My Brain is in overload

[Tim Meyer]

I received an e-mail containing a video of a dancing light show. Need I say more. I have never worked with light controllers before but when I saw that video I was instantly searching the web on how it was done. A friend gave me the name of Light-O-Rama, found the site, bookmarked it, research it everyday, found this forum, joined it and try to read as much as possible each day. My son of 23, still living at home, saw my excitement of wanting to finally start doing Christmas lights again and doing it using the LOR controllers, bought me the S2 advanced software for Christmas. I will be purchasing the Holidaysoft program soon to help me set up my light display, i downloaded the demo and am very impressed. Because the way my mind works, LOL, I feel it would be the best way for me to set things up. So much to learn, so little time to learn it. I must say that both programs are "Neebie" friendly and I don;t think I will to much trouble learning. I plan to start with two 16 channel LOR controllers. I am working on setting up one of my desk top PCs to run the sequences. There are so many questions I have and will be searching the forums to find the answers. I have to admit thought, I find much of the discussions about other controllers, relays, wiring, spot lights, strobes and such a bit mind boggling and confusing. One thing I think I have come to the conclusion of, learn to crawl first, then walk before you run. My problem has always been to try bypass all three and take off like a rocket, which usually ends up running out of fuel and crashes. But not this time. As much as I want my first light show to be a huge success, it will not be a huge display. hmmmmmm wonder, maybe I should look into increasing my 200 amp service to 400 amp--------

[shfr26]

Welcome to the insanity. Take your time, read a lot, ask questions. Every one here will help in any way they can, because we are all addicted. Once again welcome aboard.

[Max-Paul]

Ya, ditto shfr26.

Would you mind editing your profile to show where you are located. If someone near you sees a call for help. That person is more likely to jump in with an answer or maybe if you are close enough actually offer to come over and give a hand.

One nice thing about the forum over on Planet Christmas is that one of the last areas is a state by state areas. So, some states actually put on minis were locals get together to share and demo their stuff. I was a newbie last year and went to a mini in St. Louis and K.C. MO. Saw a lot of thought provoking ideas to help me with my display.

Well come to the addiction..:cool:

[iresq]

You may want to bump up your font size for us seasoned members.

[Surfing4Dough]

Welcome to LOR. Sounds like you are hooked already!

Make sure you investigate this line of LOR controllers since it is the most cost-efficient route to go:
http://store.lightorama.com/ctb16pcpage.html

And don't stress about wanting your first light show to be a huge success and not being a huge display. No matter what you do, for probably 90% of the viewers it will be the coolest Christmas light display they have ever seen in person.

[George Simmons]

Max-Paul wrote:

Would you mind editing your profile to show where you are located.

Hey Max - how about if you do the same thing...

[ItsMeBobO]

George Simmons wrote:

Max-Paul wrote:

Would you mind editing your profile to show where you are located.

Hey Max - how about if you do the same thing...

[Max-Paul]

ItsMeBobO wrote:

George Simmons wrote:

Max-Paul wrote:

Would you mind editing your profile to show where you are located.

Hey Max - how about if you do the same thing...

So, when we have our mini aka SLAM. Remind me not to bend over in front of you Bob.:shock: Touche and aungard.

Thanks George, didn't even realize that I did not have that info set. As you can see, I went and took care of that. Thanks for pointing that out to me George.

[Tim Meyer]

Thanks everybody for the welcome. Max, I updated my profile. iresq, I bumped up my font size and George, I hope I don't misspell too many words and THANK GOD for spell checker. I plan to do lots of research before I plug in the first controller. I am excited about this and have watched tons of members videos on U tube and personal web pages. Now all I have to do is convince my wife I am not completely crazy.

[Gary Levelius]

Hey Tim, how far is Fort Wayne from Columbus Ohio? We're having a Mini in Columbus in May. Check out the "Coffee Shop" for the topic and feel free to chime in there



-Gary-

[Tim Meyer]

Gary Levelius wrote:

Hey Tim, how far is Fort Wayne from Columbus Ohio? We're having a Mini in Columbus in May. Check out the "Coffee Shop" for the topic and feel free to chime in there



-Gary-

Hi Gary, about a 4 to 5 hour drive I think. I just might have to take a trip over there and check that out in May. Thank you and I will check out "Coffee Shop" as well.

[bisquit476]

Tim Meyer wrote

Now all I have to do is convince my wife I am not completely crazy.

Yeah, well, good luck with that.

(actually, she'll stop thinking that AFTER she see's the first show, right about the time she starts telling you what she wants you to do with "your" display)

[Denis Chaput]

Tim Meyer wrote:

, I hope I don't misspell too many words and THANK GOD for spell checker.

Wellcome aboard don't worry about misspelling as Chuck H. from PC doesn't venture over in these parts too much:D:D

[sawyer1206]

Tim Meyer wrote:

As much as I want my first light show to be a huge success, it will not be a huge display. hmmmmmm wonder, maybe I should look into increasing my 200 amp service to 400 amp--------

Won't need the extra power if you use LED.

[George Simmons]

Tim Meyer wrote:

Now all I have to do is convince my wife I am not completely crazy.

When you figure out how to do that, the first thing you need to do is to apply for a patent. Not only will you be one of the biggest heros possible around here, but it will also probably make you wealthy.

You might have even more fun if you plug in a controller or two long before you know what you're doing. Having lights dance and chase around in your office or basement or garage while you're learning to sequence can really keep you amped and in a learning mode...

[Max-Paul]

bisquit476 wrote:

Tim Meyer wrote

Now all I have to do is convince my wife I am not completely crazy.

Yeah, well, good luck with that.

(actually, she'll stop thinking that AFTER she see's the first show, right about the time she starts telling you what she wants you to do with "your" display)

I'll second what bisquit said. First year before wife actually saw my display but after seeing a few local displays and seeing "Christmas with a capital C". She fell in love with this song and demanded / request that I do that song. Well it has been to my advantage that I did do that song. Now she has make another request for Wish Liszt by TSO. So, I have made it known that I need more lights and more control channels. LOL So, use her request to expand your kingdom, I mean controllers..

[George Simmons]

Max-Paul wrote:

Now she has make another request for Wish Liszt by TSO.

You don't need me to tell you the benefits of keeping mama happy. But I agree it's a magnificent opportunity to add channels. "What??? Are you kidding??? There's no possible way I can do that song with only 64 channels!!! You can tell her that everyone on the forum laughed out loud when we heard what she wanted you to do and that we all told you that you need at least 96 channels to do that song justice.

[Big Island Brandon]

My first year was with one 16 channel controller....and before I was done setting up that year I realized I needed more! Just wait until your wife sees you sitting down at the kitchen table with a box of tiny parts and a soldering gun.....assembling the "kit" versions yourself in order to save some money and buy more controllers! I spent the second year building 5 controllers....and now it looks like I will spend this year building about 10 of them. Have fun!

[Tim Meyer]

George Simmons wrote:

Tim Meyer wrote:

Now all I have to do is convince my wife I am not completely crazy.

You might have even more fun if you plug in a controller or two long before you know what you're doing. Having lights dance and chase around in your office or basement or garage while you're learning to sequence can really keep you amped and in a learning mode...

Thanks George and good advice. I was thinking of doing that shortly after I get my first controllers. Right now I am gathering as much info as my brain can handle and playing with the Sequence editor to learn how to put it all together. I think it would help to understand it all if I could actually see it working.

Thanks for all the advice with the wife issue, ha ha ha, but since she already thinks I am half nuts I do have one ace up my sleeve. You see, December 25th is her Birthday I used to decorate the outside of our 1400 sq ft home for many years until we moved into this house of 4500 sq ft, 2 story with full basement. With the work in setting up the house and all the landscaping, unexpected repairs and a major bathroom remodel job we have done, I lost all enthusiasm in hanging lights and taking them back down until now. Once I found LOR and this forum, watched the awesome videos all of you have on the web, in one form or another, and continued research for knowledge and ideas, I think my wife is in fear of my trying to second mortgage the house to buy all the things I have showed her and talked about doing. I must say, you all are a fantastic group of people. I am excited and motivated once again to make Christmas and her birthday one to remember each and every year. At least until I can't climb the ladders anymore, lol. Then I'll just have to teach the grandsons how to do it.

[Max-Paul]

Tim,

I have been here just a little over a year now. I tell you this, get your display up and as long as you have a means to control traffic and dont get any of your neibhors upset with blocked driveways. When the time comes that you can not climb up the ladder, you will have help setting up your lights. As long as you provide the hot coffee or cholate. They will come over to help. My reasoning is that I have read post where the neibhors will miss your light display if you do not put it up. Miss it so much that they will help you put it up, just so that they can see it running in the evenings. Shoot, you need to read one users post. Look for miniboyink I think is how he spells his user name. And I think his post are over on Planet Christmas. This guy has 14 neibhors who decorate their houses and this user controls all of them from his computer. I think that we have a few other users who have a couple of their neibhors who are in on it with them. I predict that you have many years ahead of you slaving to sequence music to lights..