C9 Smart pixel mounting?

[Dan C]

Hey everyone,

 

This is the first year that I will be using smart pixels.  I bought some C9 Rainbow pixels from Seasonal to run along my gutter and roof eves.

 

I was curious what is the best way to mount them?  I am leaning toward gutter clips at each bulb because mounting them to a board seems to be a little unnecessary.

Is there a particular gutter clip you guys use more than others? Also, does the direction of the bulb matter?    The bulbs have epoxy poured around the electronics to protect them from water.  I would like to have them facing down with the epoxy side facing directly up so the light will shine against my White gutters and spread the light around...  And I think you can see more of the bulb when you look at the side rather than the tip so they look better.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

 

[khawes]

For ease of putting up. I mounted by CCB's (Almost c9 shaped) on 3/4" square aluminum tubing, with an eye bolt on each end and one in the center.  I have mine under the gutters, but with hooks coming out over the gutter, screwed to the facia where the gutter is attached, I suppose I could mount them at the top of the gutter.   Which now that I think about it would make it even easier to install since I would not have to thread the pole behind the down spout anymore.

 

Thanks for the idea.

 

P.S prior to lat year I used plastic grey conduit, but it tends to sag with only three supports.

Edited March 27, 2014 by khawes

[Don]

I've sold these to customers who have used them for the Cosmic Color Bulbs.

 

Don't know the size of the stuff from Seasonal, but if it's close to the same size as a CCB, it should work.

[Dan C]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.  I was thinking something more along the lines of these.  Gutter clip on the left, and Shingle/eave clip on the right.

 

Since the bulb covers can unscrew, I can just permanently mount them to the clips.  I was assured by Seasonal that the direction would not be a problem because of the epoxy coating over the electronics, plus the bulbs have weep holes on the tips.

 

Is there anything like this out there? If not, I might have to 3D print a few test pieces and see if they work and just make them myself.

 

 

[Don]

 

Is there anything like this out there? If not, I might have to 3D print a few test pieces and see if they work and just make them myself.

 

 

Something like this, maybe?

[Ron Boyd]

Don, a question if I may, about the clips that you linked to in your store. Well 2 questions really. First, do the CCBs have a round or square base? I only have CCPs so I'm not sure. I do know that the Rainbow Pixel C9s are a square base. Will that clip manage a square base?

 

Ok I fibbed, I have 3.  Now, seeing that I own the CCPs, will those clips hold the bullet shaped pixels? Never mind,  I just looked at all pictures and you show that it will.

[Don]

Didn't realize they were a square base, just thought it was a bad drawing. Ooops.

 

Do you have any of the Pixel C9's? If so, I can send you a box of clips to see if they'll work.

[Ron Boyd]

I have the C7s, but the base is the same, just a different cover.

[Dan C]

They actually have both.  The very base with the wires that come out is square.  Then it goes to a round section for 7mm.  that is the part that the lens screws into to.   I have some C7 too, and yes, the only difference is the lens that gets screwed in.   You can see the base shape in the right bulb in the image I attached.

 

About those clips.  It looks like you just bend them and they clip into itself to lock the position.  I'm curious how sturdy they are without them being clipped when used on the edge of a shingle eave.

Also, it looks like when it is bent at 90 deg,  it would force the bulb to be mounted facing vertical when clipped onto a gutter lip.   I am looking to have the lights down in front of the gutter/fascia so that the light is reflected off showing more than just the bulb.  (I know I'm being picky!)

 

If you want to send me a few to test out, I would be more than happy to try it out. 

Edited March 28, 2014 by Dan C

[rainyoregonchristmas]

I've been working on clip designs for the last year and all of my prototypes have been filiment printed. Remember if you don't have 100% infill, water will enter, freeze and distroy the clip. Also filiment printed items don't handle stress and flexing like solid molded plastic.

[Dan C]

I've been working on clip designs for the last year and all of my prototypes have been filiment printed. Remember if you don't have 100% infill, water will enter, freeze and distroy the clip. Also filiment printed items don't handle stress and flexing like solid molded plastic.

That's an excellent point about the infill. Last night I printed the first prototype. The turned out pretty good. And they clipped on the gutters. Not sure how well they will hold their strength over a few months. I was able to print the flexible parts thin enough to make them bend enough to get them on. Here they are.

Edit: forgot to mention, I printed these in PLA.

Edited March 29, 2014 by Dan C

[Don]

About those clips.  It looks like you just bend them and they clip into itself to lock the position.  I'm curious how sturdy they are without them being clipped when used on the edge of a shingle eave.

Also, it looks like when it is bent at 90 deg,  it would force the bulb to be mounted facing vertical when clipped onto a gutter lip.   I am looking to have the lights down in front of the gutter/fascia so that the light is reflected off showing more than just the bulb.  (I know I'm being picky!)

 

If you want to send me a few to test out, I would be more than happy to try it out. 

 

I don't have one in front of me, but if memory serves they are fairly sturdy.

 

I've got some going to Ron next week, and he'll be able to test, take pictures, etc.

[Ron Boyd]

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5zvqi01byx687e8/83zyslF0Ck

 

Here are some pics I took with the Seasonal Entertainment C7 Pixels. Don, the clips held the pixels quite well.

 

The square base has a rounded part that the clips just snap onto. I mounted them straight out in one section. With the weep holes in the tip, my suggestion would be NOT to mount them this way unless they are under an eave where water can get in. 

 

The optimum way would be to mount them pointing down. The clips have a snap on them and will form a 90. On a gutter, creating the 90 with the clip would turn the pixels down to take advantage of the weep hole and have less chance of water intrusion. 

 

Using them on a shingle, just the opposite, leave the clip straight and mount the pixels pointing down. Now, my roof pitch is quite steep where I mounted them so leaving the clips straight and pointing the pixels down worked well.

Because my roof pitch is so steep, I did mount them in the 90 degree configuration. As you can see, the pixels are pointing down so no problems with the weep holes.

 

If you'll notice in one of the pictures, I showed how these particular pixels are held in the clip. Using the clip in a 90 degree configuration, the round part of the base does not fully insert into the clip. It does however, insert fully when in the straight configuration.

Edited April 2, 2014 by Ron Boyd

[Dan C]

Thanks for the images Ron, Those help out a lot.

It looks like the issue with the bulb hitting the clip in the down position will be exaggerated with a C9 bulb since you only used a C7.

[Ron Boyd]

Thanks for the images Ron, Those help out a lot.

It looks like the issue with the bulb hitting the clip in the down position will be exaggerated with a C9 bulb since you only used a C7.

That would be my guess. The C9 covers, if I remember correctly are quite a bit bigger than the C7s

[Dan C]

We'll, I've decided go the route and just print my own clips. I only have about 210 or so with a few extras in case of breakage to do, so I better start printing! I'll let you know how it goes.

Here is the first batch.

Edited April 8, 2014 by Dan C

[greywolf]

i'm looking for clips ;

kind of like a " L " channel style  for my C7 LED strings 

i like to keep them under the over hang to protect them from this Texas weather we get here

the overhangs are vinyl siding with a " L " channel on them

i been looking at 1000bulbs on the styles of  clips they have 

but none seem to be the  one i'm looking for

 any other sites i can look at would be greatly appreciated 

thanks in advance