See My Christmas Lights Blog |
3004 Ridgetop Ct, St. Peters, MO 63376 |
Using the information from PlanetChristmas, I have made my 1st leaping arch and have successfully tested it.
I am planning to have 3 of these in the yard, making a triangle to have lights "bounce" around.
This video shows how the first one turned out and also gives you a sneak peek at a new song!
Tonight, as I was sequencing a new song for this year, I thought some of you may like a glimpse into what is involved...
For 2010, I am adding 4 - 4ft stars on the roof and rebuilding and adding colors to the trees in the side yard.
Happy April. It's never too soon for us insane people who setup Christmas Lights to Music to start planning for the next holiday Season!!!
Here are a few songs I am looking at doing for this year's show. If you could please rank them as to your favorites and let me know here or on Facebook, It would help me to know which ones to work on first. Also, if you have suggestions, I'm always looking for new songs!!!!!
Christmas - U2
I have already started on this one!!!
Lee Ann Womak - Man with the Bag
Hallelujah - Lakewood Church and Houston Symphony
Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Alan Jackson
This is the view of the garage with 4 out of the 6 Light-O-Rama boxes plugged in... As Tracy would say... "I HATE the wire mess"!!!!!
Everything went off without a hitch for the first night of Christmas Lights for 2009. Rabbits did not chew through any wires and it looks like nothing was burned out.
I completed assembling my LOR (Light-O-Rama) controllers for this year (added 32 circuits) for a total of 96.
These are the controllers that I have been buying now for the past 2 years. The plastic box comes with the circuit board/heatsink installed. You still have to attach some of the metal conduit pieces and all of the power cords yourself. You actually save some money doing it yourself...
Finished product... I hope they work and I didn't miss a connector (or wire it wrong) :)
Here is my process:
Start with the spool of wire
Cut it to length
Split the end
Thread it into the hole. I place the ribbed side of the wire to be in contact with the wide prong/slot.
Push the wire into the "teeth"
Close the cover (yes it takes a bit of pressure)
Finished
Repeat, repeat, repeat until all of your custom extension cords are complete!
For us Christmas Lights designers, we start EARLY, or we don't get finished...
September is the time to start the process of picking songs, desigining a new layout on paper and getting hardware setup.
In October/November, I'll start programming the songs.
In late November, I start putting it all together... This year... this blog will document my process!
Songs...
I am always looking for new songs... Some have suggested "Mr. Heatmiser" by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, "Deck the Halls" by Reliant K, "Run Rudolph Run" by Sheryl Crow and "Jingle Bells Techno Bells" by Candy Apple Punch.
Jeff Graham
Husband, Father, technology junkie and Christmas light show designer! (http://www.seemychristmaslights.com)
