Controller(s) Question

[Bob Wingert]

Plan on starting my newest addiction with some controllers next month. I've been messing around w/ the software and actually know how to program a sequence ... Baby steps though.

My question is, will be starting with the basic package and the LOR 16 channel unit, of course I will want more (and more) (and more) ... I read where these individual units can be plugged into one another, right? So is the main unit the only one that plugs into the AC outlet? Or do each one of the boxes have to plug into a wall socket? Also, is there a way to house these? I think that a bunch of boxes sitting on my front porch will attract thieves...Anyone have any problems with this? I would love to see how you guys have yours setup outside. Pics??

Any info would be helpful

Bob

[George Simmons]

The controllers are daisy-chained with Cat5 or phone cable for communication but each controller has to be connected to power.

[Bob Wingert]

George Simmons wrote:

The controllers are daisy-chained with Cat5 or phone cable for communication but each controller has to be connected to power.

Wow! So, 128 Channel requires 8 sources of power? I only have 2 outlets under my porch. How do you guys do it then? Will surge protectors work for the additional outlets?

[t.vanhouts]

Hello Bob,

Each 120 / 230 volt unit gets its power from your outlet or power supply. Just like your TV or radio you can plug multiple controllers into one outlet but be aware that there is a maximum Amps you can draw from it. The same counts for the boards powered by a power supply.

In the lor units is no direct possibility to connect each unit to an other. When you make a weatherprrof box you can put our outlet into it and connect an next unit. but always watch your maximum amps.

The data will be send by from your PC to the first, and the next, and so on. This is the part that will by daicy chained.

Maybe you can find more info here: http://www.lightorama.com/w_support.htm

I hope this will be helpful to you.

[shfr26]

pokrplr wrote:

George Simmons wrote:

The controllers are daisy-chained with Cat5 or phone cable for communication but each controller has to be connected to power.

Wow! So, 128 Channel requires 8 sources of power? I only have 2 outlets under my porch. How do you guys do it then? Will surge protectors work for the additional outlets?

Unless I am reading this wrong, 128 channels will require 16 sources, Your outlets have two available plugs BUT must each be on different circuits IF you are planning on running near your max amp of 15 or 30 amps per controller. So if you plug two controllers into one outlet that is wired like a normal plug, it would be good for 15-20 amps only, not 15-20 per plug. I hope that makes sense. If you are not going to be using max amps, then you need to check amperage that is being used with a meter.

[Max-Paul]

pkrplr,

You ask a question that has multible answers. You do not tell us all that is needed. But I will answer with the two extremes. If you put 1 string of 70 ct LEDs on each channel. You can plug one cord into the outlet and the off of that one cord you can daisy chained to all 8 controllers.

Now lets say you have 6 amps worth of lights on each channel. You will be only able to turn on two channels per each bank, with each controller having two banks. So with those two channels on, you will be drawing 12A per channel. So, I would recommend at least 16 15A breakers on 8 duplexes that has the bridge in the middle broken off and then one circuit to the top outlet and a different circuit to the lower outlet.

So, do you see a major difference between the two possible set-ups? So, without more information, it is hard to give you a real good answer.

You ask, "How do you guys do it". The answer is simple. But there is lots of work involved. You make a spread sheet. I understand that there is one available, but I have yet to use it. On this spreadsheet you list your controller and then individual channels. And you note what kind of load is on each of these channels. This means what kind of amperage you expect to have on each channel. Then you add up the amperage. When you get to either 12 amps or 16 amps. Its time to start looking for a new circuit.

[jimswinder]

Max-Paul wrote:

You make a spread sheet. I understand that there is one available, but I have yet to use it.

Here is the spreadsheet:

http://www.t2lights.com/christmas/lorutility.html

[George Simmons]

pokrplr wrote:

I only have 2 outlets under my porch. How do you guys do it then?

If all you're running is/will be LED's those two receptacles will be more than plenty. But if you're using incandescents you'll need to keep the total power draw under what that porch circuit is rated for - either 15 or 20 amps I presume - and then scrounge more power from elsewhere =- your garage or somewhere inside the house. Buy a Kill-A-Watt meter - the best 20 bucks you'll spend in this hobby.

How I do it is by having 100 amps available in the yard with a dozen 20 amp circuits spread out around the house and garage from back when I had a static display. There's also 60 amp service to the garage itself which is mostly available for me to use at Christmas.

[RickWIlliams]

pokrplr wrote:

Plan on starting my newest addiction with some controllers next month. I've been messing around w/ the software and actually know how to program a sequence ... Baby steps though.

My question is, will be starting with the basic package and the LOR 16 channel unit, of course I will want more (and more) (and more) ... I read where these individual units can be plugged into one another, right? So is the main unit the only one that plugs into the AC outlet? Or do each one of the boxes have to plug into a wall socket? Also, is there a way to house these? I think that a bunch of boxes sitting on my front porch will attract thieves...Anyone have any problems with this? I would love to see how you guys have yours setup outside. Pics??

Any info would be helpful

Bob

Bob,

Starting with 1 - 16 Channel controller is not a bad way to start, this will give you a solid understanding and confidence of what you have bought, and what you need or need to do to expand in the future.

We started with 1 - 16 channel controller and about 18k lights, and actually did a lot of cool things on a small scale. As you grow, pre-planning is a absolute necessity, understanding how you will achieve your plans makes life so much easier.

To answer you other questions:

"I read where these individual units can be plugged into one another, right?"
>> Each unit does connect to each other for communication purposes through a data cable, this connection is what passes the channel commands to each controller from the software, however, each controller can operate independently from each other if you choose.

Controller power is typically separate from one controller to another, and typically power is provided through a 15 Amp household circuit, or a pair of 15 Amp circuits (I had 20 Amp circuits installed (10 circuits) and apply 40 Amps to each of my controllers). You can share circuits amongst your controller network (more than one), however, if you are using 2 - 15 Amp circuits for this network, you still have only 30 Amps available from the circuits period, this is one reason why LED lights are so popular with the controllers as they draw approximately 1/10th the power as common incandescent christmas lamps do.

Is there a way to house these? I think that a bunch of boxes sitting on my front porch will attract thieves.
Most folks install their controllers in one type of case or another, specifically if they are placed outdoors for obvious reasons. I personally install mine into gutted sub panel boxes that are then mounted in the garage. The benefit of putting them in the garage is they are secure from theft, however since they are stored in one location, I have extension cords running to every string of lights that are controlled by the controllers (up to 120' per channel) this method has become extremely expensive over time, and I probably have more invested in copper wire than I do in controllers.

Theft should be pretty easy to deter, don't make it easy for the controllers to just walk away, lots of folks camouflage them in bushes, or by hiding them within the display elements. Know, and evaluate your own neighborhood.

Feel free to visit our site, we have several photos of how we've done things.

Good luck, and congratulations on your new addiction, you have no idea how deep this can get! LOL!

[bulldogs92]

Bob,

I'm just getting envolved in this too. I got my first controller delivered 2 weeks ago and have been having a blast with it. I have been lurking the forum now for about a month and finally decided it was time for my first post. Hello everyone.

Reading is key to finding out as much information as possible. I find myself in my free time just reading all the past posts over the years and trying to find out what everyone has done in the past that works and doesn't. This forum is a great resource. Thanks for all that contributes to it. I have found it extremely helpful.

Also, I would like to thank Rick Williams for the excellent spreadsheet. I figured out everything I want to do for Christmas 2010 and this is an awesome tool. Only took me 10 minutes to figure it all out and had my entire display calulated in about an hour and a half.

I am eagerly awaiting the spring sale, because I would really like to buy 8 controllers.

Is it strange that I listen for songs now that would make a good sequence?

Cheers!

Kenny (The newest member of the addiction)

[RickWIlliams]

bulldogs92 wrote:

Is it strange that I listen for songs now that would make a good sequence?

Cheers!

Kenny (The newest member of the addiction)

Kenny,

Well, I'm told it's funny, and I'm told I’m weird, that I actually always have 6 Christmas CDs loaded in my truck all year long! I buy so many Christmas CDs, I can't remember that I bought them already, some of which I have 3 copies of, my lovely wife said it was due to old age! LOL, she's the one that got the AARP pamphlet in the mail addressed to her.

Thanks for the comments on the light calculator, I'm actually working on it as I type (while listening to Christmas music by the way): adding controller models, DC and AC, String/bulb/unit variables, PDF help file, preloaded inventory, and a few other mods. I’m hoping to have it complete within a week or so.

A warm welcome Kenny!

[bulldogs92]

Rick,

Thanks for the welcome. I would be interested in what you are working on as far as the DC controller is concerned. Growing up, I always decorated my parents house, and seeing what can be done now with these controllers, I wanted to get into the hobby. I work with computers already at my job, so this is enjoyment for me.

Kenny

[Bob Wingert]

Thanks to all that replied with assistance. In reading all your replies I'm able to put this together alittle more. I will keep reading and understanding (hopefully).

As to when I do make this 1st purchase, I'm assuming that I start with the 16 channel starter pack, right? Software, cables and controller. In waiting for this Spring sale, anyone have any idea what the cost normally runs? Is it worth waiting or should i grab one controller and start the experimentation?

Kenny, Welcome to you as well. This is gonna a huge learning experience for me.

BTW - Do you guys build your displays during your sleep @ night? I find myself waking up around 3am every morning and I'm in the middle of either humming xmas songs or planning light placements?? Haven't had a good night sleep in weeks They say crack is an addiction?? I'm thinking that has NOTHING over this

[shfr26]

pokrplr wrote:

Thanks to all that replied with assistance. In reading all your replies I'm able to put this together alittle more. I will keep reading and understanding (hopefully).

As to when I do make this 1st purchase, I'm assuming that I start with the 16 channel starter pack, right? Software, cables and controller. In waiting for this Spring sale, anyone have any idea what the cost normally runs? Is it worth waiting or should i grab one controller and start the experimentation?

Kenny, Welcome to you as well. This is gonna a huge learning experience for me.

BTW - Do you guys build your displays during your sleep @ night? I find myself waking up around 3am every morning and I'm in the middle of either humming xmas songs or planning light placements?? Haven't had a good night sleep in weeks They say crack is an addiction?? I'm thinking that has NOTHING over this

16 now, 16 later, 4 more in this sale, 4 more in that sale, it never ends. Start small and get comfortable and then get more and bigger.

[bulldogs92]

Bob,

This is what I purchased to begin with.

http://store.lightorama.com/ctb16pcpage.html

(Quanity 1) The CTB16PC the Card Assembled version with the high powered heat sinks. I went this route for my first board so I could use it out of the box. I am familiar with soldering but I figured my time was more valuable right now than $20 that I would save buying the kit version. (I know several people out there think that is the fun part.) My hands shake too much to have the patience for that.

The other thing I purchased was:

http://store.lightorama.com/spk800.html

This is the starter kit which must be purchase with at least 1 controller. I went ahead and upgraded to the advanced level of licensing because I already know I will use more than 32 channels. (I went advanced because I am sure I will be above 8 controllers. Advanced supports unlimited controllers, only wish my wallet would.) I have read that most people advise to upgrade to the USB485B convertor.

I ordered these two things to get me started. Plan to order the rest when the sales are on. I figured to get me started into this was worth the $10 or $15 I would save during the sale for a controller. I'm having a blast playing with the one controller I have. My family room has been invaded by Christmas lights.

Just my thoughts.

Kenny

[Bob Wingert]

Its been ordered Kenny! Thanks for the input

[redsea300]

Welcome to the LOR addiction. I started with 173 channels the first year. Second went to 272. Next year is 405, I am wondering if it will ever end. I am actually thinking about offering to do the local City hall tree and lawn area. Well as for putting the controllers somewhere. Many of us do it all different ways. I have mine in 2 locked sheds in my side yard approx 40 feet from my main display area. If you go to my website you can see the shed setup under pictures/ command central. Well good luck and have fun.
www.hearthelights.com

[rgardner518]

pokrplr wrote:

Plan on starting my newest addiction with some controllers next month. I've been messing around w/ the software and actually know how to program a sequence ... Baby steps though.

My question is, will be starting with the basic package and the LOR 16 channel unit, of course I will want more (and more) (and more) ... I read where these individual units can be plugged into one another, right? So is the main unit the only one that plugs into the AC outlet? Or do each one of the boxes have to plug into a wall socket? Also, is there a way to house these? I think that a bunch of boxes sitting on my front porch will attract thieves...Anyone have any problems with this? I would love to see how you guys have yours setup outside. Pics??

Any info would be helpful

Bob

Take a look at my post on

http://lightorama.mywowbb.com/forum84/21191.html

There you will see what I did for my LOR boxes. Its a little over kill, but theres alot of room for expansion. After see the photos I included, if you have any questions, let me know, or PM me.

[eldoradoboy]

I also wakeup at night and grab the handy tablet pc next to the bed to write Down display ideas.

my 2010 display is well under wAy and will be all year.
There is only 2 discs of Christmas music in my truck though but each one is 4.7 gigs of mp3 so I did t have to fill up all 6 slots.

remember the more channels you have the more extension cords you will need to buy or make.
Christopher

[bulldogs92]

So several of you mentioned you have to be quick on the spring sale.

I know many have said that it all depends on what inventory they have left to sale, but how fast do you have to be once the sale starts?

Are we talking minutes, hours, or a few days?

Kenny