://store.lightorama.com/ctkitcpa.html, NOW!! TODAY!! while the complete-you-build is $20 off ($155) with zero shipping cost! Sale ends.. Monday, or only while supplies last!!.As the others have said, start playing with the Demo version of the Sequencer to see how it works. There are also several FREE sequence sites to get some very good sequences people have shared that you can work with, and see how we convert those little grid boxes to magic!Again, welcome, and remember.. there ARE no stupid questions!TJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Simmons Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 TJ Hvasta wrote: Again, welcome, and remember.. there ARE no stupid questions!Oh I'm not so sure about that... but the good news is that we usually give newbies a pass for the first couple of weeks, and THEN we begin gutting you and stretching your hide for tanning... :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ Hvasta Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 BWAHAHAHAHAHA!! George, you've done given out the secret too soon!! You gotta let them be here for abt a month before you let that slip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Roberson Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 WiggyHD wrote: After reading through some questions and answers, can I assume that the regular led light strings that I bought last year from Walmart are dimmable? I am just trying to figure out if I have the right stuff to be able to talk my lovely wife into letting me get a Standard unsoldered setup this year. I will have a total of 10,200ish led bulbs in total. If I attached the picture right, I have 4800 bulbs on the house (2010).THANKS!MarkWiggyHD house visualizer.This was thrown together and represents 15 channels from one of my sequences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyK Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 I used them last year (Walmart LED C7/C9) and they worked just fine for me (dimming and twinkling) and it was my 1st year with LOR (bought controller and software week before Thanksgiving and had a show up by Dec 5th - not a show to brag about here - but the neighbors and friends who never heard of LOR was impressed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyK Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 I used them last year (Walmart LED C7/C9) and they worked just fine for me (dimming and twinkling) and it was my 1st year with LOR (bought controller and software week before Thanksgiving and had a show up by Dec 5th - not a show to brag about here - but the neighbors and friends who never heard of LOR was impressed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Don Gillespie Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 Paul Roberson wrote: WiggyHD wrote: After reading through some questions and answers, can I assume that the regular led light strings that I bought last year from Walmart are dimmable? I am just trying to figure out if I have the right stuff to be able to talk my lovely wife into letting me get a Standard unsoldered setup this year. I will have a total of 10,200ish led bulbs in total. If I attached the picture right, I have 4800 bulbs on the house (2010).THANKS!MarkWiggyHD house visualizer.This was thrown together and represents 15 channels from one of my sequences.Looks great Paul, WiggyHD welcome aboard if Paul's short video doesn't have you droolling then there is something wrong, the best thing to do is try what everyone else has said but remember to get lots of extension cords, the insanity is just begining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiggyHD Posted September 19, 2011 Author Share Posted September 19, 2011 That was COOL! I appreciate all of the advice, and yes, I'll ask for more. I am ordering the $155 controller right now. I will assume (there's another one) that I will also order the rest of the things that are in the starter package to make this work. If I can talke her into it, I would also like to get the wireless light linkers. More than likely, not though. She will keep me focused and start small and easy. Now, to make a plan!THANKS!Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiggyHD Posted September 19, 2011 Author Share Posted September 19, 2011 remember to get lots of extension cords, the insanity is just begining. Oh, I have extension cords! About 25.Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Don Gillespie Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 WiggyHD wrote: remember to get lots of extension cords, the insanity is just begining. Oh, I have extension cords! About 25.Mark25 is a good start but you are going to need more even if you start with 32 channels you are now 7 extension cords short you can never have enough extension cords Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiggyHD Posted September 19, 2011 Author Share Posted September 19, 2011 Don Gillespie wrote:WiggyHD wrote: remember to get lots of extension cords, the insanity is just begining. Oh, I have extension cords! About 25.Mark25 is a good start but you are going to need more even if you start with 32 channels you are now 7 extension cords short you can never have enough extension cords I was only allowed to order one controller. She's right. Start small and learn this stuff, then each year get more.Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Saul Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 WiggyHD wrote:remember to get lots of extension cords, the insanity is just begining. Oh, I have extension cords! About 25.MarkWelcome Mark! 25 is going to go in a blink of an eye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Roberson Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 While I agree with the 'buy extension cord' crowd. I did just that when I started out. The first 2 years. I swipped up 40' extension cords every chance I got. Now I have a couple BIG cases of extension cords I never use. Some have never been used.:shock:I have though, switched over to making my own cords (except for controller input) with spt 1 wire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
testraub Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Here's an easy snubber to make. I'm thinking of adding them to all my LED strings, jist to fill up the female cord end.Tom Straub Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Don Gillespie wrote: 25 is a good start but you are going to need more even if you start with 32 channelsThat depends on the light strings you have and where you mount the controllers. I have a bunch of LED strings I bought from ChristmasDepot.com 4 years ago that came with 30" between the plug and the first bulb. I have 12 channels of these plugged directly into the controller with no extension cords needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Don Gillespie Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 Steven wrote: Don Gillespie wrote: 25 is a good start but you are going to need more even if you start with 32 channelsThat depends on the light strings you have and where you mount the controllers. I have a bunch of LED strings I bought from ChristmasDepot.com 4 years ago that came with 30" between the plug and the first bulb. I have 12 channels of these plugged directly into the controller with no extension cords needed.those are pretty unusaul light strings I would like to get my hands on some of those, I guess it also depends on yard size, with my yard I have a lot of area to cover thus the extension cords, that way I can keep my controllers away from the general public, minimizing any ideas of theft or vandalizism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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