Major change to Roof Top snowflakes

[JonB256]

For many years I have used a layout of 27 incandescent snowflakes on my roof. I bought them at Garden Ridge and they just use clear minis. That took 27 AC channels (two Lynx Expresses). My wife really likes them and so I'm reluctant to change completely to just a pixel matrix.

Then I buy two Boscoyo snowflakes for pixels. Just to see. And I buy some square WS2811 pixels from Ray Wu to go in them. Pretty nice look in testing. 48 pixels per snowflake. Classic 6 pointed flake. Just for "fun" I modeled my roof in xLights 2016.10 with all 27 snowflakes. Same exact staggered layout  I've been using for 5 years. With 48 pixels per and 27 snowflakes, it ends up making a snowflake grid of over 1,200 pixels.

Now the fun part was trying different effects across them. I made a group of all 27 first. Works as expected, giving me wide "grid like" coverage across the preview's roof.

Now to sell the wife.   I was going to have to buy new snowflakes anyway due to years of UV damage, and these pixel versions are actually only about 50% more per snowflake than the incandescents. I'm sticking to that story. Thankfully, I have enough pixel controllers that I don't have to add that. Could even offset by selling the Lynx Expresses. I'd be saving money!

[bravado67]

For many years I have used a layout of 27 incandescent snowflakes on my roof. I bought them at Garden Ridge and they just use clear minis. That took 27 AC channels (two Lynx Expresses). My wife really likes them and so I'm reluctant to change completely to just a pixel matrix.

Then I buy two Boscoyo snowflakes for pixels. Just to see. And I buy some square WS2811 pixels from Ray Wu to go in them. Pretty nice look in testing. 48 pixels per snowflake. Classic 6 pointed flake. Just for "fun" I modeled my roof in xLights 2016.10 with all 27 snowflakes. Same exact staggered layout  I've been using for 5 years. With 48 pixels per and 27 snowflakes, it ends up making a snowflake grid of over 1,200 pixels.

Now the fun part was trying different effects across them. I made a group of all 27 first. Works as expected, giving me wide "grid like" coverage across the preview's roof.

Now to sell the wife.   I was going to have to buy new snowflakes anyway due to years of UV damage, and these pixel versions are actually only about 50% more per snowflake than the incandescents. I'm sticking to that story. Thankfully, I have enough pixel controllers that I don't have to add that. Could even offset by selling the Lynx Expresses. I'd be saving money!

Looks great! That's a lot of snowflakes. Can't wait to see what you do with them this year. I will have 8 Chromaflakes on the front of my home this year. Would you recommend I use the square style? I have a quote from Ray for custom sizes for my snowflakes with regular bullet style nodes with 5 inch spacing.

Ron

[JonB256]

Yes, square fits very nicely into the Boscoyo flakes. James made a recessed area for them.

I bought these white wire square pixels from Ray Wu:

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/DC12V-WS2811-LED-smart-string-addressable-with-all-WHITE-color-wire-IP68-rated-epoxy-resin-filled/701799_32311250856.html


They are 5 inches between pixels. The snowflake holes are just under 2 inches apart, so you can easily skip holes to go "out" and "back" on each snowflake arm.

[bravado67]

Yes, square fits very nicely into the Boscoyo flakes. James made a recessed area for them.

I bought these white wire square pixels from Ray Wu:

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/DC12V-WS2811-LED-smart-string-addressable-with-all-WHITE-color-wire-IP68-rated-epoxy-resin-filled/701799_32311250856.html


They are 5 inches between pixels. The snowflake holes are just under 2 inches apart, so you can easily skip holes to go "out" and "back" on each snowflake arm.

Looks like the fit very snug. Did you use any epoxy to keep them seated?

Ron

[JonB256]

No expoxy. They fit very well. Nice "click" into place. (I don't think it would adhere very well to the Coro, anyway)

[JonB256]

Remember, if you order from Ray Wu - don't order from that link above.

Send him an email, reference the full description of the part, tell him how many. If you want custom changes (I rarely do), be very very very clear.
You'll get back an invoice pretty quickly and the shipping will be less. Sometimes much less.

I always start my email as "Dear Mr. Ray"
I think he appreciates politeness a lot.

[bravado67]

Remember, if you order from Ray Wu - don't order from that link above.

Send him an email, reference the full description of the part, tell him how many. If you want custom changes (I rarely do), be very very very clear.
You'll get back an invoice pretty quickly and the shipping will be less. Sometimes much less.

I always start my email as "Dear Mr. Ray"
I think he appreciates politeness a lot.

Thanks. I appreciate that. I have an invoice already but will want to change to white square style for my Chomaflakes. He also quoted me $32 per Meanwell Power Supply. I can get those for $30 from PixelImaging.com and maybe save on some shipping. I will be ordering custom sizes for my entire set up and he didn't mark it up. This includes custom lengths for pigtails. I sent a spreadsheet that shows lengths in inches as well as centimeters and include my layout for all lights including controllers. Now all I need is $$$$ for my 7,700 pixels. LOL

Ron

[CaptainMurdoch]

I am doing the same thing for incandescent snowflakes I had on the front of my house.  I had 12 homemade coroplast snowflakes with 49 incandescents each.  I already sold the LE's and ordered the pixels, I just need to decide whether to retrofit the existing flakes or order new ones.  I am thinking of getting them from James and seeing about selling the old ones.

[JonB256]

My biggest concern (other than paying for it all) is keeping them in place when the winter winds get to blowing. I've had trouble with roof items before when it comes gusting out of the north.

I'm seriously thinking about a long PVC tube going across the roof under each of the five rows. Then zip tie to the PVC. Worried about sag and how to secure the PVC.

Or, using some of the Boscoyo pixel strips, I could staple that to the roof and then zip tie to the strips.

Or, the width of staples is greater than the 3-wires between pixels. I could use 6 or more staples per snowflake. I have very thick composition shingles.

[CaptainMurdoch]

We get 40-50 mph gusts quite often during the winter here.  I redid my mounting system the first year due to that.  I have the snowflakes mounted to 2x2 deck railing posts which are mounted to 1/2" EMT frames.  I store them upright in the garage and just have to carry out the frames and install them outside each year.  A single 2x2 connects across two vertical pieces of EMT and alternating snowflakes stick out to each side of the EMT frame so the snowflakes zig zag a little when I animate them dropping down.

[Eric_Edwards]

I have 24 Boscoyo flakes coming. Trying to figure out how I want to mount then to the brick this year. In years past  I used the Phillips brand ones and just screwed then in. Don't think that'll work with the coro ones though


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[Eric_Edwards]

Here's my snowflake layout


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[hearthstonelights]

My biggest concern (other than paying for it all) is keeping them in place when the winter winds get to blowing. I've had trouble with roof items before when it comes gusting out of the north.

I'm seriously thinking about a long PVC tube going across the roof under each of the five rows. Then zip tie to the PVC. Worried about sag and how to secure the PVC.

Or, using some of the Boscoyo pixel strips, I could staple that to the roof and then zip tie to the strips.

Or, the width of staples is greater than the 3-wires between pixels. I could use 6 or more staples per snowflake. I have very thick composition shingles.

i used a 24gauge galvanized wire from home depot and tied all of my snowflakes together(on my roof).  it has worked great for me for the past 4 seasons. i live in northern Kentucky and the wind in November and December can gust 60-70mph and sustained in the 30's and 40's. they have held great every year. here is a post i shared on DLA as to how i did mine. hope it helps.

http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=14661.0