W Lewis 11 Posted November 28, 2009 Report Share Posted November 28, 2009 This is the first year I have used my controllers for the lights on my house, previously I used a mega tree. I am having trouble with my lights in the house flickering when my shows are running. Any one with an idea what could be causing this? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DavidGrant 10 Posted November 28, 2009 Report Share Posted November 28, 2009 if you have your controller / individual channel overloaded this can cause flickering. especially when you have a heavy load such as a TV / washer etc on the same circuit as your controller. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rangebob 0 Posted November 28, 2009 Report Share Posted November 28, 2009 All of my controllers are on individual circuits that I installed just for my garage and controllers. I think the light flickering is due to the power draw that is happening from the main power feed. I had it last year and I added more lights this year but switched alot of the lights to the CFL's it isn't as noticible but I'm starting to see it in my TV tonight but didn't have a problem with it yesterday. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Robert Cox 0 Posted November 28, 2009 Report Share Posted November 28, 2009 I had this problem. The only way to fix it was for the electric company to give us our own transformer. You are drawing more power than what is available in your neighborhood. bob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChadH 0 Posted November 28, 2009 Report Share Posted November 28, 2009 I had this problem. The only way to fix it was for the electric company to give us our own transformer. You are drawing more power than what is available in your neighborhood. bob Hmmm sounds like it's time to upgrade again. Already have our own and had to upgrade once. Sounds like it is time for a new upgrade. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eldoradoboy 0 Posted November 29, 2009 Report Share Posted November 29, 2009 its somewhat normal to see that... some things you can do to help that: make sure that the breakers that drive your show are pulling from both legs of the incoming power feed.. meaning that circuit 1 pulls from the left leg in the main panel.. circuit 2 pulls from the right leg in the panel etc.. in a square D box it is every other breaker pulls from the opposite incoming Leg... make sure your feed cords to your LOR controllers are HEAVY enough... the Longer the cords for your feed the more the power loss in the cord itself which causes higher amperage draws... when you sequence watch how your lights turn on and off.. slowerr ramps will cause less noticeable light flicker inside the house.. if you are fading something on.. fade something else off.. watching the TOTAL power draw for your show at any given time keeping it as even as possible reduces indoor light flickering... obviously doing things like running the dryer, the central air or heatpump, cooking in the kitchen on electric, running electric water heater at the same time your light show is on will pull the main draw of your house up higher and may cause more noticeable light flicker inside.. -Christopher Quote Link to post Share on other sites
W Lewis 11 Posted December 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2009 Thanks for all you advice. The power company is upgrading my transformer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Robert Cox 0 Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 Very cool. When they came to our house, they first tried the upgrade with no success so they gave us our own bob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Toymakr000 1 Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 Alright. How in the world do you get the power company to do that???? I have had them out to my house twice now. The say my supply is adequate. i know I'm drawing a lot but they don't get it! What do you tell them? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Luke Kamp 1 Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 (edited) I always have that issue. It's caused by using LOTS of power at once. In our Piano Room (which happens to lie in the front of our house and share a circuit with the outdoor outlet) we have 4 can lights on the ceiling and the flicker is VERY noticable. It's because one leg of the controller is on the same circuit. I can see a flicker in some other places of the house, but it's not very noticeable unless I'm playing Wizards in Winter or some other crazy sequence that draws lots of power at once. Edited December 3, 2009 by lkcubsrule Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Robert Cox 0 Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 Alright. How in the world do you get the power company to do that???? I have had them out to my house twice now. The say my supply is adequate. i know I'm drawing a lot but they don't get it! What do you tell them? Have one of your neighbors call a few times to complain. it worked for us:giggle: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Lightzilla Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 Take out your wallet and show the power company that you are loaded with money. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bmoe 10 Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Hello, Newbie to Planet Christmas and the blog/forum world. So, please excuse. You mentioned that the power co installed a transformer. The power co just replaced a blown nineteen seventies step down transformer in my backyard will this mean I am good to go or, do they need to install another? Sadly I will miss having a computerized light show this year and will have to make do with the off the shelf Ge wireless light show. Now if i could only hack it and play mp3's. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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