brad2157

I am adding many more controller boards for my 2011 display and therefore I will need a lot of network cable to run around the yard to "daisy-chain" all my controllers. I did not know what the best idea would be to do: 1. Buy bulk rolls of CAT5 cable and crimp my own ends on, to make the lengths I need 2. Buy premade lengths of network cable at lengths I could use (50', 100', etc..) I read somewhere where someone made their own cables and had a lot of trouble with them, so they were going back to premade cables. What is the best method that is most reliable. I am sure they both have their good and bad. Thanks

I will keep you guys posted. I am going to see if I can find a "friend electrician" to save me some money. I believe my brother-in-law's uncle is an electrician, so I am going to see if I can get him to come take a look at it for me. Unfortunately I lost my job the end of October and have been looking for another job since, so I don't have much $ to spend at the moment. Thanks for all the input guys!

Thanks for the information. I wish I had known about Ken's display sooner (just found out about him yesterday), so I could have went to see it live. I only went to a few local ones, including Glenn Barber in Spring Hill and Alan Sielbeck in Franklin. I will have to make it a point to go check out Ken's display this year!

I just ran across this thread and was wondering if Ken Maxwell has a website for his display? You guys have me wanting to see what he has done.

Yeah, that is the idea. It would work out really well at my house, due to the meter & outside circuit breaker box is right around the corner of the house from everything and I would not have to run a million extension cords out of the garage. I only had 24 channels this year and it was too many cords to run through the garage window to go outside. I want to place my controllers outside this year as well. I have a security camera system now, so I won't have the worry of someone messing with my controllers (if they do, I will have some good footage for the police). I will keep you posted as I find out more information about my power upgrades.

I am using Renard 24 Channel DIY controllers. I will have 10 of them, each with two 15A circuits. I am doing a similar thing to Holdman's display, so I should be able to use the RG spreadsheet to save a little on max power.

2011 will be my first year with a larger show (going from 24 channels in 2010 to approx. 240 channels and maybe more) and I will need a lot more power. I know a lot of people say switch to LED's, but I have already bought a LOT of incandescents to use for my 2011 display and I also like the look of the fades, shimmer effects, etc.. that you get with the regular incand lights. My electrical meter is on the side of the house and after reading several posts, I found this thread and want to add something like this to my house. (It will be portable with the exception of the two-50A outdoor socket holders-will be mounted on side of house, so I can bring in most of it during the off season and store in the garage or attic. http://forums.planetchristmas.com/showthread.php/37800-New-200A-rated-weatherproof-porta-power-unit?highlight=panel I want to add two - 50A outdoor, weatherproof socket holders, two - outdoor rated 125A breaker panels, and a large enclosure (maybe hoffman) to add my electrical plugs into. I plan to use GFCI breakers, so I don't have to purchase a ton of GFCI outlets. --------------------------------------------------------------- My question is, how do I find out how many amps my outdoor meter is rated for? From what I understand, I will need to know the amp capacity of my meter, so I will know how many more breakers I can add to the panel to upgrade my power, without overloading. --------------------------------------------------------------- Here is my current outside layout. Outside, the meter feeds an outdoor load center (breaker panel) that has 8 slots total. Of the 8 slots, 5 are being used (listed below). That leaves me 3 slots empty. GE Powermark Gold Load Center 20 100 empty 100 empty 60 empty 60 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Here is my current circuit panel for the whole house, which is located in the garage. It has 24 slots, 4 of which are empty. GE Powermark Gold Load Center 15 20 15 15 15 15 15 20 15 20 15 20 15 20 30 30 30 30 empty 50 empty 50 empty empty --------------------------------------------------------------- Please be easy on me, since I am new to all of this. I know that I may need to hire a licensed electrician, but even doing so, I want to know how all of this works and goes together. Based on the information I provided, can you tell if I have room to upgrade and add some circuits like I want? If not, what do I need to check? Like I said, please be gentle on me. Even if this is something I don't need to be messing with, I still want to know the "how" and "why" behind it, so I can learn.

I am having trouble getting on the DIYC board to post, so I thought I may also find some help here. I am wondering if there is any way to increase the number of lights I can put on each channel of the Renard SS24 boards without overloading it and blowing the triacs. I plan to have a lot of C9 bulbs on the house for my 2011 display and wanted to try to save as many channels as I can. Otherwise I would have to use up several channels and just program them all to do the same sequences to distribute the load.

Wow, love the display. Great work!

This is AMAZING! You really nailed it with the spacing of the strands and programming your controllers. Like everyone else, I can't wait to see the "How To" on this. I want to add this into my display next year. This was our first year of animated lights, so I have plenty more controllers to build before next year

I just ordered from YBBS about a week ago. They were supposed to have closed up after Thanksgiving, but are still taking orders on enclosures, if you order 10 or more (until the end of the year). I ordered ten CG-2000's for my renard SS24 boards. I got free shipping too (over $75 gets free shipping).

I am a newbie, but I have one up in Chapman's Retreat Subdivison at: 1296 Chapmans Retreat Dr. Spring Hill, TN 37174 I usually don't have everything on until around 7pm nightly due to getting home from work late. I leave the display on until 10p during the week and 11p on the weekends. This is my first year putting anything out. Last year we had just moved in and I was still trying to get settled in the house. I have several decorations, static lights, and my first ever mega-tree (or medium tree :giggle:) that is over 10' tall. I look forward to adding a lot of new stuff to my display for 2010 :santasmileyitty: