Ralph A Posted April 29, 2014 Posted April 29, 2014 Wanted to show you what I did for my set up on traditional Icicles. I got tired of having to set up and tear down all four colors of the Icicles each year. In my case to follow the roof line that is 10 strings of each color and 9 channels per color. I bought the C-6 style from CDI. I started by taking 15 foot lengths of 1/2 inch rebar. I chose this length because the Icicles that CDI carries is about 7 1/2 feet long. I then zip tied each color to the rebar starting with white. (picture 1) Then red, then green, then blue. I moved each different colored string about 1/2 inches down to avoid the bunching up of the rectifier. I followed this pattern with all the rods (picture 2). I then taped the male plug of each color with the corresponding light color with colored electrical tape (picture 3). In my case I ended up with four 15 foot lengths of rebar. To go around the porch I had to custom bend to follow the contours (picture 4).Next I then needed to hang the rebar. I bought #8 zinc coated screw hooks from home depot. I screwed these hooks about half way in to my custom built CCB runner picture 5). I will post that in my next posting. I used about 4 or 5 screw hooks per 15 feet. If I did this over you really only need three. Your application of course will be different. You may be able to take your screw hooks and place them in your eves or fascia boards. After hanging the rods I then zip tied each end of the rod to the screw hook just for safe keeping (picture 6). Hope this helps! .
Jim Hans Posted April 29, 2014 Posted April 29, 2014 Great idea! Also wondering about the weight and why you chose rebar instead of PVC.
khawes Posted April 29, 2014 Posted April 29, 2014 When I bought the 3/4" square aluminum tubing for my mega tree, I got extra for the eve lights. I placed 3 eye bolts in each square tube, zip tied the lights (CCBs, icicle tubes, & strobes) and then placed corresponding hooks on the eves. I've got 3 18' sections and one 21' I can put it all up in 10 minutes all by me onesies.
Ralph A Posted April 30, 2014 Author Posted April 30, 2014 How heavy does the rebar make it?Not to sure of the exact weight? I will get one out this weekend and get back to you. When handling one 15 foot bar at a time it is easy to manage by myself.
Ralph A Posted April 30, 2014 Author Posted April 30, 2014 Great idea! Also wondering about the weight and why you chose rebar instead of PVC. Hi Jim. The weight is not bad. Though it is heavier (of course) than PVC. I tend to overbuild than under build most of what I do. I like things to stick around awhile. I liked the idea of being able to custom bend the shape I needed for my porch area. Picture #4. Also, I tend to put up 80% of the display by myself. With rebar I did not have to worry about it breaking or bending. PVC is very strong and would work well, as would EMT. Just my preference and I'm very happy with it.
Ralph A Posted April 30, 2014 Author Posted April 30, 2014 When I bought the 3/4" square aluminum tubing for my mega tree, I got extra for the eve lights. I placed 3 eye bolts in each square tube, zip tied the lights (CCBs, icicle tubes, & strobes) and then placed corresponding hooks on the eves. I've got 3 18' sections and one 21' I can put it all up in 10 minutes all by me onesies. That sounds nice. That is one of my objectives. Get it up fast, as well as the break down. Do you have a picture of the prop? Also, I will be rebuilding my CCR Superstar tree this year and want to use aluminum. It is costly but worth it. I've tried rope, PVC, and wood. I get very strong winds here in West Texas and I want to keep my CCR's in great conduction as long as I can. Where did you get your 3/4 aluminum, and how expensive was it, if you don't mind me asking. Thanks!
khawes Posted April 30, 2014 Posted April 30, 2014 Ralph,There's a whole thread about building an aluminum CCR/CCB tree (I used Technicolor Pixels on mine) you can find it here: http://forums.lightorama.com/index.php?/topic/23186-anyone-else-building-a-frame-for-a-12-ribbon-ccr-tree/ pictures of my tree are there. My aluminum came from http://www.alro.com/ It's the #6063 square tubing, 3/4" with 1/8"walls and 253" long. Cost was under $25 per tube if I recall correctly. Shipping was very reasonable too. As for pictures of my eve mounting: here's a close up of how the CCB's are mounted to the tubes. You can see the eye screw does not protrude through the side with the lights. That way if a Light happens to overlap the eye screw it's not a problem. Having a flat side really helps keep the lights all lined up. The drip tubes are mounted to the side of the tube facing the house and strobes are mounted to the street side (bulbs face down), but they are so heavy the droop. I need a new solution for them. This is a shot of the tree in storage -- the eve lights are too long to fit this direction so they are cross wise behind those bins, and the 21' n is just visible below those same bins and above the legless deer:
Ralph A Posted May 14, 2014 Author Posted May 14, 2014 Turns out I am looking to do mine this way. I have new gutters on the new hosue and don't want to ruin them by hanging things on them. I have a wood finished over hang so I am all set so I don't mind some hooks. =D I am really gonna miss the J-channel tho. DrewHey Drew, Sorry you gotta lose the J-Channel. The weight on the rebar itself is not that heavy. Most of my weight came from the lights themselves. If you need the amount of weight just let me know. Be glad to get it for you. Do you have a picture of your completed j-channel with lights on them? Would like to see what you did before you have to take it apart!! Thanks.
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