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Advice For Converting Over To Pixels And Or Color Ribbons


smlwrldguy

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I have an AC style show, ran for the first time last year, and am adding just a few mods to the lights, and songs for this year.

But as I'm doing this, I'm seeing the advantages of going to pixels, or color ribbons? It also appears that most shows being created are now pixel based.

So I'd like to salvage as much as possible of what I already have;

-  6 (regular/traditional AC) CTB16PC controllers

-  A pair of Easy Light Linkers - My show is over 100 feet from the house, and I didn't want to try and run a very long CAT-5 cable

-  FM transmitter for sound out to show - Again, it's far from the house

-  20 ft Mega Tree and 3D Star from ChristmasLightShow.com (it would appear that the LOR store stops at 16 ft)

-  8 wire frame mini trees, 3 ft tall

-  4 leaping arches - 10 PVC pipe bent

-  72 light strings, 100 ft mini led, assorted green, red, and blue

I would really, really like to know how to keep my Mega Tree, and have strings that take into account its height

I believe the wire frame mini trees are also salvageable.

The stars on top of the mini trees are 10 bulb LED mini lights held in place with clips.

I'm trying to work with a fabricator to make a wire frame "Holdman Star" for the top of my Mega Tree.

I was planning, but have put on hold the idea of having some of the poles, that have a climbing light effect,

that then does a starburst effect. Recommendation on this prop would also be appreciated.

I appreciate any, and all advice.   

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A note: The Easy Light Linkers are not going to cut it for Pixels.  They are OK for Dumb RGB, But Pixels need speeds that ELL can't do. (and AFAIK can't do ELOR mode)

A LOR (RS485) network can be up to 4000' total, so your main issue is just protecting the cable from critters or traffic (walking or driving. Your profile does not indicate what part of the country, so I can't guess about how weather might limit your choices. I have GOPHERS, so direct burial (yes, there is CAT5 for that) is out.

On to your 20' Tree. Be ready to splice. 5M (16') is a common length for ribbons. (Don't go all the way to the ground with the lights will save some needed length.)

Be ready to add extra support because Ribbons are pretty fragile.  I chose Bullets for that reason. I simply wrap them around .90+ Weed Wacker cord that supports the weight. 

Here are some of the numbers I use: 

50cnt bullets on 3" centers is ~12.5' long.   

100cnt is 16' when used on 2" center drilled PVC.  (and can draw up to 6A when all white. 100 is a safe number w/o power injection)

What is the viewing angle of your tree. a Half round might do if it is only from the front. (do remember to use a rear guy wire to compensate for the front weight)

 

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Just to add on, decide on how you want to run pixels, either LOR RS485 in which you will run PIxie or Aurora controllers and you will have to run many networks as RS485 networks are channel restricted and pixels add tons of channels. You could run E1.31 in which you could run practically any of the aftermarket pixel controllers. Unlike LOR RS485 networks which can have a 4,000 foot run E1.31 is restricted to 300 feet but you can place switches to extend the network.

As an example, I run two total networks for my rather large show. I run one LOR RS485 network with around 12 LOR controllers and one E1.31 network to run all my pixels with about 45-50 controllers.

However, the very first thing you need to do to start running pixels is to upgrade your license to a Pro version.

Edited by Mr. P
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No Need to "salvage" your AC lights or go all in in pixels just because others do it. Some (like my wife) believe that pixels look too much like Las Vegas and like a traditional look.

I run 128+ AC channels every year with over 17k lights and the neighbors like it enough to bring me fruit baskets. I have a 13' 32 channel mega tree.

You can do some cool things with pixels, though. Last year I started testing the waters. I added in a 16x50 ribbon tree. Used a Pixie 16 controller which plugs into my existing AC controllers (LOR RS485 red adapter and I'm not sure your ELLs will work with the high-speed network) and used 3.5-meter ribbons for a 13' tree. (5-meter ribbons should do 20').  I used a hook head kit that came with the head, mounting strips, and strain reliefs that the landscaping nails go into. Used top rail fence post since only going 13'. I still have a lot of LEDs going in the yard but have Santa and such doing stuff on the tree - even my wife likes it. Cool thing is I am able to add that Pixel tree into our Halloween show this year, and won't have to pull it down come November.

I'm thinking about doing a matrix next year. Another thing I think can be added in to an existing AC show to compliment it. 

If I was starting tomorrow, I'd look at the LOR kits - they have much nicer looking stuff than when I started. While a bit limiting once you max out the canned programming, their paid sequences do have 64 AC channels in addition to all the pixel programming.

I wish you so much luck!

 

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When I started in 2009, I used all incandescent lights using one Network with four 16 channel controllers. In 2010 I added my first smart RGB props. 2 CCRs to make arches. and those arches looked so good I had to have more. Every year after that I added more and more RGB props. By 2020 I had gone all Pixels. I now run 7 networks. Each control 2500 pixels (7500 Channels) per network. That's only 17,500 pixels and this is a small show. There are a lot of members on her that use over 30,000 pixels. To reduce the clutter of all the RJ485 USB plugs coming out of the front and back of my PC, I plan to consolidate 6 of the 7 networks into one Pixielink. My experience of adding or changing to RGB props and adding networks over time has worked out well for me. Every year I have learned something new that has helped in the sequencing and displaying of my show. If I had to of learned all of that in one season it would of been a bit over whelming. Best of luck to you and have fun with it. 

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I kept my  AC controllers and then added Pixie II's to line the garage and front door, leaping arches and last year, firesticks with stars on top. I the year before I added a CMB controller and converted the incan megatree to RGB. That was actually pretty easy, from a sequencing standpoint: I already had all the motion, I just needed to ad color.  Then I added some RGB spots to match the megatree using LED colored spot lights and spare AC channels I had after moving some of the AC props to RGB.

I see no reason to not keep the incan props along with new RFB props, especially as you convert over. It can get pricey to convert all at once. And it's really a matter of what YOU like.

Good luck and happy lighting! 

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