MegaTree 101...Physical Configuration Questions

[bob ginn]

Based on sequencing/scheduling with xL/NC output to FPP...how DO or WOULD you build your megatree?

1- how many degrees?  I assume 360 would be optimum, but very costly

2- how many strands?  Based on answer to #1 and decent visualization of spacing between them

3- folded over?  Please explain the pro's and cons

4- lights?  Strands, strips, type, model#?

5- frame?  Sean has a great one...how do you do yours?  How tall?

[Lights On Fifth]

Based on sequencing/scheduling with xL/NC output to FPP...how DO or WOULD you build your megatree?

1- how many degrees?  I assume 360 would be optimum, but very costly

2- how many strands?  Based on answer to #1 and decent visualization of spacing between them

3- folded over?  Please explain the pro's and cons

4- lights?  Strands, strips, type, model#?

5- frame?  Sean has a great one...how do you do yours?  How tall?

I use 180 degree tree
I use 16 strings spaced tight at the top and spaced 7 inches apart at the bottom
50 pixels per string I do not fold  strings
I am using Ray's WS2811 square pixels
I have a round base with a 7 foot circumference, twelve feet in height, my topper has 16 hooks bolted to  it, I mount all my pixels inside a 1 1\2 inch PVC pipe, ripped in half, at the top of the pvc I drilled a hole for easy mounting of the strings. By going this route I do not need a ladder to install or take down my pixel tree.

[sean]

this question has been asked before.

here are some of the threads from other forums where there are many  good ideas
http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=13323.msg169539#msg169539
i especially like post 3,8 and 11.

http://auschristmaslighting.com/forums/index.php/topic,3711.0.html
http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?29040-How-I-Built-my-Pixel-Tree
http://www.diychristmas.org/vb1/showthread.php?1465-Design-and-construction-of-a-Pixel-Mega-Tree

that will give you over 100 posts to read.

in answer to your questions for my megatree
1- how many degrees?  I assume 360 would be optimum, but very costly
180 degrees. if i make a 360 degree tree some of the effects bleed through together, like text and pictyres.
360 would look awesome with meteors, bars and trhe others that are not oriented.

2- how many strands?  Based on answer to #1 and decent visualization of spacing between them
20 strands of 4m 120 pixels flex strips. tm1809.


3- folded over?  Please explain the pro's and cons
effects look best with the most strands you can get. make a 64 strand tree cool, cost not so much. so to save money people fold the strings in half to get more density. the downside is their trees are now half as big.

a good start would be 8 strings of tm1804 , 128 nodes. these are > 30' long. fold in half and you get a 15' megatree with 16 strands.

you can build multiple model sin xlights and try effects out on them to get an idea what tree would like without having to buy the hardware./

4- lights?  Strands, strips, type, model#?
strings have the advanyage of making taller trees. you can get 4-5" spacing between each light.
flex strips are way denser. my 120 node 1809 has 1.3" spacing. advantage of flex strips the vertical spacing is perfect.


5- frame?  Sean has a great one...how do you do yours?  How tall?

[bigstott]

1- how many degrees?  I do 360 with 100 count incans Will be LED in 2014
2- how many strands?  2013 is was 32 strands at 13 inch spacing looked good

3- folded over?  meh

4- lights?  Strands, strips, type, model#? For a traditional mega tree there are so many ways to do it.... if its RGB strips at 180 is probably the best

5- frame?  I just got 1 1/4 metal conduit pipe slipped into a sleeve in the ground. tree topper is a rounded wood piece with 16 hooks bottom is at ground level which is just 1" pvc anchored to the ground and lights are zip tied to it.