Scotter Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 So I am trying to simplify my show and its just about impossible to set all my timers to come on at the exact time. I was wondereing if I could leave my boxes powreed on and when the show controller isnt doing anything they just "idle" but when the controller turns on from my house timer the boxes are ready to go. Last year I had the misfortune of half a show becasue one timer didnt turn on. I could buy a fancy outdoor timer but as I said I am trying to go simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 I've left mine on during the entire display season since (a long time ago.) It's nothing to worry about. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kzaas Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 I leave my Christmas show PC and all of my controllers on 24/7 from at least Thanksgiving to New Years. They draw very little current while idle and run very, very cool. It is actually better for electronics to be left on ran than power cycling them every day. If you are using a PC as your controller ensure that Automatic updates are turned off otherwise your PC may reboot and won't be in the ready state at show time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwertz Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 I leave mine powered all season. It's a great way to find those pesky blown triacs when you look outside at 1AM and see your strobes firing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubado Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Mine are ON 24/7/365. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasmadrive Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Once I turn em on, I never shut em off till New Years Day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Simmons Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Same here - they're powered up during setup and unplugged on New Year's Day. No problems at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Santas Helper Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 I leave mine on 24/7 as well. The only exception is if we get thunderstorms with lightning or ice storms. Both can cause power surge issues from power outages.Nobody needs to be out in those weather conditions anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Batzdorf Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Same here. 24x7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_moody Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Same here .. I FINALLY got enough controlelrs a couple of years ago so that I didnt have to be around for the entire display to launch.Like everyone else... 24/7 from the Thanksgiving Night to New Years .. Never miss.. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotter Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share Posted November 8, 2013 Thanks guys..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orville Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 24/7/365 with mine as well. 366 in leap years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiTechLights Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 So I am trying to simplify my show and its just about impossible to set all my timers to come on at the exact time. I was wondereing if I could leave my boxes powreed on and when the show controller isnt doing anything they just "idle" but when the controller turns on from my house timer the boxes are ready to go. Last year I had the misfortune of half a show becasue one timer didnt turn on. I could buy a fancy outdoor timer but as I said I am trying to go simple. We have left ours powered for months... no issues. You should have no problems with leaving them on for the December/Christmas season. ---Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubado Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 24/7/365 with mine as well. 366 in leap years. I didn't count that extra time, I figured that's about how much time it's down for changes to the system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morte615 Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 As an amusement park that utilized Light-O-Rama boxes we leave the boxes powered up from April through September with no problems. The shows start automatically and run just fine with minimal issues.The biggest issue we have is when lightning strikes the boxes and fried our boards! But that has only happened once during the last 5 seasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Memphis Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 My first post. Do you also leave your FM transmitter on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Santas Helper Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 My first post. Do you also leave your FM transmitter on? Welcome aboard this crazy hobby/forumMemphis!!! I usually leave mine on unless thunderstorms come thru. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhitePlainsNY Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 I leave mine on, it's just one less thing to remember or trust a timer to turn on.My Kill-O-Watt tells me a single CTB16PCG2 uses 1.4 Watts, .03 Amps while sitting idle between shows. Connected and powering a ELL, it uses 1.4 Watts, .04 Amps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orville Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 My first post. Do you also leave your FM transmitter on?I use outdoor speakers connected to an FM Radio picking up my FM Transmitters signal, so my transmitter is on 24/7 as well. However, because I use outdoor speakers connected to a radio, I don't use animation files for off-hours, I use an musical file with an MP3 file that has no sound in it. Created one for about 2 minutes 30 seconds that cycles my overnight lighting effects, the silent MP3 keeps the speakers on the radio from spewing out hisses, pops, or bleed over from local or a fae away station that may fade in and out overnight. This way, it's just dead silence until the daytime music starts up and runs from 7am - 5:25pm during Christmas Season, then show light display starts at 5:30pm and runs 'til 10pm Sun-Thur, 11pm on Fri/Sat. That way my neighbors don't have to hear static or random bleedover, noise all night long utilizing this method. I also use an DC-MP3 Showtime Director that runs everything automagickally for me, so I never even have to be home to start anything or turn off everything. Would never run my shows without one! Best investment I ever made, since it has a real time clock with backup built in. Hasn't failed to start or stop my shows in the 3 years I've been using it for Halloween and Christmas, as well as my off-season Garden lighting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Memphis Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 Thank you everyone for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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