What are you changing for 2024? Elements you are building, modifying or installing
- Thread starter ryanschristmaslights
- Start date
A couple of changes that are being / have been built:
New 24V power distribution box. This has a PSU in it, feeding 5x 10A breakers (yes, DC rated) and 5x outputs. The 10A limit works nicely as I use the orange bunnings extension cable with Anderson PowerPole connectors for distribution; so keeps it within the cables' limits - and it equates to 2x 100W DC/DC converters on each run.
Megatree has been updated, previously 20 x 75 @ 2" spacing, 5V, running from 10 outputs + 150 node star on the 11th, for a total of 1500 + 150 nodes.
Now it's 30 x 150 @ 1" spacing, 12V, running from 30 outputs. The same star has been repushed with 12V as well, for a total of 4500 + 150 nodes
This necessitated a new controller build. HE123 with HE123-RJ breakout, and 4x HE123-EX expansion boards. These are passive boards using CAT5e to transport the signal (not RS422 diff receivers).
2x 700W HP Power Supplies, and some right-angle breakout boards.
Also today started working on a new mounting bracket to sit on the front of the roof for my 3x signing globes.
This is still unfinished, but basically it'll straddle the roof peak; the globes will go onto the 3 pairs of uprights there, and a diagonal brace from the top of the globe. The whole lot will be sandbagged down.
New 24V power distribution box. This has a PSU in it, feeding 5x 10A breakers (yes, DC rated) and 5x outputs. The 10A limit works nicely as I use the orange bunnings extension cable with Anderson PowerPole connectors for distribution; so keeps it within the cables' limits - and it equates to 2x 100W DC/DC converters on each run.
Megatree has been updated, previously 20 x 75 @ 2" spacing, 5V, running from 10 outputs + 150 node star on the 11th, for a total of 1500 + 150 nodes.
Now it's 30 x 150 @ 1" spacing, 12V, running from 30 outputs. The same star has been repushed with 12V as well, for a total of 4500 + 150 nodes
This necessitated a new controller build. HE123 with HE123-RJ breakout, and 4x HE123-EX expansion boards. These are passive boards using CAT5e to transport the signal (not RS422 diff receivers).
2x 700W HP Power Supplies, and some right-angle breakout boards.
Also today started working on a new mounting bracket to sit on the front of the roof for my 3x signing globes.
This is still unfinished, but basically it'll straddle the roof peak; the globes will go onto the 3 pairs of uprights there, and a diagonal brace from the top of the globe. The whole lot will be sandbagged down.
Now the reason why the globes are going on the roof is the addition of this P6.67 panel, which now lives where the globes used to be.
This is mounted using 6x angle brackets on the wall, and a ratchet strap. A few cable ties are in there which was to temporarily secure before the strap went on.
The panels are also bolted together.
Built a Pi control box with a little screen; this is set up as a virtual matrix and will mimic what the actual panel is doing.
There are two enclosures here, each with 3x3 panels, panels are 48x48 pixels. Total across the entire display is 288x144 resolution.
The original Novastar board in each enclosure was swapped out for a ColorLight 5A-75E 16 output board. These physically are almost identical to the Novastar boards, with the exception the connectors are angled. Same mounting holes made it really simple as a swap out.
Was a pain the the butt figuring out these panels in LEDVision though; their pixel order and a few other things are all over the shop. None of this "pixel 1 top left, go in order left-right, top-bottom!"
This is mounted using 6x angle brackets on the wall, and a ratchet strap. A few cable ties are in there which was to temporarily secure before the strap went on.
The panels are also bolted together.
Built a Pi control box with a little screen; this is set up as a virtual matrix and will mimic what the actual panel is doing.
There are two enclosures here, each with 3x3 panels, panels are 48x48 pixels. Total across the entire display is 288x144 resolution.
The original Novastar board in each enclosure was swapped out for a ColorLight 5A-75E 16 output board. These physically are almost identical to the Novastar boards, with the exception the connectors are angled. Same mounting holes made it really simple as a swap out.
Was a pain the the butt figuring out these panels in LEDVision though; their pixel order and a few other things are all over the shop. None of this "pixel 1 top left, go in order left-right, top-bottom!"
- Thread starter
- #34
Another weekend down, how is everyone's setup going?
Over here my mega tree is partially assembled now. I still have some pixel pushing to do before the remaining strings can be hung, due to increasing the number of strands compared to last year.
Over here my mega tree is partially assembled now. I still have some pixel pushing to do before the remaining strings can be hung, due to increasing the number of strands compared to last year.
And it was finished and up!
Slowly working through setup. Most ground floor props are up, with the exception of sprial trees (last to go up on the grass). Roof lines, solar panel matrix and now the above singing globes are mounted.
Megatree went up 2? weeks back due to needing the space in the worskhop.
No props cabled except the MT and the spinner, still getting all the backbone power and control lines in first.
TuneTo was hung during the week as well and cabled to power last night, so it's starting to advertise the show switch on date.
- Thread starter
- #37
We're halfway through November. What is left until you are ready to light up? Do you have a particular switch-on date in mind or is it just a case when it is ready? 
I still need to install:
I still need to install:
- Mini trees
- Mini arch garden borders
- Mega tree star
- Numerous (dumb) LED rope light motifs
- Inside remaining window lights (these run on timers and are not computer-controlled)
- And some changes:
- 10 additional mega tree strands (pixels pushed and ready to hang) - 28 in total for ~210 degrees
- New stars to replace old rope light stars (pixels pushed but haven't determined how I'll secure them down yet.)
Notenoughlights
400,000+ twinkly lights
Biggest MT went up today, wired it backwards 
Need to adjust that, otherwise all the good effects are on the back side.
Added 60 boxes of lights (15000 total) to various locations that were too dark by my standards.
Need to wire up my small blossom stakes, mow the lawn down to stubs and lay out possibly 100 strands of lights + the river, run circuits for this so it can be controlled by the magic wand I've got, then find a location for all the little strings of lights I've got laying around.
After all that, sort out the garage, pack away the Christmas light shed, and do some work in the back garden once it's free of containers.
Need to adjust that, otherwise all the good effects are on the back side.Added 60 boxes of lights (15000 total) to various locations that were too dark by my standards.
Need to wire up my small blossom stakes, mow the lawn down to stubs and lay out possibly 100 strands of lights + the river, run circuits for this so it can be controlled by the magic wand I've got, then find a location for all the little strings of lights I've got laying around.
After all that, sort out the garage, pack away the Christmas light shed, and do some work in the back garden once it's free of containers.
Setup is all done for me as of tonight. Have been testing the last couple of nights and tonight i finally set the schedule and timers plugged in for power supplies. Been trialling PulseMesh since Friday night and I am very impressed. Need to figure out the best way to do a QR code now 
This year i finished my 2nd power supply box (half finished last year but it went on the back burner). Also finished my controller box in the garage as i was needing more ports. Improved on my structure for all elevated props from last year and with the latest influx of storms every afternoon I am very happy with the results.
Snicko
Full time elf
got mostly setup last weekend
Megatree up, roof, gutters, windows and garage outlines, both p5's - test run all good
Now just to get the ground coro props up this week after work and to backup FPP's and update to v8
Megatree up, roof, gutters, windows and garage outlines, both p5's - test run all good
Now just to get the ground coro props up this week after work and to backup FPP's and update to v8
- Thread starter
- #42
Another weekend down. I am glad I left my mini arch garden borders until this weekend as unexpectedly some council contractors came along on Friday to trim the gum tree out the front away from power lines. Some branches fell where these mini arches would have been installed. At least that explains why my letterbox has a dent in it now...
I am almost (but not quite) finished physical setup in terms of pixels. Still need to tackle how I'll mount 3 new stars. Also am yet to power up any controllers or lights post-installation - fingers crossed no unwanted surprises. Finally I have some (dumb) rope light motifs that need to go out.
Hard to believe it'll be December next weekend!
I am almost (but not quite) finished physical setup in terms of pixels. Still need to tackle how I'll mount 3 new stars. Also am yet to power up any controllers or lights post-installation - fingers crossed no unwanted surprises. Finally I have some (dumb) rope light motifs that need to go out.
Hard to believe it'll be December next weekend!
Got all the ground stuff up and connected.
Just need to climb on the roof this week and get everything up there plugged in. The props are already in place though.
My pre-show twinkle & butterfly started tonight.
Another addition this year are these 3x 5050 modules to the side fence, shown in red below.
A little hard to see their effect here with the string light on, but they cause the wire on the fence to glow quite nicely.
And yes, I am aware there are weeds that need to be removed
Just need to climb on the roof this week and get everything up there plugged in. The props are already in place though.
My pre-show twinkle & butterfly started tonight.
Another addition this year are these 3x 5050 modules to the side fence, shown in red below.
A little hard to see their effect here with the string light on, but they cause the wire on the fence to glow quite nicely.
And yes, I am aware there are weeds that need to be removed
Mark_M
Annoying Elf
Does Home Assistant count as something?
The light show is slowly being assembled. This year I have some energy monitoring SonOFF units wired in.
I also had a few supervisors come and inspect my work.
The light show is slowly being assembled. This year I have some energy monitoring SonOFF units wired in.
I also had a few supervisors come and inspect my work.
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2021
- Messages
- 554
I need a tutorial on the SonOff stuff. Tried doing it last year and gave up. Wanted to use them for monitoring and control but did not figure it out on time and never used them. One day, one day. I switched over to using TP-Link Kasa switches to turn things on and off.