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

2. Christmas Light Addiction Problem
CLAP
Christmas Light Addiction Problem

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Zero Cross Detection

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

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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)

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

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

17. Topology of my show

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

19. Questions? Andrew.Konkol@outlook.com