Planning my assault

[a1guvner]

Planning my assault of Xmas lights for next year already, has anyone any ideas for controlling maybe upto 50 outputs possibly DMX/PC controlled.

Plan to use a large IP rated enclosure on a flat roof to do my magic and wanted to see what ideas people may have, :yesnod:

 

[telectrix]

well don't blame me when a 747 lands on your roof.

 

[trev]

Then the following year your neighbours will outdo you. etc etc
Might be an idea just to have a fight on the front lawn mate. Prove your superiority the geordie way

 

[clicon357]

I can just imagine it now!

 

[a1guvner]

well don't blame me when a 747 lands on your roof.

And i do live next to an airport, lol

 

[a1guvner]

Then the following year your neighbours will outdo you. etc etc
Might be an idea just to have a fight on the front lawn mate. Prove your superiority the geordie way

Did that last year, promised the kids i would channel my energy on to something new........

 

[a1guvner]

I can just imagine it now!

View attachment 9423

Similar, maybe slightly smaller scale, ie no reindeer

 

[telectrix]

best place for reindeer is in the freezer till dec.1st, slow thaw till 22nd., then on the spit roaster.

 

[Rockingit]

I did actually see Reindeer leg in the freezer section of Lidl yesterday, I was tempted, but figured the kids would NEVER forgive me!!!

As for DMX, you might find it's not cost effective as you'd need a demux controller for every string that you want to switch (at around £50 ea). Instead, you can USB dongles that will trigger relays (seen them, don't know much about them) and if you want to use PC control then you could use MIDI trigger instead, and fire them according to a time-track on a piece of music, for example. All the software is easily available as free downloads.

OR, just thinking about it, try fleebaying for an ex-rental theatre style dmx demux unit with 6 x DIN analogue outs on it (so n number of channels grouped in sixes - typically 36 outs per unit). That would get you some 5v analogue outputs (NON latching - constant refresh) that you could then use to build a relay centre. You could also probably find some ex disco tat DMX controller to program for the job, too. Depends on how much you want to spend.

 

[Victor]

You could do it the French way.........


5 way extension lead plugged into a 5 way extension lead plugged into a 5 way extension lead plugged into a 5 way extension lead plugged into a 5 way extension lead plugged into a 5 way extension lead plugged into a 5 way extension lead plugged into a 5 way extension lead plugged into a 5 way extension lead etc.

And you think I am joking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT

 

[Knobhead]

Ho Ho ----ing Ho - YouTube

 

[BlueToBits]

NJD make a cheap 12 way DMX dimmer pack (hard-wire) with up to 1K per channel to a 30A max total. You should be able to find one for well under £100.

You will also need something like this.

You can also control these desks via MIDI and with some VST software sync the display to any number of audio tracks.
These desks will control 24 ways of dimmer so you could use 2 packs.

 

[Engineer54]

Just how many KWs of power is this little lot going to cost you to run?? And that's apart from the cost of all these fixtures and fittings etc. ..lol!!

You must be one of the very few, making a very good living and a good profit, during this recessional down turn in the UK!! ...lol!!!