MaxS
11-28-2007, 02:05 AM
Well hey! This post is going to be the start of my endeavour to automate my lights for the Christmas '08 and on. First, a little about myself. I'm currently living in Green Bay, WI, which could quite possibly be the most boring place on earth, but that's beside the point. I work as a lighting engineer in a large congregation of 2000+. We run a fully ETC-based lighting control system, with an Express 48/96 console running on a 3D Visualization server using Emphasis and Cast WYSIWWG. This is all powered up by 4 DMX repeaters, a 48 port Cisco switch, and 600 Sensor+ dimmers. In another part of the building we have an Express 125/250 console with 200 Sensor+ dimmers. All houselights are the responsibility of the Unison control system. That setup is controlled by a 2D Emphasis/WYSIWYG server. As far as lights go, if anyone's interested, we run an army of ETC Source Four ellipsoidals and Par64s, along with 4 moving head 575s and 10 Am DJ 575XTs. In the other part of the building there are 6 Am DJ 250w Scanners and 4 Elation 250w Scanners.
As you can see, I'm very familiar with stage lighting systems and the DMX protocol. I would absolutely love to implement DMX into a system in my yard. However, commercial products would be extremely costly. Now, I am in no way an electrician, so I really wouldn't know where to start building a full DMX512 system. If I did, however, I would also like to build custom dimmers. Again, I really wish I could go this route, but it would be either expensive or time-consuming.
The other thing I was thinking about, if DMX couldn't be done, was an Olsen 595-based system. This seems pretty straightforward; a controller board that runs out to SSRs. It doesn't seem too hard to do, but I sacrifice dimming capability. Not a biggie, but I would like it. (I realize I could use a Ren-C, but that seems like it would get messy. If not, I'd be willing to go this route. Again though, diagrams are a good thing! There seems to be a lack of them on the forums and in the wiki.)
I was also thinking about a Renard system. I'm less familiar with this, and would like more info. (Diagrams or pictures would be nice!) I've seen a lot of layouts with SSRs built into the controller, but I would rather run Cat5 outside and around parts of the house than extension cords. Can that be done with Renard?
I've also decided that if I need them, my SSRs are probably going to be pigtail breakouts, encased in a PVC cap pod. This seems to be the most space-saving and weather-resistant design. It's also suitable for indoor use. (For window displays.) I understand the concept, but I'm still not quite sure how the wiring would go, between the board itself and the cords. That isn't a top priority right now, though. I'll figure it out in due time.
Moving on. I've familiarized myself with Vixen somewhat, but I have a major concern. Is there a way to toggle lights on and off outside of a show? I would just want to run a fraction of what would be set up when the lights weren't moving.
Finally, there's the matter of PCBs and parts. In the near future I should have a way to etch my own, but there's still the matter of drilling. I have relatives with drill presses, but I don't own one myself. I could definitely use theirs, though. As time progresses I'll need more info on transferring designs to boards, however. I also might just get in on the coops.
Well, not so finally on the PCB paragraph. Moving on to lights themselves, heh. I'm currently running about 2000 blue/white mini lights, as well as 10 90w halogen floods. (Also blue/white.) There are also larger lights on the roof, although I don't remember how many. I'd like to use the same larger ones on a line of 13 medium-sized pines on the side of the lot, but that's a lot of SSRs and a lot of stringing! I'm already being lazy and using floods on trees instead of stringing them. I'd like to however. When I do start pulling the automation together, hopefully by the end of Spring '08, more lights will definitely make their way into the display. This is already a big hobby, and I fear that automating it will make it an obsession. Oh well. :lol:
Phew! Well I think this is about all I need to know, but I'm sure more things will arise as the project comes together. Thanks for all of everyone's help and support both now and in the future. Hopefully this year I can finally top the neighbor's display!... erm... I mean... spread Christmas spirit! :o
As you can see, I'm very familiar with stage lighting systems and the DMX protocol. I would absolutely love to implement DMX into a system in my yard. However, commercial products would be extremely costly. Now, I am in no way an electrician, so I really wouldn't know where to start building a full DMX512 system. If I did, however, I would also like to build custom dimmers. Again, I really wish I could go this route, but it would be either expensive or time-consuming.
The other thing I was thinking about, if DMX couldn't be done, was an Olsen 595-based system. This seems pretty straightforward; a controller board that runs out to SSRs. It doesn't seem too hard to do, but I sacrifice dimming capability. Not a biggie, but I would like it. (I realize I could use a Ren-C, but that seems like it would get messy. If not, I'd be willing to go this route. Again though, diagrams are a good thing! There seems to be a lack of them on the forums and in the wiki.)
I was also thinking about a Renard system. I'm less familiar with this, and would like more info. (Diagrams or pictures would be nice!) I've seen a lot of layouts with SSRs built into the controller, but I would rather run Cat5 outside and around parts of the house than extension cords. Can that be done with Renard?
I've also decided that if I need them, my SSRs are probably going to be pigtail breakouts, encased in a PVC cap pod. This seems to be the most space-saving and weather-resistant design. It's also suitable for indoor use. (For window displays.) I understand the concept, but I'm still not quite sure how the wiring would go, between the board itself and the cords. That isn't a top priority right now, though. I'll figure it out in due time.
Moving on. I've familiarized myself with Vixen somewhat, but I have a major concern. Is there a way to toggle lights on and off outside of a show? I would just want to run a fraction of what would be set up when the lights weren't moving.
Finally, there's the matter of PCBs and parts. In the near future I should have a way to etch my own, but there's still the matter of drilling. I have relatives with drill presses, but I don't own one myself. I could definitely use theirs, though. As time progresses I'll need more info on transferring designs to boards, however. I also might just get in on the coops.
Well, not so finally on the PCB paragraph. Moving on to lights themselves, heh. I'm currently running about 2000 blue/white mini lights, as well as 10 90w halogen floods. (Also blue/white.) There are also larger lights on the roof, although I don't remember how many. I'd like to use the same larger ones on a line of 13 medium-sized pines on the side of the lot, but that's a lot of SSRs and a lot of stringing! I'm already being lazy and using floods on trees instead of stringing them. I'd like to however. When I do start pulling the automation together, hopefully by the end of Spring '08, more lights will definitely make their way into the display. This is already a big hobby, and I fear that automating it will make it an obsession. Oh well. :lol:
Phew! Well I think this is about all I need to know, but I'm sure more things will arise as the project comes together. Thanks for all of everyone's help and support both now and in the future. Hopefully this year I can finally top the neighbor's display!... erm... I mean... spread Christmas spirit! :o