Example: Red Strings ... 1200 Red Lights. 1200 Green Lights

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How To Build A Christmas Mega TreeStrategies for
stringing your mega tree Tips for assigning
channelsPress F5 to see full screen slide show
mode
By Jeff Ostroff LauderdaleChristmas.com Version
1.6 January 14, 2008
This How To Guide Includes

• Strategies for stringing your mega tree
• Tips for assigning channels
• Tricks for getting more lights on the tree

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Requires one 16-channelcontroller
Requires two 16-channelcontrollers
32 Channel Red/Green Mega Tree 16 red strings, 16
green strings Each string 100 lights Total
Lights 3200
16 Channel Red Mega Tree 16 strings of red Each
string 100 lights Total Lights 1600
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48 Channel Red/Green/Blue/White Mega Tree
Each color has 12 strings
1200 Red 1200 Green 1200 Blue 1200 White Total
Lights 4800
Requires three 16-channel controllers
PROBLEM 12 strings for one color can look sparse
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PROBLEM 12 strings for one color can look sparse
Solution Fold each string in half as optical
illusion to double up the number of viewed
segments, or just double the of strings
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.
Instead of routing each string from the bottom of
the tree to the top of the tree
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Connecting your improved and folded in half
string solution to the controller Example Red
Strings
CH1
50
50
CH2
CH3

• Remember
• 3 Controllers
• 16 channels each
• 48 Channels total
• We have 4 colors so we need 48/4 12 channels
  per color.

CH4
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 dont
want to exceed 12 channels per color, so pair up
strings to the controller channels as shown.
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How should I string my mega tree? Outline Mode
or Radar Sweep/Searchlight mode?
Radar Sweep ModeString goes up to top of the
tree, back down same side
Outline Mode String goes up over the top of the
tree, and down the opposite side

• 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

• 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

Top View
Top View
Profile View
Profile View
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.
Youll have to change all your synchronization
files later if you decide you dont like having
opposite channels on all the time.
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LauderdaleChristmas.com Mega Tree with 4800 LED
lights that we used back in 2006
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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.

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

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• LauderdaleChristmas.com
• 2006 Layout with 4800 lights
• 1200 Red Lights
• 1200 Green Lights
• 1200 Blue Lights
• 1200 White lights

48 Channels Total
4 Colors of lights spanned across 48 Channels on
3 controllers
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• Q How can we add even more lights to the mega
  tree?
• Q Can it be done without adding more controllers
  and more cost?

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We are already at 48 strings (96 segments) of
light, for a 12 foot tree size, you cant fit
more strings. The new strategy is to compact it
all down and combine several strings into one
super string.
Try This.
Instead Of This.
400 Lights 4 Strings
Photo of our super strings,Christmas, 2007.
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.
1 String 100 Lights 1 Super String 400
Lights 24 Super Strings 9,600 Lights! - 12
foot tree 48 Super Strings 19,200 Lights! 20
foot tree
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Making the superstrings. Our invention for a
fast automated method to wrap your superstrings

• Get a 1 diameter PVC pipe about 3 feet long.
• 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.
• 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. Youll still lose some length of string by
  twisting them.
• Use re-usable zip ties to secure lights onto the
  wheels.
• Secure the other end of the strings to a rock
  solid point like a heavy tripod, tow hitch,
  bracket on a wall, etc.
• Use 2 people, one to spin the drill slowly at
  first, one to monitor the strings so they don't
  tangle up.
• 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. Dont 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.

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Our LauderdaleChristmas.com 2007 Layout for 12
tree with 9,600 lights
This is our tree for 2007!
Means 1 channel
Requires three 16-channel controllers
CH6

• 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.
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LauderdaleChristmas.com 2007 Layout with 19,200
lights for 20 foot tree
CH12

• Each Channel has 4 super strings

CH11
CH1
100
100
100
CH10
100
CH2
CH9
Means 1 channel
CH3
CH8
Requires three 16-channel controllers
CH4
CH7
48 Super Strings Total
CH5
CH6

• 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

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