Dave Sanderson

SVO, as I put in a post that not everyone saw, the city actually contacted me about two weeks before my lights were to come on and wanted to come up with a traffic plan. How about THAT?!! And they've been terrific since. Eric, I almost just send an e-mail to you about my issues tonight. Wish I had talked to you about that before whatever problem I had was under several inches of ice and snow. BTW, I've had nothing for traffic when I'm running, and watch your display enough to know why you're frustrated. But a LOT of people can view at once and it's still pretty early. Brian, thanks for

Apparently some melting took place under the snow and ice between last night and tonight and between a third and half of my many GFI's keep tripping as fast as I can reset them Which I realize has to just be water getting in somewhere, most likely at various connections, but perhaps at some broken bulbs I don't know about as well. So here's the question: What is the most effective strategy -- are there any shorcuts or more effective ways -- toconduct the arduous task of finding and correcting all these problems, now somewhere under the snow and ice? Left to my own devices I would either wai

I just wanted to offer a quick update for anyone who had an interest or offered support in my problem with the City of Ankeny, IA. For those who don't know what I'm talking about ... Last yearI made the mistake of going tothe policein advance to make things as smooth as possible. The City's answer wasacertified letter threatening to declare my display a public nuisance even before it had ever been built, then followed up withstanding orders to the police department to shut medown in response to ANY complain -- they got one all of last year. I took exception tothis insanity, started aWeb si

Ken, I mailed it out using the county assessor's site which gives addresses. It's too cold up here in Iowa to go door to door in January. BTW, I stopped wrapping PVC for a comet coming in to start my show this year using your leaping lights concept. THANK YOU for that. It's an honor.

For last year's display I had an electrician add a panel in the basement to run a bunch of outlets out that side of the house. I called hiim a couple of days ago to see about adding some more and he mentioned that he can put as many outlets as I want, but that I only have 200 amps total for the whole house unless I have the power company come do something major. Does that make sense? I have to think there are a number of people in this community running more than 200 amps, right? After all, I'm not that big and I believe I'm over it this year if I turn everything on at once. Thanks in a

Nothing lost if it's a hobby rather than something to make real money. Keep us posted.

ChuckHutchings wrote: I am in no way disagreeing with this point, or others in the thread. I was merely struck by the difference between this town and my own person situation (www.TheCityThatStoleChristmas.com) and glad that there are local govenrments that understand the value of what we do. I encouraging taking the advice in this thread, while also recognizing how cool it was to be asked.

Scottsgrfx wrote: You've already received some great advice. But I didn't want the coolness factor of this to get lost, and just wanted to say "CONGRATS!" Smart mayor.

I'm wanting to use the "leaping lights" idea as a vertical element to not only bring in a comet to start the show, but to shoot fireworks (aerial bombs that just flash then "report/boom. I figure on putting up about a ten-foot single mastup from the peak of the house and hang about threelights, light balls, or whatever up there. Butthe question is, WHAT? I figure they have to be round, maybe a foot or two across,very light, and very bright. I've thought about the biggest incandescentbulb I can find (how big do they make?) in an acryllic globe of some kind. Or maybe some kind of flash or str

TED wrote: Me, too.

The middle of this song is aneven better example of why I'm going to rip off several ideas from Ericin 2007.

I think my kids just won themselves another string of the stars in mini's they like so much. If I try this effect, it looks like I'd do well to figure it out with some kind of C7 setup where it won't matter.

tfischer wrote: Tim, could you amplify? I'm not sure exactly what you're saying, but am pretty sure it's critically important in this situation. Are you saying it randomly will fire 100% at a channel (I know I had some minor glitches last year using the ELLs, but nothing I couldn't live with like this deal.)? Or are you saying that if you plug the controller in before plugging in these lights I should be ok? Again, thanks in advance. The helpfulness of this community continues to blow me away!

tfischer wrote: Tim, could you amplify? I'm not sure exactly what you're saying, but am pretty sure it's critically important in this situation. Are you saying it randomly will fire 100% at a channel (I know I had some minor glitches last year using the ELLs, but nothing I couldn't live with like this deal.)? Or are you saying that if you plug the controller in before plugging in these lights I should be ok? Again, thanks in advance. The helpfulness of this community continues to blow me away!

Thank you, Ernie. In that case I'll save 100% power for the last, spectacular, spark-filled, fire-department-enhanced show of the season. Again, and seriously, Thank You!