It has been a real busy time around this house with family and work...and CHRISTMAS LIGHTS! I really wish I had posted more blog entries so as to look at these next year. If there are other newbies (I am only in my 3rd year...so still consider myself a newbie) reading this, here are some thoughts I have for my next year's show;
1) Start Early!!! You can never start early enough. Even though sequencing turned out fine and I had enough for a decent show length...really wish I had started earlier. Last year (if you go back and look), I had a dozen or more changes to my setup. That didn't happen this year, so that helped. I am probably going to keep the same setup from this year and just add to it. Seems to be what everyone else does. My setup this year did change around somewhat, but next year it won't.
2) Note to self...take pictures of the setup before taking it down!!! There are several things I did this year, that were smarter than the year before. Just placement of controllers, extension cords, the placement of all the "grid" lights going to the mini trees.
3) Note to self...Label all the extension cords. They obviously work now. The craziness of finding which extension cords to use would greatly be done away with if you know which of the "masses" go where. Especially the insanity you went through on the wreaths (as you can see...this is just as much a diary for me as it is a blog)
4) Note to self....zip tie all of the c9 lines together before taking them down. They are are fine in the spacing now...even though the red c9's that were ordered from www.christmas-leds.com...were shorter than the green c9's I had bought the year before. Oh well. Live and learn.
Man LED's are expensive! I know the old timers would just say "you get what you pay for..."...but looking online, hoping to get in on some pre-sales...no way. I lucked up and found that Walgreen's had their c6 green 50 count on sale for $6.49 per string. That was even hard to swallow. However, ALL STORES are low on lights this year. My green lights are getting real light with age and really need to be changed out. Just wish I could change out my mini tree lights, but I would have to take all the reds off...and that is not happening!
I really like using the Christmas trees instead of bushes. Now if my wife doesn't make me plant any, after digging all the sick things up...I will be set for next year! I honestly may change out the 3 little trees for either a 7ft or 9ft tree. People at their yard sales...want a fortune for their bigger trees. The smaller ones...pretty much can be had for $5 to $10.00.
My BLUE LEDs went out on my carport flood light. Not happy about that ,but at least we got the main videos done before they went out. Greg at Seasonal Entertainment (www.seasonalentertainmentllc.com) said he would look at it. Not going to send it in if he is going to charge me though. Not worth the shipping. I am going to order 2 more floods for the roof anyway next year. May have to order another if this doesn't work out.
Tried some of the Home Depot flood lights (DC 20watt kind). Not good. They work, but do lag behind in coming on. Still could use them if push comes to shove...but would like the flexibility of the RGB kind.
Zara Radio radio...or something has been messing with LOR. I updated to 3.12...then almost immediately was advised to update to 3.14. That made channels "stick" on. Funny, it was channel 8 on 3 separate controllers. Strange. Had to turn Zara off. When I did that...went away (the problem that is).
Got in the local paper (little article). Think that has increased both traffic here at the house and the cars outside. Past couple of nights I couldn't go and take pictures or do different video angle shots because of the cars always being out there. That is just fine by me though! Would rather have some traffic...than none at all. Lot of work just to see this every night myself ;-)
Will post more later over the holiday now that I have some time to myself. Would love to hear your comments if you are reading this :-)
1) Start Early!!! You can never start early enough. Even though sequencing turned out fine and I had enough for a decent show length...really wish I had started earlier. Last year (if you go back and look), I had a dozen or more changes to my setup. That didn't happen this year, so that helped. I am probably going to keep the same setup from this year and just add to it. Seems to be what everyone else does. My setup this year did change around somewhat, but next year it won't.
2) Note to self...take pictures of the setup before taking it down!!! There are several things I did this year, that were smarter than the year before. Just placement of controllers, extension cords, the placement of all the "grid" lights going to the mini trees.
3) Note to self...Label all the extension cords. They obviously work now. The craziness of finding which extension cords to use would greatly be done away with if you know which of the "masses" go where. Especially the insanity you went through on the wreaths (as you can see...this is just as much a diary for me as it is a blog)
4) Note to self....zip tie all of the c9 lines together before taking them down. They are are fine in the spacing now...even though the red c9's that were ordered from www.christmas-leds.com...were shorter than the green c9's I had bought the year before. Oh well. Live and learn.
Man LED's are expensive! I know the old timers would just say "you get what you pay for..."...but looking online, hoping to get in on some pre-sales...no way. I lucked up and found that Walgreen's had their c6 green 50 count on sale for $6.49 per string. That was even hard to swallow. However, ALL STORES are low on lights this year. My green lights are getting real light with age and really need to be changed out. Just wish I could change out my mini tree lights, but I would have to take all the reds off...and that is not happening!
I really like using the Christmas trees instead of bushes. Now if my wife doesn't make me plant any, after digging all the sick things up...I will be set for next year! I honestly may change out the 3 little trees for either a 7ft or 9ft tree. People at their yard sales...want a fortune for their bigger trees. The smaller ones...pretty much can be had for $5 to $10.00.
My BLUE LEDs went out on my carport flood light. Not happy about that ,but at least we got the main videos done before they went out. Greg at Seasonal Entertainment (www.seasonalentertainmentllc.com) said he would look at it. Not going to send it in if he is going to charge me though. Not worth the shipping. I am going to order 2 more floods for the roof anyway next year. May have to order another if this doesn't work out.
Tried some of the Home Depot flood lights (DC 20watt kind). Not good. They work, but do lag behind in coming on. Still could use them if push comes to shove...but would like the flexibility of the RGB kind.
Zara Radio radio...or something has been messing with LOR. I updated to 3.12...then almost immediately was advised to update to 3.14. That made channels "stick" on. Funny, it was channel 8 on 3 separate controllers. Strange. Had to turn Zara off. When I did that...went away (the problem that is).
Got in the local paper (little article). Think that has increased both traffic here at the house and the cars outside. Past couple of nights I couldn't go and take pictures or do different video angle shots because of the cars always being out there. That is just fine by me though! Would rather have some traffic...than none at all. Lot of work just to see this every night myself ;-)
Will post more later over the holiday now that I have some time to myself. Would love to hear your comments if you are reading this :-)
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