How to build a christmas mega tree

1

How To Build A Christmas Mega TreeStrategies for stringing your mega treeTips for assigning channelsPress F5 to see full screen slide show mode

• Strategies for stringing your mega tree

• Tips for assigning channels

• Tricks for getting more lights on the tree

This How To Guide Includes:

By: Jeff OstroffLauderdaleChristmas.com Version 1.6 January 14, 2008

2

16 Channel Red Mega Tree16 strings of redEach string 100 lightsTotal # Lights: 1600

Requires one16-channelcontroller

32 Channel Red/Green Mega Tree16 red strings, 16 green stringsEach string 100 lightsTotal # Lights: 3200

Requires two16-channelcontrollers

3

Requires three16-channel controllers

48 Channel Red/Green/Blue/White Mega Tree

Each color has 12 strings

1200 Red1200 Green1200 Blue1200 White

Total Lights: 4800

PROBLEM: 12 strings for one color can look sparse

4

Solution: Fold each string in half as optical illusion to double up the number of viewed segments, or just double the # of strings

Instead of routing each string from the bottom of the tree to the top of the tree…

Fold the string in half and route from bottom to top, back down as another segment. This will effectively double the apparent number of strings with the same number of lights.

-Trees taller than 12 feet, you may need to actually double the number of light strings. 100 lights to go up to the top, 100 lights to come back down the next segment.

PROBLEM: 12 strings for one color can look sparse

5

Connecting your improved and “folded in half string” solution to the controllerExample: Red Strings

Doubling your number of strings to get more viewing density presents another issue. To keep # of channels and controllers from growing, you must group your lights for each color. Above example shows 24 strings of lights, but we don’t want to exceed 12 channels per color, so pair up strings to the controller channels as shown.

CH1

CH2

CH3

CH4

Remember:

• 3 Controllers• 16 channels each• 48 Channels total

We have 4 colors so we need 48/4 = 12 channels per color.

50

50

6

Profile ViewProfile View

Top ViewTop View

Outline Mode:String goes up over the top of the tree, and down the opposite side

Pros• Uses fewer channels• Uses Potentially fewer strings• Less programming time for lights• Spinning outline effect looks cool

Cons:

• You are stuck with the opposite channel always on

• Can look less dense than searchlight method, which must use more lights

Pros• More versatility• Can also do outline mode

by turning on opposite channel too

• Lights can appear more dense

• Radar Sweep/Searchlight effect looks cool

Cons:

• Requires more channel assignments

• Can require a bit more programming time

Radar Sweep Mode:String goes up to top of the tree, back down same side

How should I string my mega tree? Outline Mode or Radar Sweep/Searchlight mode?

It boils down to preference. I prefer Radar Sweep mode, with the most versatility. It allows me to do a thin searchlight sweep around the tree. I can also create an outline by simply turning on a channel opposite on the other side of the tree. So I can create the outline by turning on channels 9 and 3 for example, if you use 12 channels for each color.

If you use the outline method, you are stuck that way forever. You’ll have to change all your synchronization files later if you decide you don’t like having opposite channels on all the time.

7

LauderdaleChristmas.com Mega Tree with 4800 LED lights that we used back in 2006:

8

CH1

CH2

CH3

CH4

Remember:• 3 Controllers• 16 channels each• 48 Channels total

We have 4 colors so we need 48/4 = 12 channels per color.

48 Strings of 100 lights, folded in half to form 96 viewable segmentsEach color has 24 viewable segments• 1200 Red Lights• 1200 Green Lights• 1200 Blue Lights• 1200 White lights

LauderdaleChristmas.com 2006 Layout with 4800 lights:

50 Lights stretch up to the top of the tree and 50 lights stretch back down the tree on the same side a few inches over. Forms a 2-segment slice for that color on 1 channel.

9

12 WhiteChannels

12 RedChannels

12 GreenChannels

12 BlueChannels

48 Channels Total

4 Colors of lights spanned across 48 Channels on 3 controllers

Channel Controller # Circuit #Mega Tree White1 2 1Mega Tree White2 2 2Mega Tree White3 2 3Mega Tree White4 2 4Mega Tree White5 2 5Mega Tree White6 2 6Mega Tree White7 2 7Mega Tree White8 2 8Mega Tree White9 2 9Mega Tree White10 2 10Mega Tree White11 2 11Mega Tree White12 2 12Mega Tree Red1 2 13Mega Tree Red2 2 14Mega Tree Red3 2 15Mega Tree Red4 2 16Mega Tree Red5 3 1Mega Tree Red6 3 2Mega Tree Red7 3 3Mega Tree Red8 3 4Mega Tree Red9 3 5Mega Tree Red10 3 6Mega Tree Red11 3 7Mega Tree Red12 3 8Mega Tree Green1 3 9Mega Tree Green2 3 10Mega Tree Green3 3 11Mega Tree Green4 3 12Mega Tree Green5 3 13Mega Tree Green6 3 14Mega Tree Green7 3 15Mega Tree Green8 3 16Mega Tree Green9 4 1Mega Tree Green10 4 2Mega Tree Green11 4 3Mega Tree Green12 4 4Mega Tree Blue1 4 5Mega Tree Blue2 4 6Mega Tree Blue3 4 7Mega Tree Blue4 4 8Mega Tree Blue5 4 9Mega Tree Blue6 4 10Mega Tree Blue7 4 11Mega Tree Blue8 4 12Mega Tree Blue9 4 13Mega Tree Blue10 4 14Mega Tree Blue11 4 15Mega Tree Blue12 4 16

LauderdaleChristmas.com2006 Layout with 4800 lights:

• 1200 Red Lights• 1200 Green Lights• 1200 Blue Lights• 1200 White lights

10

• Q: How can we add even more lights to the mega tree?

• Q: Can it be done without adding more controllers and more cost?

11

We are already at 48 strings (96 segments) of light, for a 12 foot tree size, you can’t fit more strings.The new strategy is to compact it all down and combine several strings into one super string.

Instead of routing each color string separately, twist all 4 colors of strings into one super string to free up space around the base of the tree. The lights have been compacted to ¼ the space.Note: You are not plugging 4 different colored strings together, just twisting them together. Each color will only be plugged into strings of the same color at the controller.

Instead Of This…. Try This….

400 Lights4 Strings

Then This….

1600 Lights4 Super Strings

1 String = 100 Lights1 Super String = 400 Lights24 Super Strings = 9,600 Lights! - 12 foot tree48 Super Strings = 19,200 Lights! – 20 foot tree

400 Lights4 Strings twisted

Super String

Photo of our super strings,Christmas, 2007.

12

Making the superstrings. Our invention for a fast automated method to wrap your superstrings:

1) Get a 1” diameter PVC pipe about 3 feet long. 2) Drill a hole in the center of the pipe to run a 2” to 3” bolt

through it to plug onto your drill chuck like a propeller. 3) Get 3 metal caster wheels. The swivel wheels will keep

your strings from twisting up like a phone cord. You want to braid them, not twist them. You’ll still lose some length of string by twisting them.

4) Use re-usable zip ties to secure lights onto the wheels.5) Secure the other end of the strings to a rock solid point

like a heavy tripod, tow hitch, bracket on a wall, etc.6) Use 2 people, one to spin the drill slowly at first, one to

monitor the strings so they don't tangle up.7) You can twist 2 or 3 colors of strings at once.

Maintain a fairly tight tension on the strings when you braid them with this setup. Don’t let the strings sag, this will make them fly like a jump rope and they will get caught on each other.

Make sure the braiding starts at the end opposite the drill at the female plugs. Work it up the string toward you at the drill.

Leave 2 feet of untwisted strings at the male plug end so you can separate plugs for their final destination in the tree.

We have a 1 minute YouTube video showing this invention in action, click the photo at left to view it, or Click This Link.

13

Our LauderdaleChristmas.com 2007 Layout for 12’ tree with 9,600 lights:

LauderdaleChristmas.com 2007 Layout with 9,600 lights:• 2400 Red Lights in 24 super strings into 12 channels, 200/channel• 2400 Green Lights in 24 super strings into 12 channels, 200/channel• 2400 Blue Lights in 24 super strings into 12 channels, 200/channel• 2400 White lights in 24 super strings into 12 channels, 200/channel

24 folded Super Strings: Each color has 50 lights on each segment stretching up, and 50 lights stretching back down the next segment.

Means 1 channel

CH6

Requires three

16-channel controllers

CH12

CH2

• Each Channel has 2 super stringsCH1

CH3

CH4

CH5

CH7

CH8

CH9

CH10

CH11

50

5050

50This is our

tree for 2007!

14

LauderdaleChristmas.com 2007 Layout with 19,200 lights for 20 foot tree:

LauderdaleChristmas.com Design for 19,200 lights:• 4800 Red Lights in 48 super strings, into 12 channels, 400/channel• 4800 Green Lights in 48 super strings, into 12 channels, 400/channel• 4800 Blue Lights in 48 super strings, into 12 channels, 400/channel• 4800 White lights in 48 super strings, into 12 channels, 400/channel

48 Super Strings Total

Recommended solution for a flag pole mega tree 20 feet or taller. Shorter trees will be too tight to wrap the strings.

CH12

CH2

• Each Channel has 4 super stringsCH1

CH3

CH4

CH5

CH7

CH8

CH9

CH10

CH11

100

100100

100

Requires three

16-channel controllers

Means 1 channel

CH6