My first year and venture into LOR ... but Im in the UK!

[Vapourmike]

Hey

Right where do I start? my name is Mike, Im 26 year's old and I'm based in south UK. I'm a computer programmer for a living and have a heavy background in mobile dj'ing mainly in DMX lighting as a Light DJ and ILDA Laser programmer.

Due to my hobby's and backgrounds I used to always joke around with my nan about using my skills on her house, however she passed away when I was 14 but the dream has always stuck.

Now I'm financially in a position, I want to make her dream of a syncronished show come true for 2012 as a mark of respect to her.

So, introduction aside, I've done a quick search but really struggling, is there any Uk users on here that have a LOR based show? any write up's on what needs to be done/changed to get UK based LED strings etc working?

Thanks
Mike

[jer75]

HI Mike ,
Theres a few of us on here in the UK , I'm based just outside Bath where abouts are you ?
The controllers will run on 240v no problem but the only thing you may find is LED strings aren't cheap here !! I used incans on my mini trees last year along with rope lights but I'm going over to LEDs completely this year.
I'm considering useing 110v builders transformers and ordering from the USA but I've been in contact with a friend who may be able to source full wave recified LEDs from china for 240v. I'm just waiting to hear from him ,so if I can source some 240v then I'll be going down the route rather than 110v.
Here's a link to my first show this year using LOR , not the best quality but you get the idea :
http://vimeo.com/33461236
Cheers Jerry

P.S
I didnt cut the US sockets off the controller tails , I just bought US plugs and changed them over seeing most Christmas lights dont have an earth . Any questions fire away you'll get a lot of help on here from everyone and no question is to daft.

[Vapourmike]

Hi,

Thank you for the reply, always good to know there are people in the UK using the LOR setup. I live down on the south east coast near Hastings/Eastbourne, currently got a fair few normal LED strings, standard shop brought multifunction stuff, however if you ever do a group buy or bulk import I would be May I ask what components you recommend I get to start this year off? looking at starting around 32 channels?


I'm trying to stick to a theme, happy to PM you this but I don't want it public knowledge for the time being but would appreciate any help ...

So any tips, or things I 100% have to do to get started in the UK? e.g. adapters, transformers etc ... so confusing!

Mike

[jer75]

Sent you a pm mike

Cheers
Jerry

[digdeepfundraising]

hi mike im from the uk and brought my first kit this year im not going to lie to you its hard work and not as easy as you think the people on here that pull of these shows on you tube are experts and have years of practice so dont think you can just get it and go it takes hours to get a 1 min show to look good


jerry is right the led light strings over here are bloody expensive roughly 20 quid for 200/240 led strings and about 10 quid for 100/120 expensive and have those stupid 8 sequence boxes in line im currently trying to remove those at the moment and will keep you informed

but rope light is simple to connect to the boxes but use alot more amps than leds and doesn't look nowhere as good

all lor from the states come with us type plug sockets but come in 110v or 240v i brought us to uk travel adaptors so i didnt have to cut any wires off

just a rough guide to help on costs i brought a 64 channel set up with top software it cost me 1400 dollars then 330 dollars for delivery and then 80 gbp for import tax and then 70 gbps for the travel adaptors

AND THATS ALL WITHOUT THE LIGHTS AND ALL THE EXTENSION CABLES YOU WILL NEED TO USE TO MAKE YOUR SHOW

so get ready to spend a small mint im planning on 3k for my first big show

and if you got another half get ready for some ear ache coz beleive me it will grab you and you wont leave it alone im already working on next years show

any questions just holla
dan
:shock:

[digdeepfundraising]

another thing i have noticed is fill ya profile in as much as you can. people on here do help and can give some great info but they want to know a bit about yourself and were your from

also read as much as you can there is a world of knowledge on the forum/you tube/lor web site and the web im still reading and watching videos 4 months later and still only know proberly 20% of what it can really do but beleive me its a wicked bit of kit

but you will only get out of it what you put it to it good luck

[Redbirdruss]

digdeepfundraising wrote:

hi mike im from the uk and brought my first kit this year im not going to lie to you its hard work and not as easy as you think the people on here that pull of these shows on you tube are experts and have years of practice so dont think you can just get it and go it takes hours to get a 1 min show to look good


jerry is right the led light strings over here are bloody expensive roughly 20 quid for 200/240 led strings and about 10 quid for 100/120 expensive and have those stupid 8 sequence boxes in line im currently trying to remove those at the moment and will keep you informed

but rope light is simple to connect to the boxes but use alot more amps than leds and doesn't look nowhere as good

all lor from the states come with us type plug sockets but come in 110v or 240v i brought us to uk travel adaptors so i didnt have to cut any wires off

just a rough guide to help on costs i brought a 64 channel set up with top software it cost me 1400 dollars then 330 dollars for delivery and then 80 gbp for import tax and then 70 gbps for the travel adaptors

AND THATS ALL WITHOUT THE LIGHTS AND ALL THE EXTENSION CABLES YOU WILL NEED TO USE TO MAKE YOUR SHOW

so get ready to spend a small mint im planning on 3k for my first big show

and if you got another half get ready for some ear ache coz beleive me it will grab you and you wont leave it alone im already working on next years show

any questions just holla
dan
:shock:

I was trying to the quid to euro to dollar conversion in my head but I think I pulled a muscle in my brain...

[digdeepfundraising]

Lmao quid slang for gbp lol

[dongod]

My hat is off to you chaps. I live here in Indiana, but born and raised near Carmarthen, WALES.

This will be my first attempt at an LOR light show so I can understand the effort you have to go to just to get the equipment.

Tomorrow, (Sat) wife and I are going shopping again for LED lights....been twice and have boxes of them, but there's never enough, so I told.

While I'm still very new if there's anything I can do to help let me know.

Iechud Dda!!

[digdeepfundraising]

i have worked out a way of removing the 8 sequence box on the lights with some help from a good forum friend jerry if anyone needs and info just send me a pm

[michael spencer]

Hi Mike.

I'm in the UK. and this year was my 5th year using LOR. helping to raise money for West Midland Air Ambulance. I purchase just the control panel and fit into my own waterproof enclosure. I operate on 110v as I use all American sourced lights, you can get reasonable priced set if you search the web. As rule of thumb what ever price is shown, if you double it that will be the price after shipping and custom duties are added. For extension leads I used 70 strand speaker cable (from Screwfix) with American crocadile plugs, had no problems with weather at all. I power through Builders Transformers, you can either hire or buy them. (about £50.each). You'll need plenty of cable ties to keep everything neat and tidy, and plenty of spare time it's never to early in the year to start planning.

Mike.

Shropshire.