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Posted

Hey everyone,

I really want to introduce four leaping arches into my show next year, but I'm still a newbie here and could use a few pointers. My question is about how many lights per string/channel are nessecary for about a 3 to 4 foot tall arch that has eight channels. I went out to Menard's and bought 16 strings of orange leds for the Halloween show (each string has 30 lights). I am planning on getting purple led lights for the other two arches, but I was wondering if 30 lights per channel is really enough for these.

Thanks,

JF1993

Posted

I have around a 3' arch I used with a 6 Channel Gemmy last year, I have a single standard 100ct incandescent string for each channel (600 in total) I'm sure there are calculators around that will help you estimate approximately how much lights you need for a desired arch. However the amount of lights needed depends on many different things, the circumference of the pipe, how tight/ dense you wind the lights, etc... etc...

Posted

First of all, I think you would be better off using an odd number of channels. I have 5 arches, 7 channels each using the sleeve method. 100 lights per sleeve, one sleeve per channel. An odd number gives you a "flow" over the top . Just my opinion.

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

My arches are 7ch 10' long arches, and they have one 50ct pure white strand on each channel. I didn't think they would have enough until I tested one and realized they looked great.

https://www.vimeo.com/17868792

Note, these have snow on them.

Edited by Surfing4Dough
Posted

Mine are eight 11" long sleeves, 100ct mini incands per sleeve, 11" long due to the bulb spacing, wrapped on 1 1/2" pvc, slid over 1/2" support pvc support pipe, 2' rebar in the ground hold the 7'-something pipe in the ground, abt 6' long, 2'-something high.

Takes abt 20 mins to wrap one sleeve. http://forums.lightorama.com/uploads/imported/279600=15507-2010-07-03%2022-57-46.972.jpg

Guest Don Gillespie
Posted

7 sleeves per arch, I like the sleeve method in the fact that if you have a string go out it is an easy change out, the reason for 7 sleeves exactly what Pete said

Posted

Owwwwwwww, That sleve method is genius!

Posted

U may want to consider ccr arches. For the price of 1 controller you can have a CCR making (2) 8' arches (no fuss no muss)....I have 4 CCRs for 8 arches in the front of my show

Posted

but using incands will cost you abt $25/arch rather than $250/arch..

Posted

Yes TJ, but you still need a $200-250 controller (depending on which unit u buy). And you have only 1 color with 1 section of incans. I have limitless colors to choose from (and I use a lot less power too). For more bang for your buck use a CCR!!

Posted (edited)

Or DIY led RBG strips/power supply and control box (even cheaper than CCR).

Edited by LightsinMaine
Posted

I find CCRs very easy to program on the fly and mix colors...... can't speak much for DMX RBG programming though

Posted (edited)

They are daisy chained in just like a regular controller. CCRs come with their own controller and power supply. They are 150 channels plus 7 Macro channels. There are 50 pixels and each one can be a different color or the same color. All 50 pixels are individually controlled. Some folks have done 2 arches with 25 pixels on each arch or 4 arches with 13, 12, 13 and 12 channels. It all depends on how big you want your arches to be.

Edited by Ron Boyd
Posted (edited)

I use 5 sleeves per arch because 1 string sits perfectly on each 2 ft sleeve and 5 sleeves fits the 10' arch. I only use white LEDs on my arches.

Edited by Liberty-Laser
  • 4 weeks later...
Posted

I'm new to the arches I'm going to sleeve 1 set of 50 LEDs on 15inch PVC pipe 8 sections for a 10 foot arch that im setting up. I'm using LOR's ready to go sequences that cant be tweeked and they are set for 8 channels per arch, how would I set this up for the 7 channels leave like channel 8 and 16 free or just put all 16 channels on for the 2 arches thanks

Posted

I based my arches off of Holdman's ( http://www.holdman.com/christmas/projects.asp ). 20 feet of PVC pipe ( I used two 10 footers), divided into nine sections, each section has 200 incandescent mini lights. I did run in to some issues with the controllers keeping up. The symptom was section stuck on, not all sections lighting. I after several posts on the forum and no resolution I tried taking the Easy Linker out and connected the controllers via wire. It worked no problems.

One other tip I would suggest, make up a wire harness to connect the arch with the controllers. Number the arch section male plug, mark a corresponding female plug on wire harness with the same number. Then mark the male plug on the harness with the controller channel. I have 4 arches, 36 channels, hooked up to the controllers in under 10 minutes and no incorrectly connected wires.

Lee

Posted

I think for those still building or thinking about it - you'll find the sleeve method FAR easier to assemble and repair. The problem with the older method was what-if/when the lights stop working in the middle? With sleeves, you just slide off the bad sleeve and slide a new one on, done.

Posted

If you have not bought anything yet...

CCRs are the way to go!

For a little more than the cost of the controller you get the controllers AND lights!

Posted

I wish I went that route with the ccr's. I ordered my 3rd controller last Friday and it is on the UPS truck to be delivered today. That was $282. Delivered and I just bought 16 sets of LEDs from Home Depot at $11 a box of 50 lights. For a grand total of $458. I didn't have to much time with work and kids to get into sequences so I got LOR's ready made ones for 48 channels. If I order one ccr I can use the new controller on a mega tree for next year. I wonder if I got the ccr how hard would it be to incorporate with the ready made sequences thanks

  • Like 1

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