DiyLightAnimation

Fun => The Porch => Topic started by: ThaiWay on October 29, 2008,

Title: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on October 29, 2008,

I am inspired by Bill's Journey to do this.  Thank goodness for this awesome Forum, and the opportunity offered by the people here who are so willing to share their knowledge and expertise.  I could never do Blinky Flashy to this level or so affordably on my own.

For a start, I have my workshop in the third floor bedroom set up.  It's a nice view out to the huge gardens of the rich Thai Chinese across the soi (small Thai street.)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_0230.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_0230.jpg)

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on October 29, 2008,

Getting personal.  I'm passionate about Christmas Lights... another of my passions is beaches.  Because I am a latecomer to DLA I had time earlier this month to drive down to Phuket for a holiday before I really had to get serious about building stuff.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_0157.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_0157.jpg)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_0160.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_0160.jpg)

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on October 29, 2008,

Off the Blinky Flashy for just another moment.  I have to share another passion... my Champion Papillon show dogs.  "King" is a new addition to the family, born Oct 20.  Mom is "Lele" (THCh Westway Paniola Pulelehua) and Dad is "Rob" (Bis.Biss.Swe.Am. Jkc.Th.Ch. Queen Bless JP Mad Max)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_0195.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_0195.jpg)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_0200.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_0200.jpg)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_0204.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_0204.jpg)

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on October 29, 2008,

Now to the really important stuff <cough cough>.  There are no Snowflakes in Thailand... go figure!  I stole the design from a picture at noveltylights.com ala Holdman and drew it up in SketchUp.  The Neo Neon 220VDC LED Rope Light can be cut only every 2 meters, so I had to be specific about the dimensions.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_SnowflakeSketchUpResize.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=SnowflakeSketchUpResize.jpg)

I finally found someone to weld the frames out of 16x2mm steel stock and sprayed them white.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_0193.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_0193.jpg)

Each Snowflake uses 6 meters of the rope and 108 zipties (ouch!)  I have 14 of 15 built as of last night.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_0228.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_0228.jpg)

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on October 30, 2008,

Very nice John they look awesome

Bill

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on November 06, 2008,

It's already Thursday night, and in spite of taking a long time-out early Wednesday morning to watch Election returns, this week has been productive.

Ever since I completed my Splitter I've resisted the urge to plug it in and see what happens.  There's no grounded outlets in the Townhouse except for the kitchen and the new 3-wire circuit I paid to have installed for everything Christmas at the front door.  I never trust any electrical work in TH, so I decided to test the new Duplex Receptacle there.  Sure enough, the Hot and Neutral were reversed!  So today's project was to install the Residual Current Device (GFCI equivalent) before the receptacle and correct the mis-wiring.  The "electrician" had the colors right, but at the Breaker Box they were wrong.  I mounted the boxes in the location I wanted, and labeled the wires with my handy wire numbers:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_0255.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_0255.jpg)

Then the RCD above the receptacles, carrying the ground through:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_0257.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_0257.jpg)

Complete with covers after testing; soon I'll plug in the Splitter:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_0261.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_0261.jpg)

In early September I designed John's Super Deluxe Very Smart Mini Tree.  Does that count as DIY?  No tomato cages in TH.  But I did find some very cheap 3mm steel wire 80 cm long.  I used the 1.6/1 height to base ratio, giving me a 50 cm (20") base. 

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_MiniTreeFrameFinal.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=MiniTreeFrameFinal.jpg)

It took me until last week to find someone to weld the pieces together... maybe I should invest in a small arc welder next year.  Nine JSDVSMT's were delivered Monday.  I have to repaint them because the acrylic spray is already chipping off.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_0273.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_0273.jpg)

Tuesday afternoon I visited my new favorite plumbing/hardware shop. 

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_0234.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_0234.jpg)

See that grey angle iron with the holes for building shelves sticking out on the right?  They had the best price for the 3m lengths.  I had looked around for two days.  Since I don't have a yard, I have to build UP for display elements... you'll see.  I ordered 22 pieces, 12 of them to be cut to various lengths.  Thankfully another customer came along who spoke very good English.  He verified what I hoped I had communicated with my limited Thai and hand signals.  Do you HD/Lowe's shoppers know how lucky you are?

And finally, King was 16 days old Wednesday.  Now, back to work...

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_0241.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_0241.jpg)

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: Ron on November 06, 2008,

John, you write a great story.  I love reading about your adventures (or is that misadventures) trying to get your Christmas show up and running.  Nice job on the trees and I love the snowflakes.

Ron

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: dmaccole on November 06, 2008,

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Do you HD/Lowe's shoppers know how lucky you are?

Hell, I bet that an iron-monger in Thailand has a better grasp on hardware items than a typical HD/Lowe's employee. I was at a Lowe's 10 days ago and asked for a door threshold and the woman walked me over to where they have carpet transitions. It took a half-hour of wandering around the store to find that they're kept with the cleaning supplies (of course).

\dmc

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on November 11, 2008,

Saturday a 2.75m section of fence fell off it's rotted supports.  Since some bracing to hold up the mini trees will be attached to the fence I had to go shopping Sunday for angle brackets, nuts & bolts, and some screws.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_0310.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_0310.jpg)

Monday was wasted fixing it.  Why didn't I take any pictures of that project?  Perhaps because of all the cursing I was doing having to take time from Blinky Flashy.

This morning I visited a machine shop to have holes drilled in the hobby kit boxes for the Splitter and Dongle.  I figured it would be cheaper than buying large drill bits I'll never use again.  Wrong!  Two Boxes, $2... eight holes, $9... discovering new places in the hood... priceless!

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_0316.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_0316.jpg)

The 21" TV went on the fritz.  The service boys arrived at 1pm for a look-see.  $150 for a new toob, or they'd pay me $15 to take it away.  I said no thanks to either option and paid $10 for the pleasure of their company.  Plasma or LCD for Christmas???

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_0320.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_0320.jpg)

At least I finished off the fence and then got my Dongle built tonight... and 3-week-old King got some quality time.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_0283.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_0283.jpg)

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on November 25, 2008,

Wow... two weeks since I posted here... I've been busy prepping (pics to come) for the arrival of a big shipment.  But it still seems that it'll be a miracle if I have any blinky flashy by December 1st, let alone by Thanksgiving.  So much to do!

Sunday the postman came with a notice to pay customs duty on my precious cargo... 2 big boxes with lots of goodies.  A quick trip to the ATM and then to the Thailand Post office (can you believe the package section was open?) and my precious cargo was home.  I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Bill for collecting and packing multiple shipments and forwarding to me... above and beyond!

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_DSC_0228-1.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=DSC_0228-1.jpg)

It's 2am Wednesday morning now, and my first Lynx is sitting on the bench, Blue Ice LED's alight and the fan whirring... voltage where there's sposta be, and no Magic Smoke!  Woo Hoo!

And new orchid blooms in the carpark. 

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_DSC_0216-1.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=DSC_0216-1.jpg)

Nitey nite.

(edit to fix photo links)

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on November 25, 2008,

Very Cool John

Bill

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on December 06, 2008,

Just a quickie to show you guys and gals I haven't been totally just twiddling my thumbs.

I got my two Lynx built finally with the Appendix B & C mods for a rather special application to control the 220VDC 4-color LED rope.  After some delays with comm errors they are both working spectacularly.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_DSC_0259.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=DSC_0259.jpg)

I was out on the second floor balcony running the rope on the railing (top and bottom in pic) with their "custom" extension cords.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_DSC_0246.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=DSC_0246.jpg)

The EGAT (Electric Generating Authority of Thailand) guys were on our street to move the main lines to new brackets.  I grabbed the camera just in time to catch the lead worker's bamboo ladder going by.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_DSC_0243.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=DSC_0243.jpg)

They are very professional... they even turned off the juice for six hours(!) and wore hardhats and steel toed boots!  Flipflops and a t-shirt wrapped around one's head are more the norm for Thai OSHA safety equipment.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_DSC_0245.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=DSC_0245.jpg)

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on December 16, 2008,

Most of you are probably sitting back outside in your lawn chairs enjoying your shows.  I got such a late start this year, and still have a long way to go with construction and building. 

Most of the day yesterday was spent on a Lynx Express "assembly line."

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_4LynxExpressinprogress.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=4LynxExpressinprogress.jpg)

But late last night I did manage to get 14 of 15 snowflakes hung and lit with a very stupid little mini-controller.  I had crafted steel wire with rope clamps for each the night before.  Can you pick out the one that's facing backwards?  And one little Champion Papillon wondering what I'm doing out in the street so late at night?

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_14of15snowflakesblue.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=14of15snowflakesblue.jpg)

Just a quick brag on the run.  Man I love that blue.

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: Ron on December 16, 2008,

John, that is very cool looking!

Nice job.

Ron

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: jwells on December 16, 2008,

John I am still working on my yard. I got the Lynx units on the first co-op early this year all of them are built and working. I mainly wanted the consolidation of channels for Arches and a possible Megatree.  I also do a big Halloween Haunted house each year so that takes a lot of my time. This year we changed how we did our tiny yard and my wife is now traveling for work so getting her input and to agree to a plan has not been easy. We both change our minds after we see it up which is really bad we don't stick to plan which again is bad but it is what it is. I like making things just as much and I have added something each week to my setup. I have no idea when I will be "done" but I don't really look at it the same as others do.

Now your setup is looking great I bet the others living around you have never seen all this assuming that its similar to our friends down under and decorating homes is not like it is in the USA

Thanks for sharing

Jim

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: KeithTarpley on December 17, 2008,

Greetings,,,

Love the flakes.  Now we need to see them in falling motion.  :-)

Keith

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on December 17, 2008,

Nice John,

I agree the Blue Looks Good

Bill

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on January 18, 2009,

The best plans of mice and men...

I had hoped to have eight LE's built and running stuff for last year's show.  Alas, but time was not on my side.  I got only as far as 2 Lynx for the townhouse outline and a dumb little box for the snowflakes.

So with little really superior to share, I have only a crude cellphone video to show for 2008 and a couple of fun stills:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_SnowmanMinitree2008.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=SnowmanMinitree2008.jpg)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_InflatablesMinitree2008.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=InflatablesMinitree2008.jpg)

This year I will have all I dreamed about for 2008:  falling snowflakes, more rope light, the nine 4-color mini trees, the four 9-channel leaping arches, the 128 channel mega-fan, the 25 strobes, the seven channel star, the six channel icicles, the starfruit tree wrap, the MR16's, the icicle line over the street, the speakers, the fm xmtr, the music(!), the sign, sequences!!!

OMG!  Look what I got myself into.

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: WWNF911 on January 19, 2009,

John I really like your snowflakes!

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: KeithTarpley on January 19, 2009,

Greetings,,,

You're flakier than I, but in a good way.  Great work...

Keith

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on January 19, 2009,

Nice Vids

Bill

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: Ron on January 19, 2009,

John,

That looks great.  I have to go look at how you made your snowflakes again, they look fantastic.

Is there anything else like your display anywhere in Thailand?

Ron

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on January 19, 2009,

Leon, Keith, Bill, Ron... thanks for looking and appreciate your comments.  Other than the shopping centers which make a valiant effort to stimulate December sales with their mega trees, rope light wire sculptures and lots of LED's hanging from trees, I don't see any addicts like me.  But then I don't get out much either!  In 2007 I could look out my 3rd floor workshop window at the high-rise condo four blocks away and see a couple balconies decorated with lights, but none this past Christmas.

John

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_HazySnowflake.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=HazySnowflake.jpg)

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on January 24, 2009,

Twelve Feet (or ~4 meters for the dimensionally challenged) of Christmas 2008:

Remember that holey angle iron from the hardware shop?  Last November I felt like a kid playing with a giant erector set. 

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_DSC_0203.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=DSC_0203.jpg)

Having nothing but concrete walls and a wood fence to attach show elements to presented a challenge.  Let alone having no space available to put anything at ground level; even if I did, it would be hidden from view unless you were directly in front and then where does the car go?

Here's the fence section that fell down and took three days to repair.  I screwed uprights into it and built a platform over the front gate for three of the inflatables.  And added a bar to anchor the nine mini-trees.  You can almost make out their skeletons hanging to dry in the sun.  Below that another bar to attach the 4-color flat LED rope; it runs from the gate all the way along the fence to the front door on each side.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_DSC_0211.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=DSC_0211.jpg)

Ready to hang vertical and horizontal sections of rope light now.  I also added a center bar.  It has hook eyes every 15cm.  The plan was to tie 32 LED strings to it to create a mega sail, but I ran out of time.  The 5-point star at the top will also have to wait for next Christmas.  That's ok... I have time now to continue building these things and get all the controllers built.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_DSC_0212.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=DSC_0212.jpg)

Oh yeah,  the leaping arches too.  There's the PVC and I have the lights.  I guess I better get busy.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_Erectorsettopview.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=Erectorsettopview.jpg)

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: memphislights on January 24, 2009,

Ever thought about lighting up the gates to the driveway by following the design on the gates?

And, like the snowflakes.  I am going to try and make some based off of your design.

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: OriginalHotrodder on January 24, 2009,

Hi John,
Great work!  You are very inspiring.  Have you thought of mounting your leaping arches on the front of your gate/fence arches?  From your picture it appears that your PVC is blue in color, is that right?

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: Ron on January 24, 2009,

I love reading your posts John.  You have so many more challenges than most of us, it is just inspiring.

Ron

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: PJNMCT on January 24, 2009,

John,

...WOW.

Just such a great job...can't say enough.

-Paul

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on February 02, 2009,

When you get to be as old as I am, it's good sometimes to reflect on where you've been.  Then again, when you're as old as I am, it's easy to forget - sometimes intentionally! - where you've been. 

Tonight though, in my time travels through old computer files, I stumbled across some "ancient" Christmas Light stuff from my former life in Hawaii.

This one is from 2002:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_MVC-091F.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=MVC-091F.jpg)

I was using one of those tiny multi-function mini light controllers which I modded to switch four mechanical relays for the star.  No dimming hahaha!  The eight strings of 25-lt C7's just chased around the five points (with lots of audible clicking to boot.)  The three colors of C9's on the roof outline drew so many amps... I had to drive six 25A hockey puck SSR's (two circuits for each color) by plugging them into a commercial 4-track chase light controller.  Even so, I still ended up frying a few.  For me at that time it cost an arm and a leg to do that - let alone the electric bill on an island with the highest utility rates in the country!  And wow - the beginnings of a megaTree!... and a Snap-N-Glow sign!  I hear they went out of business :-(

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_MVC-087F.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=MVC-087F.jpg)

Below is a vid of 2001 recorded on my then 3-yr-old Sony Mavica.  It used floppy disks for media... yes, that was just seven years ago!  Ahhh... the full moon with the star sure is pretty.

I had to trash most of the icicle lights after that season because the humidity and rain just rotted the legs off those minis.  The megaTree pole (35 feet of 2" galvanized I cockaroached from an old house) was just a Star pole that year.... the post-Christmas sales at WalMart enabled what you see in the pic above. 

Man... we've come a long way baby!

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: KeithTarpley on February 02, 2009,

Greetings,,,

Neat video.  Kind of an animated quality.  Got one of those old Mavica's around here.  Never had such a fun subject matter though.  :-)

Keith
 

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on September 08, 2009,

Time for me to get seriously busy here again.  Among many projects on the To-Do List, I thought I'd work on the MR16's.

Last April in America I picked up the PVC parts and acrylic balls to do lampholders ala Jeff ( http://www.christmasinkent.com/howto/HowToLEDspots.htm#Jeff ,) as well as a total of 39 MR16's from Wirekat.

Last week at the IT Mall I scored a 450W ATX PSU for $10.  It puts out only 10.4VDC.  Hmmm... maybe I should take it back.

I bought a 90% built MR16 board from another member, and soldered the spade lugs to it.  Hmmm... no blinky.  With RJ's help in Teamspeak, we determined I had a bad 7805 Voltage Regulator.  Switched that out, and oila!

Now putting it all together... sure is fun to be back in business!

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: Cobergas on September 09, 2009,

There is another option for the MR16 holders that turn out to be more economical and at the same time easier to point and flood the light. This is thanks to hours of hunting online by Blearning another DIY member.

http://usalight.com/cs508p-malibu-low-voltage-landscape-spot-light.html?___store=default

This is an example of the fixture. There are better prices out there than this just search for them. No real contruction time. PM Blearning about them. Save a ton of time according to him. 

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: KeithTarpley on September 09, 2009,

Greetings,,,

Looks like we have light!  Keep it up...

Keith

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: WWNF911 on September 09, 2009,

Congradulations John!

I remember that fateful MR16 blinky flashy night. I felt like a kid in a candy store!   ;D

Leon

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on September 10, 2009,

Pearls of Light... progress on MR16's.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_PearlsofLight.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=PearlsofLight.jpg)

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: KeithTarpley on September 10, 2009,

Greetings,,,

Enough to see by satellite!  And to keep the dogs and birds awake at night.   ;D

Keith

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on September 10, 2009,

Looks Good  ;D

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on September 14, 2009,

Playing catch-up:  four LE V2.0 just built and partially tested.  And no magic smoke... well, uh, just a little.  Hint:  don't leave an ESD packing pad under the transformer when you plug it in!  No harm done...

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_LEV20X4007.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=LEV20X4007.jpg)

Two are built for 220VAC operation.  Can you tell which?

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on September 14, 2009,

Looks great.

I'll take a stab at it but maybe the ones with the 220V labels on the plugs are for 220V?  ;D

Bill

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: RJ on September 14, 2009,

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Looks great.

I'll take a stab at it but maybe the ones with the 220V labels on the plugs are for 220V?  ;D

Bill

Bill,  you cheated again.....   ;)

RJ

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on September 15, 2009,

Mixing it up:  two newly built Original Lynx, modified for 220VAC board feed and rectified 220VDC load feed.  The MOSFETS are an upgrade from the original.  Credit were due... Todd had the boards 30% built prior to my purchase of them.  These puppies are perfect for my four-color flat LED rope.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_Image050.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=Image050.jpg)

Man, I love those blue LED's on that trick heatsink fan!

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on September 15, 2009,

Looks good John  ;D

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: Greg on September 15, 2009,

Cool!  I think blue led fans should be a standard option on all the Lynx gear!

Greg

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on September 16, 2009,

Wiring it up:  Original Lynx wired for 15 channels of RGYBW LED Rope.  Five Lynx will control 14 discreet sections of this rope outlining the townhouse profile.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_1247.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_1247.jpg)

Custom fused connectors take some time to make up, but make it easy to plug and play... and more blue on the floor!

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_1260.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_1260.jpg)

Wiring for 16 snowflake channels on Lynx #6 TBA...

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on September 16, 2009,

Looking Good

Bill

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on September 17, 2009,

Crimping it up:  Original Lynx for 16 channels of Snowflakes... inline fuses are inside the box.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_OriginalLynxforSnowflakes.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=OriginalLynxforSnowflakes.jpg)

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on September 18, 2009,

Back to work on the MR16's...  three "Light Bars" are now painted and assembled with the cleanout plugs.  The angle hardware allows pivoting and tilting for aiming the spots.  Top row will be BGBGBGB and the bottom RRRRRR (13 MR16's each unit.)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_LightBarFrame.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=LightBarFrame.jpg)

The bulbs are siliconed into the female adapters and the acrylic globes siliconed on top.... easy to screw onto the light bar.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_MR16Bullets.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=MR16Bullets.jpg)

The Light Bars will bolt on to the bar running down the center of the townhouse, flooding the 4th floor parapet, 3rd and 2nd ceilings and walls.

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: RJ on September 18, 2009,

Neat setup John!

RJ

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on September 18, 2009,

Looks Good John

Bill

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on September 20, 2009,

Locked and loaded:  MR16 Cannon - 1 of 3 - ready to fire!

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_1272.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_1272.jpg)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_1274.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_1274.jpg)

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: tlh on September 20, 2009,

Sweet!

-Terry

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: PJNMCT on September 20, 2009,

John,

Looks like a lot of work. Looks like a good job as well. I like it!

-Paul

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: KeithTarpley on September 20, 2009,

Greetings,,,

Use those responsibly!

 ;D

Keith

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on September 20, 2009,

Looks Good

Bill

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: tbone321 on September 20, 2009,

I really can't nget a good look at them with the picture.  Perhaps you should sent them directly to me for futrher inspection.  ;)

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: Greg on September 21, 2009,

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I really can't nget a good look at them with the picture.  Perhaps you should sent them directly to me for futrher inspection.  ;)

Maybe John will give you a better look at the Bangkok mini... Wow that would be something, a DLA mini in Bangkok?

Greg

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on September 21, 2009,

MR16 Project Complete: 

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_MR16CompleteSetup.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=MR16CompleteSetup.jpg)

New ATX PSU that actually puts out 12VDC, with bonus of blue fan LED's  :D
Phil's ATX Adapter
MR16 Controller board mounted with plastic standoffs (hehe!)
Three Light Bars w/13 MR16's from Wirekat each

Notes to self:
Remember the difference between spade lugs and M&F connector parts and where they go when making up extension cords!
It helps to solder wires to all the spades before inserting into connectors... duh!
Plug cat5 into the controller if you expect to see light

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on September 21, 2009,

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...Wow that would be something, a DLA mini in Bangkok?

Greg

I'll be happy to organize that one!  Cheap accommodation, great street food, exotic nightlife...  just be prepared to travel light so you can check two fifty-pound boxes of DLA stuffs for me as free baggage!

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: WWNF911 on September 22, 2009,

Wow John! You can really tell you put a lot of work into those MR16's.


Leon

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on September 22, 2009,

Looking Good John

Bill

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: Greg on September 22, 2009,

Outstanding John!  Awaiting the test video....  ;D

Greg

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on September 24, 2009,

I may not have all the lights I want yet, but I'm sure gonna have the channels!

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_LynxExpressLine-up.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=LynxExpressLine-up.jpg)

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: KeithTarpley on September 24, 2009,

Greetings,,,

Looks good for a test setup.  Where are the real life use controllers?
 ;D

Keith

(Looking good, John...)

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on September 24, 2009,

Looking Good

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on September 25, 2009,

Population explosion... through Step 4 (phew!)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_LynxExpressProgress.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=LynxExpressProgress.jpg)

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on September 25, 2009,

mmmmmmmm LE'S

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on September 27, 2009,

Eight is enough... for now!  I feel like I've been living breathing eating LE's for the past four days  ;D

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_LynxExpressFinished.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=LynxExpressFinished.jpg)

Just as I was setting up this shot, I looked over at my chinese Hakko solder station clone... the light is on but the heat is not... I guess it died right after I soldered that one leg on LED #7 that somehow got missed the first time around.  That Test Function on the V.3 boards really comes in handy. 

After power testing several of them and watching for the 5V and 3.3V "OK" LED's, I freaked out when I didn't see the lights... and then realized that it was a V.2 board I had plugged in.  You can pick out three of them in the pic.

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: PJNMCT on September 27, 2009,

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Eight is enough... for now!  I feel like I've been living breathing eating LE's for the past four days  ;D

...Now it's off to do the cases and cords  ;D ;D  I know I just went through the same thing  ;)

-Paul

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on September 27, 2009,

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Eight is enough... for now!  I feel like I've been living breathing eating LE's for the past four days  ;D

I know your pain  ;D

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: blearning on September 27, 2009,

I am with RJ ...

I think Photoshop did the work ... LOL

Nice Job ...

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: REM on September 27, 2009,

Yeah, my daughter and I wired up some LEs and SSR4s this weekend. All together it was about 130 cords worth.  Man do my hands and fingers hurt!  When I first set off on this adventure I really under estimated both the cost and time involved in wiring controllers.  You're looking at 144 cords there John ;)  Time to dig in.

--Ron

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on October 02, 2009,

Holy Leaping Arches!  I seem never to be able to do anything simply...

I drilled holes every 35cm in a 4m 1-1/2" thin wall PVC and fished 20 gauge lamp cord through the inside.  Man, that's a lot of wire for one arch.  I'll have 11 channels per arch, each with two strings of 100-ct 5mm 220V LED's ($1.90 a pop.)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_Image064.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=Image064.jpg)

There oughta be a law!  (Actually there is in real countries.)  These strings use such thin wire... I'll be hand wrapping to line up the bulbs and get the spacing right.  Since each string has it's own bridge rectifier dongle, I'm cutting them off, joining two strings to the lampcord, and then soldering the dongle + plug at the cord end.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_Image060.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=Image060.jpg)

Two channels... I might get four arches done by next year  ::)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_Image066.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=Image066.jpg)

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: rrowan on October 02, 2009,

Nice

I hope to do a couple of arches this weekend. Just not sure what the wife has plans to do. Today is her birthday so I guess she can over rule me this time LOL

John, after the holidays I still need your help on the BOM240 volt page or we can just delete the page if its not needed.

Cheers

Rick R.

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on October 02, 2009,

Help is just around the corner Rick!  I haven't forgotten... and many thanks for your constant updates oh great Wiki Master!   And best wishes for the missus too

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on October 02, 2009,

Looking good John

Bill

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: KeithTarpley on October 02, 2009,

Greetings,,,

So the wire is your arch enemy.   :D

Making me want to change to a few arches here and there... maybe... next year....

Keith

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on October 02, 2009,

PicKit 2 / PC Saga

The PicKit 2 I ordered from MicrochipDirect worked just great last season, in spite of it arriving with a noticeable rattle inside.  Then come this past June when I pulled it out again and plugged it in, I got the "PicKit 2 not found" dialogue... clicking <Tools><Check Communication> just locked up the program.  Emails to Microchip Support netted me a new PicKit 2, but I still experienced the same problem.  I think this was about the time that the copy of Windows XP started informing me that it did not pass "Genuine" inspection, which I ignored.  It had been installed gratis by the rep who sold me the PC.

A week ago, frustrated by not being able to flash my newly built LE's with current firmware, I called the PC company.  One of the selling points for me had been that it came with a three year warranty and five "service@home" coupons.  After an unanswered email requesting service, several phone calls and an email insisting that the PC was out of warranty, I blew my top and demanded that a service guy come to my house the next day, which he did.

Turns out the S/N sticker on the side of the box states that it had a three year warranty... only problem was that it was written in Thai and I can't read it!  Testing eliminated the hardware inside as the problem and proved - to the tech, at least - that it was a problem with XP corruption.  Of course the software is not covered by the warranty - the box came with none loaded - but the tech could come back "after hours" and do a fresh install of XP for 500 baht... about $15. 

He came back at 6:30pm and two hours later, plugging the PicKit 2 in gave me the familiar Windows "connection detection" chime and all is well. 

Sure makes me glad I use Macs for everything else.

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on October 02, 2009,

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So the wire is your arch enemy.   :D

It takes me a while sometimes Keith... I'm not always the sharpest tool in the shed!

Now why doesn't this "rolling eyes" smiley work for me?   ::)

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: KeithTarpley on October 03, 2009,

Greetings,,,

Some of the smilees don't work properly.  Kinda like my jokes.... 

 ::)

Keith

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on October 07, 2009,

Wrapping arches is fun, but there are priorities...

The angle iron I put up a year ago is rusting despite its powder coat.  So last weekend I took it all down and apart... at least the parts that I didn't have to climb over the third floor roof to get to.  Monday, completely trashed a wire brush roughing it all up, and prepped for red oxide corrosion-resistant primer... and even got a third of it coated by 1 am.  Tuesday I vegged.  Today, it's all primed.

Even though last weekend marked the end of Buddhist Lent, signaling the end of the Rainy Season, it's still thundering and pouring down at least once a day.  Setting up to paint in the carpark is out of the question.  Besides, where would I park the car?  And hauling it up three flights to the guest bedroom/workshop would seriously cramp the girl dogs' style, as well as my legs.  So the dining room is temporarily commissioned as a paint stall.  I have to carry the boy dogs to their crates in the corner for beddy-bye time unless I want red paw pads and/or noses.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_Image072-1.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=Image072-1.jpg)

With any luck it'll all be shiny black Rustoleum-ized tomorrow...

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_Image075.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=Image075.jpg)

...and then I can reconstruct it and get back to wrapping.

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on October 12, 2009,

Needed some bolts/nuts/washers after weekend work on the giant "erector set," so off I went to Klong Tom to replenish.  There's one little shophouse that has just about every screw or nut you could imagine, and they even had the special NC#6-32 nylon nut for the LE heatsinks.  I got one in my parts bag that was a #8, and I thought OMG I'll never find that here.  Wrong!  Also scored a 100-meter roll of SPT/half (about 23 AWG) for just over $10... 16 gauge lampcord is unheard of in TH.  I was scouring the alleys too for used 14/3 3-prong power cords for my LE's but no luck.  That'll be a trip to the IT shopping mall another day.

Then to the audio/electronics shops at Baan Mor... for 50 Baht ($1.50) a "repair" man determined that my solder station was fine, but the solder pencil was defective.  A tout - probably his son - saw me walking around with my shopping bag and instinctively knew I was looking for technical assistance.  He grabbed my arm and led me half a block down the soi to the folding table and plastic stools set up on the sidewalk with tools and a volt meter for just such a purpose.   Fortunately, back at the shop where I bought it, a quick phone call by the clerk brought a pretty young girl a-running from who knows where with a new one in hand... and I am $5 poorer but able to solder again!

I should've snapped some pics of today's adventures and productivity, but I did remember to pull out my Nokia and get these, which may be of some interest.  Those LED light strips?  1.2m for $6 for the not so bright ones... and almost $8 for the 1m square type bright ones... not a bargain in my book, but maybe I was quoted the "foreigner" price.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_Image081.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=Image081.jpg)

And for those who look for SSR4 heatsinks, I was amazed at the selection I stumbled upon in one shop starting at 15 cents.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_Image080.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=Image080.jpg)

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on October 16, 2009,

Busy week, and in addition to getting started on some 220VAC SSR4+DMX's, I reconstructed the newly painted erector set and stretched 75% Shade Cloth over the new frame.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_ShadeCanopyComplete.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=ShadeCanopyComplete.jpg)

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on October 17, 2009,

Cool

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: Greg on October 17, 2009,

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Cool

Or at least cooler.    ;D

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on October 19, 2009,

Now that it's cool - er, ah, cooler - to work in the carpark, I've been frightfully busy on the latest project.  Care to venture a guess as to what it is?

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_PumpkinFaceExport.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=PumpkinFaceExport.jpg)

...and no, it's not a new avatar for Bill!

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: KeithTarpley on October 20, 2009,

Greetings,,,

I'm Batman!

(Well, it does look like the Bat Signal...)

Keith

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: vairmoose on October 20, 2009,

The Ghostly Cheshire cat  ....     (my what rotten teeth you have) 

Larry

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on October 20, 2009,

Tee hee tee hee... all will be revealed in due time!

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on October 21, 2009,

Progress at dusk...

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_Image084.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=Image084.jpg)

A few additions and adjustments are yet to be made, but barring more thunderstorms I could be done tonight.  I can't wait until Nov 1st when High Season begins and the spigot is turned off.

[edit for better photo]

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on October 23, 2009,

Three days of frustration... One of the 50-meter rolls of 2-wire white LED Rope Light I bought a year ago is of horribly inferior quality.  (Most of the other one went into snowflakes.)  The solder joints at the cut points break with even moderate bending.  So, after numerous attempts to do a DIY fix on it yesterday afternoon, I gave up completely... I was just wasting too much time. 

This morning I took the broken segments and the rest of the roll back to the shop, hoping I'd get at least some satisfaction... after all, it's been a year!  Lucky me... it's the Prince's fifth birthday and a holiday so there was no traffic for the $2.70 taxi ride.  I explained the problem - lots of hand signals - to Miss Bee, who speaks even less English than I do Thai.  To my amazement she replaced the 40 meters with a much better product - even brighter! - no questions asked.  I guess being a good repeat customer helps... and sometimes you just luck out.

Back home, back to work, some tweaking, and here's the result.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_Image088.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=Image088.jpg)

Now to attach the frame and somehow winch it up to the third floor balcony tomorrow.  Wish me more luck!

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: bisquit476 on October 23, 2009,

Upon further review, looks like the mouth/teeth on a pumpkin. When I looked at the last pic, on the fence, that was my first thought.

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: memphislights on October 23, 2009,

A jack-o-lantern?  That is the mouth so far?

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: KeithTarpley on October 23, 2009,

Greetings,,,

And we're not supposed to be looking at the filenames of the pics, are we?

 ;D

Keith

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: bisquit476 on October 23, 2009,

After Keith's reply I went back to the photo's and sure enough if you hold you pointer over the pic of the original drawing it says Pumpkin face export. Thanks Keith, you taught me something today.

Bill

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: rrowan on October 23, 2009,

John,

what BIG teeth you have :D

Yeah, a silly line from Red Riding Hood.

Sorry

back to whatever I was working on..  opps it was sequencing.

Cheers

Rick R.

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on October 24, 2009,

I was wondering when somebody would make the filename connection!  Kudos to you Keith, and bravos to bisquit, memphis and Mr. RR.  Almost finished with the construction phase of this project, and if I must say so myself, it's looking spectacular... updates to come.

But this morning I headed out to Baan Mor, the electronics & A/V neighborhood near Chinatown in the old part of the city to buy resistors and zip ties.  First steps out of the taxi and I'm in electronics repair heaven... Bangkok sidewalk style. 

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_1312.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_1312.jpg)

It always amazes me, how strong the entrepreneurial spirit is here.  Beats paying rent and air conditioning bills, although I'm sure someone ultimately collects for that space.

A little further down, and I found my Zip Tie Princess.  I've purchased from her partner before... they have the best prices I've seen anywhere.  And, she wasn't shy about my photo-journalistic nature either.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_1313.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_1313.jpg)

I headed into the alley then to try once again to find some heavy duty power cords for my LE's, heavier than the standard 3x.75mm sq stuff  (~18 AWG) available everywhere as PC cords.  It took some looking, but I finally found some 3x2.0mm (14AWG) ones at a reasonable price.  They had non-polarized 2-prong plugs tho... so I shopped around for the best price on 3-prong DIY plugs, and I'll just cut off the ones that came with the cords.  Not the cheapest way to go, but at $2.50 for the combo, getting what I want without having to spend more time traveling and paying for transpo, I'm happy.  I bargained for that price with my new friend Greg:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_1315.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_1315.jpg)

He had to get approval from his Mom for the low price on 10... who in turn had to go back down the alley and talk to HER Mom about it, and retrieve the product!  Only in the Big Mango...

I liked Greg's Black Eyed Peas T-shirt, but he wouldn't trade it for my Quiksilver :(  I like the PopCorn Orchids blooming in the carpark garden too.  Nite-All.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_1309.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_1309.jpg)

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on October 26, 2009,

Very Nice

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on October 26, 2009,

The eyes have it...

The front gate makes for a good standing work area when it's not pouring down rain, and I get tan while working on blinky. 

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_1316.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_1316.jpg)

I had seen these wire racks while street shopping, and hung them on the wrought iron by hooks... all the vendors use them to hang their wares, and I thought they'd be perfect to zip tie rope light to.  Here I'm wrapping the rope with black duct tape to black out "no light" sections:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_1317.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_1317.jpg)

Joint between panels:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_1319.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_1319.jpg)

Wrapped up and ready to pulley up to the third floor:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_1320.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_1320.jpg)

Now, for the good stuff:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_1331.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_1331.jpg)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_1326.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_1326.jpg)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_1327.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_1327.jpg)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_1328.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_1328.jpg)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_1329.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_1329.jpg)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_IMG_1330.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=IMG_1330.jpg)

Now to get 'er hooked up to an LE and talking... ah, where does the time go?  I might be done wih Halloween by Halloween!

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on October 26, 2009,

Very Nice John

Bill

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: PJNMCT on October 26, 2009,

John,

Great job! Need to sync with Disney's Haunted Mansion stretch room intro!

-Paul

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: Randy_A on October 26, 2009,

Very Cool John!

Randy

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on October 30, 2009,

Happy Halloween ghouls and goblins, witches and wizzards!

Video to come...

John

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_HalloweenGhostandFace.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=HalloweenGhostandFace.jpg)

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: WWNF911 on October 31, 2009,

Wow John! You really are an artist.

Congradulations. All looks GREAT!

Leon

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: KeithTarpley on October 31, 2009,

Greetings,,,

Now that just ramps up the expectations for the Christmas display.

 ;D

Keith

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: tbone321 on October 31, 2009,

And gives me something to "borrow" for next Halloween  ;D

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: RJ on October 31, 2009,

Neat setup John!

RJ

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: D56VillageNut on October 31, 2009,

John,

That is awesome.

Happy Halloween from Seattle.

Alan T

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on November 06, 2009,

Way behind the curve, but having fun anyway...

Setup for beta-testing 50Hz firmware for the 220V SSR4+DMX:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_LynxSSRDMX50HzTesting.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=LynxSSRDMX50HzTesting.jpg)

Title: Inflatable Lights
Post by: ThaiWay on November 09, 2009,

All my inflatables are imported from America, and have those dim UL-approved C7's inside... I wanted them to be brighter and to be able to control them independently of the 110VAC fans.  So I clipped the light wire that comes out of the fan housing inside, and connected it to a new polarized plug cord:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_InflatableDualPower.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=InflatableDualPower.jpg)

And then removed the C7's and substituted 220V 5W CFL's... cool and bright!

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_Inflatable5WCFLMod.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=Inflatable5WCFLMod.jpg)

I can leave the fans on 24/7 now, and put the lights on a timer or a spare LE channel.  Sweet! (but only if I'm careful which plug goes in which outlet  ::))

Title: Re: Inflatable Lights
Post by: magic8192 on November 09, 2009,

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All my inflatables are imported from America, and have those dim UL-approved C7's inside... I wanted them to be brighter and to be able to control them independently of the 110VAC fans.  So I clipped the light wire that comes out of the fan housing inside, and connected it to a new polarized plug cord:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_InflatableDualPower.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=InflatableDualPower.jpg)

And then removed the C7's and substituted 220V 5W CFL's... cool and bright!

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_Inflatable5WCFLMod.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=Inflatable5WCFLMod.jpg)

I can leave the fans on 24/7 now, and put the lights on a timer or a spare LE channel.  Sweet! (but only if I'm careful which plug goes in which outlet  ::))

What happens if you aren't careful?

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on November 09, 2009,

Depends...

The coffee bean grinder whirs at a surreal velocity; or, ...not-so-magic smoke  :'(

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: Greg on November 10, 2009,

Hey John,

Reminds me of a house I once rewired here in the states.  Rewiring the house wasn't planned by the owner, but somehow, when a fuse blew in the fuse box, the voltage in the kitchen would double from 120 to 240.  When I heard this guy telling the tail of his turbo-charged can opener, I convinced him to rewire the house.  When I got into it, that old knob and tube wiring was so poorly done its a miracle the house hadn't burned down long ago...  Anyway, I ramble.

Greg

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on November 10, 2009,

I hear ya Greg!  Knob and tube hahaha.

I lived in a house on Kauai for ten years that was built in 1936.  After Hurricane 'Iniki took off a third of the roof in 1992, I rewired everything with Romex... even grounds!  What fun... those were the days.

You should see what they do even in this day and age here in TH!

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: Greg on November 12, 2009,

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I hear ya Greg!  Knob and tube hahaha.

Seriously John, thats what it is called (or sometimes abbreviated K&T) and it wasn't any laughing matter in this particular case. House was built in 1923 and "electrified" in the '30s. Still had functioning natural gas lights in the living and dining rooms which gave a kind of neat ambiance to the place.  Still I ramble on...

Greg

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on November 13, 2009,

Nice work as always John

Bill

Title: wIrEleSs Generation
Post by: ThaiWay on November 15, 2009,

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_wIreLeSsGeneration.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=wIreLeSsGeneration.jpg)

See that PIC with the whiteout?  It belongs in the TX!   :o

Title: Re: wIrEleSs Generation
Post by: RJ on November 15, 2009,

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(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_wIreLeSsGeneration.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=wIreLeSsGeneration.jpg)

See that PIC with the whiteout?  It belongs in the TX!   :o

Good news is this, If the ver 2 wireless work out in beta there will only be one firmware for both units. In fact there will only be one circuit board for the TX and RX.  You set a jumper to tell it if it is a TX or RX and you can change them back and forth as you want! ....  8)

And also only one case for them!  ;)

The Exrx will stay the a seperate pcb of course.

RJ

Title: Ready for Blinky
Post by: ThaiWay on November 19, 2009,

It seems like it took forever, but all the LE's and OL's are now corded up!

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_VampireandPlasticPlugs.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=VampireandPlasticPlugs.jpg)

Alas, I ran out of vampire plugs on the last two LE's and had to resort to something available locally.  Grrrr!  Those plastic plugs take four times the time to make up.  At least they are polarized (which is quite rare for anything in TH.)  Do you guys know how lucky you are to have 16ga extension cords you can just cut up?

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_CordedUp.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=CordedUp.jpg)

Title: Talk About Lucky...
Post by: ThaiWay on November 21, 2009,

While you guys are all complaining about the paltry product selection at your Mega Stores, check out what's available here at my local Costco-wannabe.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_MakroChristmas.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=MakroChristmas.jpg)

...garland for days, the ugliest fake trees, and nary an LED in sight  :'(

Title: Arches in the Concrete Jungle
Post by: ThaiWay on November 25, 2009,

Return to the Arch... one of four completed.  There's no room to work except in the third floor hallway:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_3rdFloorHallwayArchWorkshop.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=3rdFloorHallwayArchWorkshop.jpg)

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...So the wire is your arch enemy.   :D...

Darn cheap oriental 5mm LED strings use the thinnest wire that has only three strands!  And the solder job really sucks.  Wasted time making repairs after wrapping:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_LED5mmRepair.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=LED5mmRepair.jpg)

Now to the fun stuff!  I can't exactly drive half-inch rebar into the carpark floor for arch stakes, so I donned my plumbing hat (after much thought) and came up with this solution:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_ArchSupportFittings.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=ArchSupportFittings.jpg)

Planning pays off.  This mount just clears the front gate and allows it to open:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_ArchSupportSingle.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=ArchSupportSingle.jpg)

A double set of Arch Supports ready to go.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_ArchSuportDoubleSet.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=ArchSuportDoubleSet.jpg)

Now back to wrapping.  Ugh!

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: rrowan on November 25, 2009,

Hi John

Nice job

Cleaver answer to a hard problem

{I know that Keith can be more witty and work in a plumber angle}

Cheers

Rick R.

It just hit me :D

Keith could do a plumb line

ugh, sorry :D :D :D

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: KeithTarpley on November 26, 2009,

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Hi John

Nice job

Cleaver answer to a hard problem

{I know that Keith can be more witty and work in a plumber angle}

Cheers

Rick R.

It just hit me :D

Keith could do a plumb line

ugh, sorry :D :D :D

Greetings,,,

That's just a pipe dream...

 ;D

Keith

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: vairmoose on November 26, 2009,

now that is just plumb silly...


(Great idea and execution John!!)

Larry

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on November 26, 2009,

Nice work

Bill

Title: I have Fallen Arches
Post by: ThaiWay on December 09, 2009,

Arch fatigue.  Using thin-wall PVC doesn't cut it when you drill 3/8" holes to fish the extension cords through, not even with a  3/4" insert for strength.  Arches 2 and 3 buckled at the weak peak.  15 hours each of prepping/wrapping/wiring wasted   :'(

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_BrokenArch.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=BrokenArch.jpg)

Arch #1 had just 1/4" fish holes, and survived.  But it was so much trouble to reverse fish the wires.  Now, thick-wall is in place for 2, 3 and 4 for natural pre-stressing in the sun.  But I don't have the heart to wrap them yet... other priorities!

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_Arch1.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=Arch1.jpg)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_ArchLE.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=ArchLE.jpg)

Power and Control Center above the front door:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_FrontDoorPowerandControl.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=FrontDoorPowerandControl.jpg)

This year's Snowflake placement is redesigned, thanks to suggestion of the SO, uh huh... and of course that meant new new/modified hanging cables.  And they've graduated from a cheap little oriental chase box to a Full Control Original Lynx.  That means new wiring/connections.  Some pics:

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_WiringSnowflakesRed.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=WiringSnowflakesRed.jpg)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_WiringSnowflakesBlue.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=WiringSnowflakesBlue.jpg)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_WiringSnowflakesYellow.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=WiringSnowflakesYellow.jpg)

I've mastered tip-toeing across the cementious roof tiles to get to the parapet.  At my age, no small feat.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_HangingSnowflakes.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=HangingSnowflakes.jpg)

Hard to believe it was just a month and a half ago I went to the Thailand Post to claim my box of goodies from Bill (thanks again!)  Wireless, OL's from Todd, vampire plugs from Paul, etc.

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/th_ThailandPost.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/albums/l175/siamaloha/?action=view&current=ThailandPost.jpg)

Still so much to do.  I haven't even touched the 110V stuff yet.

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: rrowan on December 09, 2009,

Hi John,

Sorry to hear about the arches :(

Very Nice pictures of your setup. Please be carefully on the roof

Cheers

Rick R.

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: softshelpro on December 10, 2009,

WOW!! I am impressed with your snow flakes and all the other grait things you have going on here.

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wirekat on December 29, 2009,

John you are an inspiration!

I have really enjoyed following the journey.

Kevin

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: wbuehler on December 29, 2009,

Looks Awesome

Bill

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: coachers on December 29, 2009,

John,

 Thank You for sharing your journal.

 Just awesome!

AL

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: ThaiWay on June 24, 2010,

I've been working on sequencing with LightShowPro for over a month.  Finally I have reached a point I call (almost) done with Carol of the Bells.   It' my first try at setting the lights to music.  In LSP, you can make a video of your sequence using the channel images you've drawn on your display picture.  There's a link to the vimeo upload in my post in the Australian Christmas Light forum if you wanna check it out: 

http://forums.auschristmaslighting.com/index.php/topic,164.msg855.html#msg855

John

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: meman on June 25, 2010,

Great stuff John, thanks so much for sharing. You got me motivated to download the latest release of LSP and give it a shot. Thanks again!!

Mike E.

Title: Re: John's Journal
Post by: kevr on June 25, 2010,

Thanks John, this is a great resource for us new guys. I have just finished wrapping my arches 3 x 3.5m 5 sections on 40 mm heavy wall irrigation pipe. I will be into sequencing soon so all the info I can get the better.

I need some of your enery!!!

Thanks again

Kev :-)