Mega Tree Printable version

There are many ways to build a mega tree, from the 'traditional way' with shop-bought LED strings to the pixel way with either pixel strips or pixel nodes (strings).

Mega Tree using shop-bought strings

Mega Tree using pixel strip

There is many ways to build a mega tree using RGB strips. The main factor to consider when using RGB is to avoid twisting of the strips which will damage them, and to keep them tensioned so they all align evenly. A couple of strip mounting ideas are:

Electrical conduit

A good rigid way for a mega tree, a 2d tree would be ideal in this situation.

Pallet strapping or wire

Another one is pallet strapping or wire strung from top to bottom with a good tension. NOTE: Pet strapping example, with nodes not RGB strips.

Mega Tree using pixel node strings

Some people prefer mega trees to have consistent direction and spacing between pixel nodes and others like a more random. Some building methods will be more/less suitable for your preference.

Boscoyo pixel node mounting strip

Boscoyo Studio pixel node mounting strip is good for consistent node spacing. Available in black/white from http://www.boscoyostudio.com (product page)

Forum links for Mega Trees

• https://auschristmaslighting.com/forums/mega-mini-spiral-pixel-trees.21/
• https://auschristmaslighting.com/threads/ruprect-mega-tree-guide.5440/

Variations

2D mega tree, 180 mega tree

A 180 degree mega tree simply means the front half of a full circle mega tree. The idea behind this is that in many cases (unless you have a corner block or walk-through display, your spectators cannot see the strings at the back of the tree.

2D mega trees are flattened mega trees for places like against a wall. They first began appearing early on in the transition to pixel Christmas light displays, right around the time of the original Cosmic Color Ribbon (A 12VDC LPD6803 IC strip with LEDs controlled in groups of three) and the SuperStar Sequence Editor (prior to it being bought by Light-O-Rama in early 2011). Example of a 2D mega tree:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDKl9W9LGWA

Giga trees, spiral trees and Z-trees

There are some specific variations to the mega tree that over the years have been called something different although at the end of the day they are still mega trees.

Giga trees: We have mini trees for small sized trees where typically you'd have multiples of them, and mega trees for the larger trees of where you might only have one (although there is nothing wrong with more). Giga trees are simply mega trees of an enormous, collosal, massive scale. It is thought that this name was borrowed from the metric measurement system, with giga being the next biggest metric prefix after mega. Example of a giga tree:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT9yfiXYwAU


Spiral trees: In a time before RGB pixels, exactly how you strung lights on to your mega tree could seriously change the end result, like the direction a series of light strings would appear to move when cycled in a chase pattern. Light strings on a spiral tree are wrapped either clockwise or anticlockwise instead of hanging vertically. Modern sequencing with pixels can achieve the same kind of spiral effect with a standard mega tree using vertical lines of pixels. Example of a spiral tree:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdYwUa7VRkQ


Z trees: Created by Mike Z (hence the 'Z'), this variation adds garland and other ornaments you'd normally find on a traditional indoor Christmas tree but at an upsized scale. Example of a Z-tree:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lULKIln86hc&t=57s