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New? Need help? Experienced? Looking to upgrade software? READ THIS. (Updated 10/14/24)

Just getting Started in Vancouver, Washington

Daryl Hurd

By Daryl Hurd
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Daryl Hurd Member

Daryl Hurd

Posted
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Hi Everyone!

I just been bitten by the LOR bug and doing an animated show this year... I am getting ready to buy 2 controllers and see what kind of fun I can get into with a small display this year.

One of the things I am going to try and do is see what kind of show I can make with some 100 strands of LED lights that flash RED/GREEN. I know that most people on here prefer single colors on different channels but I figure that starting with 32, it will give alot more color options. Then maybe next year, I will get into single colors and revamp the show once I can hit a few sales.

In my plans are a 7ft MegaTree 8 channel(the PVC version), 8 Mini Trees 8 channels, 4 Candles 4 channels, 1-2 Arches 8 channel, Roof lights 2 channels and maybe something else.

I am hoping to stretch my 3,500 lights enough to do them all justice.

I do want to say beforehand that I so appreciate this forum and all the information contained in it. I have been reading for the last two weeks and really have learned so much even without a controller and just playing with the software.

The sequences that people have posted are so appreciated! That along with How To's, videos and tips will really help me starting out.

-Daryl

shfr26 Member

shfr26

Posted
Posted

Not real sure what you mean when you say "100 strands of LED lights that flash RED/GREEN." Are these one string with two colors and a flasher in them?? If so, I don't think those will work, if they have a flasher in them. You would probably have to remove the flasher and add a regular LED to them. If it is something different, please explain what it is.

KenL_MCSE Member

KenL_MCSE

Posted
Posted

Hi Daryl - welcome to our addiction!

If you are planning on using the LED's the fade from Red to green; realize you will have unpredictable results. If I am not mistaken, the chip the changes the color stores residual voltage. When you do things like Fade down or fade up, your other color may (green) may or may not turn on or turn off... You will have to play (test) those strings so you know what they will do.

Good Luck Man! - keep posting your progress.

magish01 Member

magish01

Posted
Posted

Daryl,
If you are not busy next weekend, you might want to attend the Pac NW Regional CLAP. I am a newbie and will be heading to the CLAP from So. Calif. It is a way to learn from those in the know. Check out this link. http://forums.lightorama.com/forum81/31907-1.html

PaulXmas Member

PaulXmas

Posted
Posted

I see someone buy 2 controllers now and then 1 or 2 more before the end of the year : )

EXTENSION CORDS!!!!

Daryl Hurd Member

Daryl Hurd

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  • Author
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KenL_MCSE wrote:

Hi Daryl - welcome to our addiction!

If you are planning on using the LED's the fade from Red to green; realize you will have unpredictable results. If I am not mistaken, the chip the changes the color stores residual voltage. When you do things like Fade down or fade up, your other color may (green) may or may not turn on or turn off... You will have to play (test) those strings so you know what they will do.

Good Luck Man! - keep posting your progress.


I have considered that.. and so I am going to do alot of testing with all the LOR light features once I get a controller. I just ordered the first from LOR today and so I am hoping that I will have testing done in the next two weeks.

Even if I find that these lights do not like to fade/twinkle/shimmer... I am looking at using alot of on/off commands for this years show. Then when I have more money, buying single red and green leds and using two channels to produce a similar effect and use these lights somewhere else in the display. Luckily I have a big enough house that will still need static lights that they will do good for next years show.

When we bought these lights last year, I had never really thought of doing an animated light show until I saw a friends house with a Mr. Christmas doing a show.

Then about a month ago, I bought a Mr. Christmas and we realized that an animated show is really the way to go and I decided to take the big plunge and go to LOR controlllers. So now I have a Mr. Chrismas that we will probally use indoors or as a backyard light show for when we have our Christmas/New Years Party.

It is amazing that last year I strung up just a few strands of lights after never ever doing christmas lights for 20+ years and in two years time I will have started doing animated light shows..
Daryl Hurd Member

Daryl Hurd

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Posted

shfr26 wrote:

Not real sure what you mean when you say "100 strands of LED lights that flash RED/GREEN." Are these one string with two colors and a flasher in them?? If so, I don't think those will work, if they have a flasher in them. You would probably have to remove the flasher and add a regular LED to them. If it is something different, please explain what it is.


Yes.. each bulb has a RED/GREEN LED that flip on and each bulb flash independent of each other.

I tried them on a Mr. Christmas and so far they seem to fade well... So I am hoping that they will work on a LOR controller.Next two weeks will tell once I get my LOR controller in..
Daryl Hurd Member

Daryl Hurd

Posted
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Posted

magish01 wrote:

Daryl,
If you are not busy next weekend, you might want to attend the Pac NW Regional CLAP. I am a newbie and will be heading to the CLAP from So. Calif. It is a way to learn from those in the know. Check out this link. http://forums.lightorama.com/forum81/31907-1.html

Thanks for the idea.. I was wondering if there was any groups around. Looks like I could get up really early and just drive there for the day.. I'll have to ask the girlfriend if she wants to go with me.. She wants to learn too so this might be a good way to get her involved too!
james campbell Member

james campbell

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welcome to the group. Get ready to think about nothing but Christams lights:)

zman Member

zman

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Posted

magish01 wrote:

Daryl,
If you are not busy next weekend, you might want to attend the Pac NW Regional CLAP. I am a newbie and will be heading to the CLAP from So. Calif. It is a way to learn from those in the know. Check out this link. http://forums.lightorama.com/forum81/31907-1.html


Dave, thanks for the plug!

Daryl, I'd be great to have you attend if you can, we have a group that has grown a lot over the many years we have been meeting. Great people, great agenda, lots of interaction. Let us know if you can make it. Plus it is held at Bill & Nancy Foley's. Bill was LOR's very first rep outside of LOR, so you have access to purchasing if you need.

Mark
Daryl Hurd Member

Daryl Hurd

Posted
  • Author
Posted

zman wrote:

magish01 wrote:
Daryl,
If you are not busy next weekend, you might want to attend the Pac NW Regional CLAP. I am a newbie and will be heading to the CLAP from So. Calif.  It is a way to learn from those in the know. Check out this link. http://forums.lightorama.com/forum81/31907-1.html


Dave, thanks for the plug!

Daryl, I'd be great to have you attend if you can, we have a group that has grown a lot over the many years we have been meeting. Great people, great agenda, lots of interaction. Let us know if you can make it. Plus it is held at Bill & Nancy Foley's. Bill was LOR's very first rep outside of LOR, so you have access to purchasing if you need.

Mark

I sm working on getting there.. But next weekend is Mother's Day weekened and the firlfriend says I have to go visit the soon to be mother in law if I want to live... But she is also saying maybe it would be a good idea for me to go... Hopefully I will have a good answer today....
zman Member

zman

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Posted

Daryl,

That is an easy one. CLAP on Saturday and Mom's Day is on Sunday. Very easy to manage both :P

ken collins Member

ken collins

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Daryl, just up the road from ya in Aberdeen. You need help then just sing. Hope you get clap
K

bwhitehead Member

bwhitehead

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Daryl, I am also in Vancouver. I sent you a PM with my info. If you need any help just holler. I am not doing my display this year, taking a break. Hope to see you up at the CLAP!!!

Daryl Hurd Member

Daryl Hurd

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So last night I just got permission from my girlfriend to get out of going to Medford for Mother's Day... So that means I can come to CLAP !

I am so excited about meeting other people doing light displays at CLAP..

There is only so much you can learn from Google and the web... I know I will learn alot from attending it. Not to mention meeting others that have alot of experience doing the right and wrong things...

So my girlfriend has already given me quite a Honey Do list about what she wants in the display.. Now it is up to me to find out how to do all of them, teach her and build them...

I am not sure though if I will be coming up Friday or very early Saturday. I live down in Vancouver, so it is not too bad of a early morning drive.. But then again I don't want to miss the Friday night get together..

-Daryl

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