Light spacing

[Al Saunders]

Hey Everyone,

Wanted to get opinions on what spacing you use for different elements. I am changing over to all LED lights and the company I am preordering from has 5MM bulb spacing of 4 inches. I didn't give it much thought until I was looking around the forum and saw some comments on doubling up on strings to create 2" spacing instead of the standard 4" spacing. The main elements I am concerned about is my mega tree that will be 15-20 feet tall, 5.5 ft "regular tree" and 4 mini trees. Right now my 14' mege tree is pretty basic with only one channel per 3 color but I'm definetely adding a 4th color per to the mega tree. Also I'm thinking for the mega tree maybe zip tieing each bulb down in the same direction. Does anyone else do this? I appreciate any input. I'm also thinking of making the mega tree into a 16 channel add on to the rest of my display or MAYBE try a spiral mega tree.

Thanks,

Al

[Jerry]

4" spacing works good for me. As for zip tieing every bulb/socket down , I don't see any advantage to it ,someone else here might. It will take a pile of zip ties.

[TitusCarnathan]

4" spacing is fine when it comes to led's due to their brightness. A 70ct Led string gives more light than a 100ct incan string IMHO.

[Al Saunders]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the input. I mention zip tieing them down to keep them in the same direction. But I guess that's more important on incan mini lights and not so important on wide angle 5mm LED lights. Also I really only zip tied my lights down on my framed props like my gifts/packages and Merry Christmas sign.

Thanks again

Al

[Wayne K]

I switched about 1/2 of my display over to LED's last year. The thing that gave me the most trouble with my mega tree was the 4" bulb spacing and the length of the strings. WIth my old icans I used 100 count lights and used the half way point as the top. I switched out to 70 cnt led's and folded them in half and still had to cut my center mast pipe and shorten it up to make the led's work. But I can tell you that with the brightness of the led's, my tree was a lot brighter then with the icans. The other thing I had to to was black out a lot of different bulbs because of the added legth of the led strings

Wayne

[Al Saunders]

Hi Wayne,

Thanks for the info. What you are talking about with your mega tree is what I've been thinking about. I'm planning a new tree this year and not sure if I need 70 or 100 count LED's and it sounds like 70's might be enough. I will starting from scratch on my tree and not sure if I'll go the flag pole route or a pipe route. Not sure of height of mega tree yet either. Thanks for the input, I really appreciate it.

Al

[LORi P]

Hi Wayne,

Thanks for the info. What you are talking about with your mega tree is what I've been thinking about. I'm planning a new tree this year and not sure if I need 70 or 100 count LED's and it sounds like 70's might be enough. I will starting from scratch on my tree and not sure if I'll go the flag pole route or a pipe route. Not sure of height of mega tree yet either. Thanks for the input, I really appreciate it.

Al

If you want a 12 ft mega tree go with 70 ct doubled over. If you wnat a 16 ft mega tree go with 100 ct doubled over. If you let the length of your strings drive the height of your tree, you won't have to black out any bulbs.

[Wayne K]

The other thing I had to to was black out a lot of different bulbs because of the added legth of the led strings

I just stopped back by and read what I posted. That did not come out right. I did not black out any led's on the mega tree. Where I had trouble and blacked out led's was around my windows and house lines with the difference in length.

Edited January 21, 2013 by Wayne K

[Jim Hans]

I double up my LEDs for 2 inch spacing but I also never go over 75% intensity due to brightness. I find this gives a real "full" look without blinding people