What should i get?

[Mr Grunts]

Ok LOR fans, Im new to this whole LOR thing, Ive been setting up lights and displays for many years now, and I love it, its always been a family thing. any how this year im doing it at my house instead of my dads and of course i need to start small and build as the years go on, I keep looking at my house for ideas on what i can do and all i get is a brain fart.lol What would be a good start 16,32 60 channles. I want to put on a decent show for the kids to enjoy but dont have much money to work with right now ( hence the little by little each yr.) I have added a couple of pictures of my house, the front and carport side is all im doing for now,

Take a look and let me know of any ideas you might come up with, I know this is an expensive habbit and like i said i want to start off as cheap as i can this year ( but not so cheap that its a bunch of flashing lights ) but a nice show that will put smiles on there faces.

Thanks for any ideas

Dennis Smith

Toledo Ohio

[vincerules]

Nice location! You can include the trees, also lights up and down the porch supports. Plenty of room on the grass for mini trees and/or arches.

I think you should decide what your budget is for this year. You said the word cheap a number of times, but cheap is different for everyone. Also keep in mind you will probably go a "little" over budget like a lot of us do :-)

[Frybread]

1. You Seven columns are a good start. If you put three colors on each column and connected the odd columns together and the even columns together. you would only use 6 Channels but have a lot of bang. 3 channels for the tree. 3 channels for the roof line. Still 4 channels to play with.
   
2. That being said, you can burn through 32 channels real quick. but for a $400 budget. you can go Incans and one controller and still have a nice show.
   

[digdeepfundraising]

1. You Seven columns are a good start. If you put three colors on each column and connected the odd columns together and the even columns together. you would only use 6 Channels but have a lot of bang. 3 channels for the tree. 3 channels for the roof line. Still 4 channels to play with.
   
2. That being said, you can burn through 32 channels real quick. but for a $400 budget. you can go Incans and one controller and still have a nice show.
   

+1

then move onto your yard next year

[Max-Paul]

Ok, this looks like a mobile home? Ok, so your breaker panel is a mire 100 or 150 amps I am fairly sure of. If you have to go ultra cheap this year and buy ican lights. Save up and replace those with LED next year. Hey I am going to have a fair size display this year. But I started with LED from day one and I have not had to upgrade any power outlets or more breakers. But then too, this will be my 4th year and each year I have added to the display. Not all of use are making 6 digits a year and go and throw up a major display in the first year. So, take it slow and do it right the first time. There are some major displays all with ican. And wont go LED cause of the cost. Cause they want to convert it all over in one year, instead of over a few years. Good luck, your off to a late start.

[Santas Helper]

To keep within a budget, I would say go with the

outline of your house roof - 1 colors/1 channel

7 Seven porch supports - 1 color/7 channels

4 Major branches of the big tree - 1 color/4 channels or 2 colors/8 channels.

Theres 16 channels max - one controller.

Maybe add a few color elements to the roof, porch support or tree branches and a few mini trees.

Now you are around 32 channels total.

So one controller or two controllers you could have a nice display.

Think of each element a different color for one controller then expand the colors to each element for two or more controllers.

You have a good clean house/yard to start with.

[Mr Grunts]

Ok, this looks like a mobile home? Ok, so your breaker panel is a mire 100 or 150 amps I am fairly sure of. If you have to go ultra cheap this year and buy ican lights. Save up and replace those with LED next year. Hey I am going to have a fair size display this year. But I started with LED from day one and I have not had to upgrade any power outlets or more breakers. But then too, this will be my 4th year and each year I have added to the display. Not all of use are making 6 digits a year and go and throw up a major display in the first year. So, take it slow and do it right the first time. There are some major displays all with ican. And wont go LED cause of the cost. Cause they want to convert it all over in one year, instead of over a few years. Good luck, your off to a late start.

You are correct it is a mobile home, a dubblewide. I know it seems like a late start, actually its not concidering what has been done sofar. My father and i decorated his house every year but never with music and this year was the plan date to start. My dad had passed this passed may and now all plans are being done to my house. What is done sofar is, behind that big bush in the back is my power meter, this late spring and summer i have spent time and money in putting a 220 line in that mini barn next to that meter. i have 5 30 amp breakers that are set just for this, I will probably never use them all but " do it big or dont do it at all" dad always said. anyhow this is why money is tight this year. I already have about 15000 to 20000 LED lights, colors are RED,BLUE,Green and WHITE. I also have about 2mi of extention cords, so i think i have enough lights and cords for the first year. I just need some ideas as far as making a good show for the first year out without spending a whole lot more money. ( bear amount of channels to put on a good show for the kids this year ). Next year ill add more then more then more, im sure you get the idea. Im looking at the long run on this one.

Thanks for everyones ideas, you had me outside looking at my house all day drawing different ways to set up the lights.

dennis

Oh yea, most important, what would be the software im looking for? i dont need an advance one yet but one where i can program my own music to the lights.

again thanks for all the info.

Edited August 14, 2012 by Mr Grunts

[Jerry]

Sounds like you have enough lights and power outlets for this year. If you can, I would go with two controllers to start, you'll use up the first controller in no time. Also I would go ahead and get the advanced software, you'll not regret it down the road.

Jerry

[Mr Grunts]

Thank you to every one, these ideas are great. I have applied to the newbe fund and hopefully if i win that would be a great start. With being off work do to a back injury and another surgery set for sept. that powerhouse i built behind the home really took a wopping on my wallet thats why you hear the word cheap alot, sorry. I know you all understand. So here is what i came up with from your ideas.

16ch is cool but 32 would be better Ill probably make it work on 16 cause i still have to get the software to.

outline the roof 3 colors red,blue and white = 3 channels ( the outline of the yard will be the same )

7 supports 3 colors every other one = 6 channels

2 trees 2 colors = 4 channels

2 floods 2 colors = 2 channels

1 set of strobs scattered 1 color = 1 channel

so i guess 16 would is cool for this year. i think it would be a good start.

again thanks to everyone for the great ideas. I will post finished display when done.

I still have ears for more ideas if you have them or if you think i might be doing something wrong or even an easy way of doing things, im always eager to learn.

Dennis Smith

Toledo Ohio