2010 Channel Layout Finalized

I am sometimes asked what the schematic looks like for the dispay.  Well, I don't really do one of those, but there is a channel layout that shows what controllers/channels control what display elements.  I spent 8 hours laying it out today and I believe it is finalized. 

We added nine additional controllers from 2009..

2010 Channel Layour (PDF)

One Fan Down - Two More to Go

Alright, one fan completely done. Blue is finished.

This thing really ended up with a LOT of wire on it.  Pretty darn heavy too!

All folded up and ready to go off to storage in the folks' barn.

Two more to go. I am not sure if I will start on the next one right away or do another project in between... this REALLY got monotonous.

Progress on fans - new radio transmitter

It's taking about five hours per color to add the lights to the fans.  I spent the morning working on radio transmitter issues, so I only got half of the clear lights added to the first fan this afternoon.

I have also installed a new FM Transmitter.  This unit supports RDS which will enable me to send the current song playing, etc. to be displayed on the radio in most vehicles.  Since the transmitter is located in the garage and the show computer is in the office, I had to find a way to extend a serial connection from the computer to the rds encoder in the transmitter.  I used a serial over ip adapter to do so.  This converts the RS232 signal to tcp/ip packets which are then decoded by the adapter and sent to the serial port on the transmitter.

Wrapping the Fans

I'm making progress on the fans which will be part of the replacement for the Bellagio Fountain this season.  This is the first one with 1/4 of it's lights installed.  This is 3600 red bulbs.  Each fan will have a total of  14,400 lights and 3,312 feet of wire on them.  Good thing the frames are built of welded steel.

Flame Generators

One addition to Seymour Lights for 2010 are flame generators.  Eight of these will be placed at key spots in the display this year.  They are dmx operated and work on propane, just like a gas grill.  Before I put them away in storage, I had to have a little bit of fun with them.

Allow me to present... The Firecracker Suite
http://www.vimeo.com/8753775

Some welding on 2010 projects

I took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather today to get some work done on some projects for the 2010 show.

Since I am replacing the lights on my 25' steel z-tree, it seemed like a good time to make a couple of changes to the second section from the top.  When I originally built the tree, I used the shelf near the top for snow machines... this year I am going to put a Chauvet Q-Scan 250 there to shine gobos, etc. on the house... so I had to drop the shelf down to add another 10" of headroom.

While I was at it, I added ladder standoffs on each side.  At least once or twice a year I need to fix some lights, etc. and it's always a hassle trying to avoid breaking bulbs, etc.  Plus, I have some new LED color changing balls  that I am going to put on the tree this year. Now, I'll be able to put the ladder on these standoffs..

I also got the three frames for my fans completed.

I borrowed the idea I saw on the Planet Christmas forums of adding wheels to the frames to make them a bit easier to move around and store.  Plus, they will protect the lights when stored by placing them on the inside.

I managed to get a couple of coats of WalMart green spray paint on everything before the rains forecast for tonight.

The cords keep on coming ... ugh

Well, I got the pile of short cords all packed neatly away into four tubs. Now it's on to the heavier, power distribution, cords. I managed to get them all moved in out of the yard before they get covered with snow and hopefully I can get them stored away into tubs tomorrow night.