G'day from Cambewarra

Permapower

New elf
Joined
Feb 22, 2019
Messages
6
Hi everyone,

It may be too late to plan and set up a Christmas light display this year, but I love reading and learning what others have done for themselves.

As it is my first year, I would be interested to learn from others as to what I should start out with. Do I buy a bigger pixel controller and slowly add more lights over time, or should I just break up the plan into smaller controllers and build it over time (e.g. R-Pi's)

Ideas and feedback are most welcome. ;-)
 

AAH

I love blinky lights :)
Community project designer
Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Messages
4,188
Location
Eaglehawk
Welcome to ACL (after 8 months of lurking).
There's still a little bit of time to get a display going.
Depending on how big you want to go and how big the props are that you want to control then going with a rPi is an easy first step. It can always get repurposed for running your entire show in latter years if you go with bigger pixel controllers.
 

Permapower

New elf
Joined
Feb 22, 2019
Messages
6
Thank you for such a quick response. If I go down the rPi option, do you have any pointers (e.g. blogs/websites/Youtube) that you like that might kick start me in the right direction?
 

djgra79

My name is Graham & I love flashing lights!
Global moderator
Generous elf
Joined
Dec 27, 2011
Messages
2,161
Location
Cranbourne West
A large controller like a Falcon F16 is a great investment, as it can handle lots of pixels and is good when you want to expand your show in the future, plus it's well supported within the group so lots of help if needed.
Do you have any lights at all currently, be they pixels or old Kmart/Bunnigs LED strings or ropelights? Perhaps you can start out automating those if you do.
Now is the time when most of us are busy building final props, making up cables and testing out things, some have even started putting up their lights for the bigger shows, so it will get busy around here as people as a few quetions, so you can always sit batch and watch the madness unfold!
 
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