Building a New Mega Tree

[babybear]

    Ok I going to build a new Mega for next year. my old tree is strips, height 150 LEDs / 50 nodes 16 1/2 feet with a 4' star on top. sitting up 3' off grade for snow and presents. A total 25' tall as for the width 16 strands wide. that is a total 800 nodes. Its bright but the resolution less than desirable.
     I'm changing over to square bullets, Looking at 150 LED/nodes high by 24 wide. 3600 Nodes. with only a 1" spacing that's only 12 1/2 feet tall. add in snow presents and star should be a total of 20'  that's 5' less than what I had. But the resolution should be great. last year I ran Lila's Fantasia sequence on the old tree and lost a lot of definition, did a simulation on the new model and I'm so happy. The sequence Snow Miser/Heat Miser the faces also come back. Should I be worried about losing 5' in height. If I jump up to 2"spacing then I would have to jump back to 100 nodes high. What is everyone else setting up/ running for their trees.  I do need to get going on this as I setup for X-mas in July where we camp.  Hmmm it seems that I win the decorating contest every year there. I use it for a testing ground. Learned a lot last year.

[kentd]

When I built my tree two years ago I used the pixel strips and spaced bullet pixels at 2" spacing. Each strip is 80 high for 24 strands. (Xlights layout - 160 x 12 with each stand folded)
I put the top as close together as possible and the bottom about 6" spacing. The pixels are 12 volt and 1 string of 180 is fine without power from the other end.
When I put images on the tree I drop intensity to 40% so they won't wash out.

I hope this may help in your decision
BTW the picture was taken for 2015 and the tree now has a Star.

[jnealand]

T me 1" inch spacing cons outweigh the pros.
1. Way, way too bright
2. More costly because of additional pixels for minimal gain in resolution from 2" spacing, plus more power required, more weight on the pole, and more time to build.  Think of what else you could build using the extra pixels for another prop.

But that's just me.  I run 3" spacing with 61 12v nodes per strand using 18 strings of 122 and no power injection. I run my tree at 30% brightness and it still lights up the yard across the street.  I use two boscoyo mounting strips plus a star on top for about 19' to the top.

[babybear]

Thank You for thoughts. I guess the one thing that I find surprising is how everyone worries about is power injecting. All, yes, all of my models have power supplied at both ends. It does not matter if it needs it or not. Also none of my power comes off the controllers. I fine it so simple to do.  Now for building more models. I have a small yard and for the most part its full. With that said Its time to up-grade each of my models.  The first model I ever built was my mega tree. I have learned so much since then.  That's why it first on my list. After that my roof lines will go from strips to bullets.




Roof outlined
windows and doors outlined
brick ledge lined
2 mega trees
spinner
2 candles
Talking Bruno
14 flakes around spinner
3  3'snow flakes on 7' stems
4 arches
6 presents
3 spot lights
Ferris wheel
lamp post covered
Adding a full size sleigh for pix
   

[kentd]

I just want to comment on power injection, to me it is not a big deal as each Falcon that runs my show is not always used to put out the power. I have in each of my CG1500 boxs that house the controller a Fuse Strip or Strips usually that are used for the power there are four powers supplies for each box in their own box and they each feed a strip. With this said the reason I did not feed power at the bottom of each string it wasn't needed so why waste running power cables and spending extra money. I spend a lot of time when I layout things looking at the power requirements and plan accordingly so I am not obsessed with power injection, if it is needed then do it if not don't it's simple.

[babybear]

90% of my display is strips. On a full 16' I see white turn to yellow. I have just become so use to injecting at both ends. Now with bullets that I have not use so much of those yet. With 150 up and then 150 down I'm thinking I just still may need it. as for the data Ill be doing 600 per output.  To the bullet users, with 600 in line can I do power at each end only or will need to feed at the 300 mark? On my tree that will be easy as those 3 marks will all be at the bottom.

[kentd]

With the falcon controller my mega tree with 12 volt can easily run over 160 pixels with no color degration and no power from the other end.
My matrix has 42 x 50 so it is divided into 600 pixel feeds however I broke the power every 100 to keep the cords on the same side so data and ground goes thru via the string but power is injected. This continues for each set of 600.
I hope this helps and BTW if you look for some of my posts last year there are pictures of my matrix controller