I've decided

[bravado67]

I've decided to wait on purchasing my lights until after the xLights training in Las Vegas. The culmination of opinions and best practices has me on the fence in many areas.

1. Pixel vs P10 matrix
2. Square Nodes or Bullets
3. Which amerage for pixels
4. To inject or not to inject power
5. 180, 270 or 360 Mega Tree
6. Singing Faces or Matrix effects

I hope to gain more insight to make some informed decisions from my trip.

Ron

[vincerules]

You've just gotta decide what works best for you. If you try to search for what's best you will never end up anywhere.

1. p10's are great, but do take a little more learning/setup to get going. need to make a waterproof case for them
2. square or bullet, doesn't matter. the lights are the same
3. voltage, 5 or 12. again, doesn't matter too much unless you are going to run really long strings and don't want to inject too often. they are both so widely available in so many different types. I do suggest picking one and sticking with that throughout to make it easier to have spare pixels/power supplies on hand
4. you have to inject if the strings are long enough. if they aren't you don't need it. your setup will dictate
5. 180,270,360. look at your yard and decide. if you do a 360 will people be able to see the backside or no? if your house is in the middle of the block and people can only see from the front a 180 is enough. maybe 2 180's rather than 1 360
6. why not both?

its all up to you. and you will probably keep changing and adding stuff throughout the year.

[bravado67]

You've just gotta decide what works best for you. If you try to search for what's best you will never end up anywhere.

1. p10's are great, but do take a little more learning/setup to get going. need to make a waterproof case for them
2. square or bullet, doesn't matter. the lights are the same
3. voltage, 5 or 12. again, doesn't matter too much unless you are going to run really long strings and don't want to inject too often. they are both so widely available in so many different types. I do suggest picking one and sticking with that throughout to make it easier to have spare pixels/power supplies on hand
4. you have to inject if the strings are long enough. if they aren't you don't need it. your setup will dictate
5. 180,270,360. look at your yard and decide. if you do a 360 will people be able to see the backside or no? if your house is in the middle of the block and people can only see from the front a 180 is enough. maybe 2 180's rather than 1 360
6. why not both?

its all up to you. and you will probably keep changing and adding stuff throughout the year.

Yep. All things being considered. At least I have the foundation set with 4 F16V2's and expansion boards on their way and enclosures. I will be using 12v pixels. I will be running show with Pi's and BBB if I go the P10 route. That may depend on Boscoyo getting their enclosure to market before xmas. I've heard square pixels fit Chromaflakes better. I also ordered 20 24" animated icicle tubes from ChristmasDesigners.com. It's amazing how much time is put in to this hobby but I love it.

Ron

[MrChristmas2000]

Don't try to analyze this hobby too closely or you will get totally lost in the details.

There are people that started with 5v that now wish they were 12v but because thats where they started they will stick with that. Personally I believe from a power standpoint 12v is best IMHO.

Unless you have a bottomless budget just pick a few things the first year and do something. Most people start with just a Mega tree and a few other elements. When that goes well, they expand the next year.

Don't be the guy that buys thousands and thousands of lights (huge budget) then gets extremely frustrated when everything does not work perfectly or runs out of time to do the software work to actually create a show.

There is lots of people around here and on the facebook groups that are your best resource for learning how to do this hobby.

[bravado67]

Don't try to analyze this hobby too closely or you will get totally lost in the details.

There are people that started with 5v that now wish they were 12v but because thats where they started they will stick with that. Personally I believe from a power standpoint 12v is best IMHO.

Unless you have a bottomless budget just pick a few things the first year and do something. Most people start with just a Mega tree and a few other elements. When that goes well, they expand the next year.

Don't be the guy that buys thousands and thousands of lights (huge budget) then gets extremely frustrated when everything does not work perfectly or runs out of time to do the software work to actually create a show.

There is lots of people around here and on the facebook groups that are your best resource for learning how to do this hobby.

I appreciate that. Once I envision something it becomes the challenge. I know exactly how to layout the show. Now it's a matter of tackling the choices. I was very ambitious last year but made it all work with 3 LOR controllers. This year will be a big leap in fulfilling my goals. It will all work just fine. Besides I plan to start in late September in preparation for Halloween. ;-)

[dkulp]

5. 180, 270 or 360 Mega Tree

If you're on a Mac and using the new layout stuff, your megatree isn't limited to those options. 

[bravado67]

5. 180, 270 or 360 Mega Tree

If you're on a Mac and using the new layout stuff, your megatree isn't limited to those options. 

Well, I have both. If I travel I copy everything to my Macbook Pro and play. Otherwise, I prefer my PC. Potato...Patato...

Ron

[mararunr]

At some point you will be saying yes to all but start small.  Get something working, play with it, then just add on.  (Even the 12v/5v you will probably say yes because some form factors only come in 12v - rectangular modules - otherwise I'm all 5v).