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brew95
12-15-2009, 12:18 AM
The only thing I have left to do is make a video. This "little" project started last Christmas when I took the famiy out for a drive to look at lights in our area and we came upon a house with a "tune to" sign in the front yard.

After watching that show for a few minutes my wife turns to me and says "You're and engineer, you should be able to do that with our yard next year."

To which I responded, "Yeah, I can do that."

In retrospect, what I should have said was "You're a lawyer, you should be able to buy me a BMW."

Anyway, for my first year I built 2 SS8s and 1 SS24, built 12 window frames, sequenced 1 song, and tonight with help from my father inlaw I finished my own "tune to" sign.

Last week when we were hanging the icicle lights my father inlaw asked me if I was making notes of all my mistakes, so I would not make them again next year. I looked at him and said "Well my first mistake was taking your daughter to look at Christmas lights last year." He had a good laugh at that one.

So, whats up for next year? I have already decided that I need to get an upgrade for the Belkin tunecast. Since I orignally purchased it for it's intended purpose, I don't want to mod it.

My wife wants to make an igloo and snow scene for our penguin decorations an possibly a mega tree and/or some plywood cutouts.

What have I gotten myself into?

brew95
12-15-2009, 11:41 PM
Just when I thought I was done... I came home tonight to no blinky flashy. Somethingwas causing my GFCI to trip. I unpluged everything on that circuit, reset the GFCI, and started pluging stuff in.

SS24 - Check, Blowmold Snowman - Check, Inflatable Snowman - Check, Lighted Peguins - Check, last but not least Spot Light on Tune to Sign - TRIP.

It seems at this morning's rain had gotten into light fixture. I removed the bulb, and tried to dry out the socket but when I screwed the bulb back in, I used a bit too much force and broke the socket.

So I make a quick trip to Home Depot, get a new fixture, and get it placed just right. I step back to admire all of my hard work and notice one of my icicle strands is out! It will be this weekend before I can get the ladder out to replace it.

Trip
12-16-2009, 07:38 AM
Good story.

As far as the troubleshooting, it never ends. Something is always going to need fixing, that's what makes DIY fun.