Programming your Christmas Lights Andrew Konkol Technical Architect at Sentry Insurance Creator/Designer of the Konkols Christmas Light Show

Christmas Light Addiction Problem CLAP Christmas Light Addiction Problem

Music Turns flashing lights into Magic Classics, Pop, Rock TSO: Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Sequencing/Scheduling Software Ties lighting effects (on/off, fades, chases, etc) to a timeline, in sync with music Bitmap vs. Vector Popular Free Vixen (2.1, 3.0, Vixen+) HLS Nutcracker xLights Not free Light Show Pro (LSP) – $100-$400 Light-O-Rama (LOR) - $50-$400

Computer Most software is Windows-based Needed for Sequencing Needed for controlling the show and playing music during showtime Unless you are using a stand-alone controller

Power (Electricity) AC DC Traditional incandscents, LED lights from the store Dimming requires zero-cross detector DC Needed for modern LED-based lighting 5V, 12V common PC Power supply works well for this Need to consider total power required (Amps/Watts) Outdoor = GFCI

Zero Cross Detection

FM Transmitter/Antenna Gets music into the warm cars of visitors Low Power (avoid attention of FCC) Dipole antenna www.radio-locator.com RDS (Radio Data System)

Protocols / Interfaces RS-485-based DMX Renard LOR PixelNet Ethernet-based E1.31 (DMX-over-Ethernet or Streaming ACN) Pixel protocols WS2801, TM180x, WS2811, TLS3001, GE Color Effects Protocol converters Examples: Etherdongle (takes in E1.31, outputs PixelNet), E1.31-to-DMX/Renard bridges, etc.

Controllers Takes in information on a protocol bus and turns it into blinky-flashy Use microcontrollers PIC by Microchip Programmed in C or Assembly; flashed with PicKit Parallax Propeller Programmed using proprietary “Spin” language; flashed with “Prop Plug” 8 Cores Arduino

Controllers – AC Uses Solid-State Relays (SSRs) Fancy power-strip On-board: AC switching happens on the same board as the protocol processing Off-board: AC switching happens remotely – 5V signal connects SSRs to main board Fancy power-strip Examples include Renard SS (8, 16, 24), Renard 64, Lynx Freestyle, Lynx Express, Helix, LOR

Controllers - DC May either switch a DC power source (using DC SSRs), or provide power directly Commonly controls RGB floodlights, strips, or “dumb” RGB strings Examples include Renard4Flood, Ren48LSD, Renard 64, PixelNet Dumb String Controller (DSC)

Controllers - Pixel Takes input protocol and produces pixel protocols to control “smart” RGB nodes Provides constant DC power, plus a “data” signal to tell individual nodes to set RGB output levels (providing 256^3 = 16M color possibilities) Examples include PixelNet Smart String Controller (SSC), PixelNet Zeus, SanDevices E68x series, J1SYS EthConGateway (ECG), RPM Pixel Bridge

Controllers – Stand-alone Some controllers can run the whole show No computer needed at showtime Theoretically could provide a more robust platform (Windows is not a real-time OS) Files (MP3, sequences) stored on removable media Just hook up other controllers, lights, and an FM transmitter, and you’re set Examples include Helix and EtherDongle with Conductor daughter board

Lights! Incandescent AC LEDs 1 channel per string AC LEDs DC LEDs, including “dumb” strips/strings/floods RGB strings typically use 3 channels per string Pixels (“smart” strips, strings, modules) Typically use 3 channels per node, so a string of 50 would use 150 channels

Topology How does it all connect together? It all depends! What protocols, controllers, lights are you using? Centralized versus decentralized Data and power connections

Topology of my show

Resources www.doityourselfchristmas.com – General DIY lighting forum. Renard, Vixen, E68x, Audrino, HLS www.diylightanimation.com – Lynx, SmartStrings, Etherdongle, LSP, xLights www.diyledexpress.com – Lots of LED-based products, boards, kits, enclosures www.holidaycoro.com – Corrugated plastic props, DMX-based stuff, RGB www.aliexpress.com/store/701799 - Ray Wu’s store – lots of RGB products, direct from China (message Ray direct to get a combined shipping quote) www.lightorama.com – Commercial (non-DIY) lighting control products www.lightshowpro.com – Home of LSP www.vixenlights.com – home of Vixen, including latest 3.0 releases www.auschristmaslighting.com - Australian forum – lots of DC-based stuff (RGB, etc) Don’t forget to check out the Wikis – most forums have one

Questions? Andrew.Konkol@outlook.com https://www.facebook.com/KonkolsChristmasLightShow