totally new

[NEWTOUR]

I have previously been running a lights and sounds of christmas controller, but have purchased a new larger house and am ready to step up to the next level. As I have sold most of my lights now, I was wondering if anyone had suggestions as to where and when to purchase new lights and supplies for running and hanging it all. I had all my lights cut for the old house and I now only have a few light sets that will fit new house. ( I don't like alot of splices). I have also been reading old posts and it looks like I should step up from the basic software. I was thinking of buying the PC-CTB16PC starter kit. My home is 3200 sq. ft. I don't want to buy something and then realize I have to buy new to be able to add on. I want the most bang for my money. Any suggestions or ideas are appreciated.

[friskybri]

if you plan do use more then a few controllers I would get the advanced package. As far as lights if your going with incons get them from stores. If you want LEDs you missed all the presales. MITS, HLE are a few you can search for on here with different led lights.

[DownTown]

As I'm sure you've read, you'll be needing lots of extension cords. Instead of buying them, make your own. I use SPT-2 wire and vampire plugs at each end to make cords of the exact length I need. It's much cheaper (and neater) that way, than buying premade cords. Another tip is to get your layout done NOW, so you can start your sequencing. Remember that any changes to your layout will cost you hours and hours of changes to any sequences that you've already completed, so think out your display and make sure you get it the way you want it before you start to sequence.

Hope that little bit helps.

actionlighting.com is one of the places I use to get my goodies...

D.T.

[NEWTOUR]

what is MITS and HLE. Sorry new guy

[Aaron Maue]

NEWTOUR wrote:

what is MITS and HLE. Sorry new guy

Companies that hold sales early in the year. In exchange for your pre-order, you get nicely-discounted prices.

[Aaron Maue]

NEWTOUR wrote:

I have also been reading old posts and it looks like I should step up from the basic software. I was thinking of buying the PC-CTB16PC starter kit. My home is 3200 sq. ft. I don't want to buy something and then realize I have to buy new to be able to add on. I want the most bang for my money. Any suggestions or ideas are appreciated.

Definitely step up to the advanced license right away. I didn't and ended up paying more for the upgrade 3 weeks later.

As for adding on, LOR makes it easy. Buy a new controller. Plug it into the RS485 network. Add the channels to your sequences. Then, you're ready to program the new additions.

Note that if you want to do RGB lighting, you'll want to do lots of reading and research. I can't give specifics, as I'm not heading down that path yet. If you check out http://www.auschristmaslighting.com, I think they have lots of good info there. There's also lots of threads here to get you started.

More than anything, continue reading and learning. This hobby is a blast and, personally, the most fun as I figure out how to implement all the capabilities of the system.

And have fun. You'll find 2 rewards (or 2 versions). The first is when you light it all up for the first time. Even better, though, will be all the smiles on your visitors faces when they see it.

[Aaron Maue]

Sorry... A better link would have been http://www.auschristmaslighting.com/forums

[beeiilll]

NEWTOUR wrote:

what is MITS and HLE. Sorry new guy

MITS = Magic In The Sky
http://www.magicinthesky.com/lighting/

HLE = Holiday Light Express
http://www.holiday-light-express.com/

There is also:
Creative Displays
http://www.creativedisplays.com/
This is Paul Sessel who runs a fantastic presale in January for the year. They are also probably the best vendor to deal with for LED lights although there are more all the time and growing.

Christmas Lights Etc
http://www.christmaslightsetc.com/
Good pricing and fine quality service

And many more out there.

Most of the people in this hobby get in on the sales in the beginning of the year to make the best of pricing but you can still save if you shop around and keep asking folks who they get their lights from.

As far as RGB stuff goes, it is a very new thing and is all Do It Yourself so you need to be comfortable with building electronics (as least with doing hookups), troubleshooting, and generally tinkering with things as there is no set basic rules for it. Everybody has to figure things out and make it work.
You might want to just stick with LED lights for now and get comfortable with the software and sequencing for a year or two before jumping further into things.
If you go look over Fast Eddys intro for folks into the world of RGB at:
http://auschristmaslighting.com/forums/index.php/topic,1889.0.html

You can get a good idea of things aobut it.
Hope this helps

[NEWTOUR]

Thanks to all this is really helping me. I like to see agroup so excited to help out the newguy. I am pretty fired up. i know the family is going to love the display even more this year.