lights and cords

[dsz071]

This will be my first Christmas doing a light show. Been wanting to do one for years after seeing someone in the neighborhood do it. Sadly, this year it's a Mr Christmas 6 channel setup. Next I'm looking at a LOR 32 channel setup as my 6 channels this year, while still drawing a lot of attention in the new area we're in, just doesn't satisfy my desire to do my own lights to my own music. I have about 3000 lights up right now, all from Walmart and such. Are there places online that have cheaper deals on lights and extension cords? I only have the front of my house done and have a huge side yard that I want to make use of next year. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[djg64]

you can use SPT-1 or SPT-2 wire (Lamp Wire) to make your own extension cords you can purchase a plug called a vampire plug for the cord, there are people on this form that can direct you where to purchase the cord and the plugs. it is the cheapest way to go for the cords.

[Brad Ford]

It is the cheapest way to go except for the really short cords in which case wal-mart or dollar stores are your best bet. I just bought a bunch of 6ft cords for 1$ a piece where if you build your own at this length it will cost you about $1 to $1.30, depending on where you buy your stuff. Then you still have to cut it and put the ends on it. The longer runs are where it really starts paying off. Anyway, just 2 cents worth of my experience....lol Good Luck and Merry Christmas!

[paralegalnc]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the spt wire and vampire plugs. We have about 2500 feet of cord... even at $1 ...imagine that purchase! I too started with the Mr. Christmas, I too didn't like not having the control over the music... this is my first year with LOR and I'm stoked for my show to start tomorrow. I look at my show and say... I did that!

[scubado]

Beware of big box store lights, they are cheap up front, but in acouple years you may be replacing what you buy now along with trying to add to your display. I'm running into some of this now being my fourth year. Research about the favored online vendors.

[dusty72]

+ 1 on all of the above. I was hesitant on the spt1 and vamp plugs then I bit the bullet anyway.....I found out it was well worth the time and small amout invested in them.

[phaywood]

For runs under 30' I use my old incandescent mini-light strands as the feeders to my LED's. I remove the second bulb from each end so they remain dark. Better yet, I still use my strands that are broken that light keeper can't fix. I use a staple gun to keep them tacked up under the eaves. In the yard, there's no replacement for a 500' roll of SP2 wire and a bag of vampire plugs, though.

For longer runs from my LOR controller, I run romex to wall outlets for the connection.

[Orville]

Does anyone make vampire plugs that ARE NOT polarized? Seems that when I need to plug something into the end of a light strand to extend it because I need a gap, the plugs are most often polarized and, of course the Christmas light strand or pass through from the male plug does not have this polarized feature. So are there any places that sell NON Polarized male and female vampire style plugs?

All I seem to find are polarized ones, and then I have to waste time to grind down or cut the larger plug down so it fits the non-polarized light strand plug.

[dsz071]

Thanks, everyone for the advice. Cannot wait until next Christmas when I get everything setup.