paralegalnc Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 THis is my first year as well. I have already started hanging my lights because of my work schedule, and want to test everything to make sure it is working properly. My first year is only a 16 channel light show, due to money issues. I have an oulet on the front of the house and it is connected to a 15amp GFI Breaker. I've tested the GFI and it works so I am good there. I have another 15 amp GFI around the back of the house if I need it. Once all my lights are up, I am going to plug them all in directly to the outlet on the front of the house and let them sit for about an hour. If it doesn't pop the breaker, then I figure I am safe.Next year I plan on running a Second outlet from the front of the house because I hope to purchase a bunch more lights and a second countroller. I need to check with my electrician friend, but I intend to use one 2 plug outlet, and split it on two breakers. (Kinda like haveing a switched plug and an always on plug)As far a a surge protector, If it has a procesor in it, it should be surged protected.Thank you for your service and good luck with the show!!!Eric GSalisbury, NC16 channels, and I have no clue how many LEDsI started a new Topic "NC displays" make sure you add to it. this way we can go visit other people's displays. I'm in Concord 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyDawg Posted November 13, 2012 Author Share Posted November 13, 2012 UpdateI had a pretty busy weekend. I finished my trees. I wound up buying enough LED's to build my arches. I decided to switch to them due to the possible power issues. My plan is to make the arches next weekend. I also have about half my house lights up(all LED's as well). So far everything is going smooth, with the exception of 1 set of lights that the wiring came apart. I can't wait to see everything all lit up. My hope is to have everything ready by the first week of December. Thanks to all who have given me advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubado Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 I was concerned with power issues too. Thankfully my husband is a contractor...so... he rearranged our box, put 3 30 amp breakers... and ran 3 dedicated recepitcals. (this year...we have issues for next year he just doesn't know it yet. )Ummmm, back up here, I see a potential red flag! A controller uses two 15amp circuits for a total of 30 amps. An outlet on a 30 amp breaker is a no-no! Please elaborate on how you're wired, or get this fixed right away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehgilman Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 Ummmm, back up here, I see a potential red flag! A controller uses two 15amp circuits for a total of 30 amps. An outlet on a 30 amp breaker is a no-no! Please elaborate on how you're wired, or get this fixed right away. Outlets, have a tab on the sides of them that you can remove. Like in some homes, the top plug will be conected to the light switch, and the bottom plug always has power. Instead of switching one side, I am using a different circuit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehgilman Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 I am not doing it yet, but I will be running a new outlet next year.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big joe Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 Only the neurotic will put their controllers in a central location like their garage. Then run all kinds of extension cords. I like many others have our controllers out in the yard, close to the lights to minimize the length of our cords. Now I am paranoid enough to have some heavy duty stakes made out of 3" angle iron with a 12" X 12" plate welded to the angle iron. I then drilled and tapped 3 holes to mount the controller to the plate. Once driven into the ground, aint no one going to pull it up. I have to use an old bumper jack to haul it back up and out of the ground. If they try to pry the box off, I suspect they will bust the board too. I also use locking devices to keep the box closed and so it cant pop open in the middle of a storm.BTW get another spool of the SPT wire, your going to need it before you know it. I usually make my own Cat5 cable, but ran out of the bulk stuff. One cord was about 5' to short due to moving my display items around. Had to break down and buy a pre made cable. 50' cost 30 bucks at wally world. That reminded me why I build my own. I feel sorry for you guys who dont know how to roll your own. Really!!! i just hit the button and the door closes,, no welding or tapping or bumper jacks. All cords are up off the ground and ran out of the way from my 16.5 hp, 42" cut snowblaster!!. and once it does snow you won't see any cords running out to the display, and if someone trys looking you'll see tracks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Czerwinski Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 (edited) Controller Placement -- Really six or one half-dozen of the other. The best choice is what what makes you yourself less neurotic or paranoid, and lets you sleep at night when the lights are off and/or when you are not home. I live in an area that has two overlapping HOAs with double the work crews maintaning things in the shared property around my home where my display is set up. I can easily repair damaged or replace stolen wire at a last minute notice, but try ordering another controller in the last quarter of the year.... (I suppose that's how those guys on eBay successfully sell things for such a high price!) I recognize I have no control of the property, maintenance schedules, sprinklers, etc. and I feel better with all of my $$ in the garage or outdoor storage closet. As I get comfortable over time, I may put more equipment outside.But I sure to envy the people who can put the controller right next to their display! I imagine they save a lot of time setting up too! Not only in running wire, but I end up getting on the cell phone with my wife and have her standing in the yard telling me what is lighting up when I plug something in. Time consuming and the storage of a lot of extension cords can get messy too.In a perfect world, the controllers at the display is probably best. But having peace of mind a priority might be worth the extra cost or labor. (kinda like buying insurance - pick your comfort level) Edited November 14, 2012 by Jay Czerwinski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-Paul Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 Ah, I sure can hit the hot button. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 How are you guys plugging in the actual controllers to the house.I would like to point out that this picture is 3 years old. This year much of this is neatly tucked under the rocks.The orange cable is 16-gauge, 2-conductor (no ground). It was purchased at a big discount from the local hardware store during a clearance sale. This year one of these (grounded) cords goes to another 3-socket expander an the base of the mega tree, which has 3 controllers. The other cords each go to a single controller. The black cord is the power cord for the controller next to the outlet. Obviously, my display is mostly LED. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyDawg Posted November 17, 2012 Author Share Posted November 17, 2012 I guess I am just a little nervous starting everything up for the first time. I don't want to fry anything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Czerwinski Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Well, in the last minute rush to get the display up, and hearing the expert advice from Max-Paul and George Simmons I chose to put my controllers outside and save on making lengthy extension cords and using a lot of time running back and forth from the garage to the yard. I even kept the trend going and put my CCRs out and off the house with their controllers next to them as well.Last night was my first night with my babies out in the yard and I woke up to every little noise and immediately went to a window to check on things. All is just fine. I did notice that the CCR controllers in their little Tupperware enclosures were flashing red beacons sitting in the darkness after the show ended, so I ran out there and wrapped them up in black garbage bags.I may just add some motion detector security flood lights for after the show ends. Time will tell how this works out, and time is what I need to get a little more comfortable with this configuration. But I am pretty much done setting up the display for this year. (except my wife knows about the empty/unused channels and how to make zip wires, so I expect she’s gonna put some more things up around the yard. Now to sequence my new yard/layout – but I am happy with it just in a looping animation mode that casually fades colors without music just yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ Hvasta Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 It entirely depends on the kind of neighborhood you're in.. can you leave your doors unlocked, garage door open, tools left on the lawn and everything's still there in the morning or nothing short of trash cans walk away in the darkness? Our controllers are behind most of the props, under each pair of arches, or just lying in the grass painted greenish-brown to match the lawn (I dont do much watering in the winter). Only thing we bring in each night is the Gemmy Talking Santa (for A Soldiers Silent Night) and the mannequin/angel. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frozentundra52 Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 I have my controller screwed to the house. If their gonna steal it hopefully they'll take some siding (need new siding) with it. Lol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgrant Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 I live in the safest neighborhood I've ever been in. Yeah, you could leave your house open and no one would bother it. I'm not from here in the south, rather from S. Calif. but retired and moved here 2.5 years ago. My controllers are staked in the lawn using WOW frames and no one has bothered them in the slightest. My only worry is kids walking through the wires on the lawn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone LED Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 For those of you who put your controllers in the yard, what if anything do you do to protect them from the weather? Do you put them in an enclosure, or are they completely exposed to the elements. I have my two controllers mounted on stand I built under my porch (and locked to the column) but it would be nice to move them closer to the lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgrant Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 They are supposedly waterproof or lets say, water resistant, for outside use. As long as they are standing up, off the ground, door closed, they should be ok. Mine are exposed and so far, they are fine. Now the CCR controller is not water tight and I bought a cable-box enclosure for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 They are supposedly waterproof or lets say, water resistant, for outside use.The word you are looking for is "weatherproof." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgrant Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 The word you are looking for is "weatherproof."Thank You, that is exactly the word I was looking for and my mind went blank...lol...again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmilkie Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 "Only the neurotic will put their controllers in a central location like their garage"I've been called worse 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ Hvasta Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 mine are mounted in CG-1000 cases (abt $9/ea), and screwed to a piece of 1/2" pvc, stuck in the ground, sprayed light/dark green (cammo, basically) to blend in with the grass (dont get that much snow in Phoenix). The CG-xxxx have rain lips, channels around the edges that keep them dry, but any type of case would work, just put trash bags over them to keep rain/snow out. And mount them so the dongles arent on the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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