DiyLightAnimation

Fun => The Porch => Topic started by: chrisatpsu on January 04, 2013,

Title: roof edge...
Post by: chrisatpsu on January 04, 2013,
for those of you that have rgb lights at the roof edge, what are you using here, and are you using control by the string (like dumb strips), or control by groupings, or individual control?

I want to start my ideas for actually putting lights on the house this year.
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: peteandvanessa on January 04, 2013,
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for those of you that have rgb lights at the roof edge, what are you using here, and are you using control by the string (like dumb strips), or control by groupings, or individual control?

I want to start my ideas for actually putting lights on the house this year.

I'm using the Flexstrip with individual control
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: duane.mosley on January 04, 2013,
i used nodes individually controlled.
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: jnealand on January 04, 2013,
I just do my gutter line and use nodes that are hanging from cup hooks screwed into the fascia board behind the gutter.  Putting them back there also keeps them somewhat sheltered from the weather.

Edit - Forgot to add that I have them in hybrid mode.  I always start with using the string and then go back and add RGB effects, but I like to do a fair amount of color changes so hybrid makes that easier.
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: lonewolf41 on January 04, 2013,
I use hybrid mode.  Some details here:

http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=10539.msg143561#msg143561

Some videos here:

http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=10792.0

-Keith
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: chrisatpsu on January 04, 2013,
so far, one flexstrip guy, and three node guys
Title: roof edge...
Post by: JDM1oc on January 04, 2013,
I used GECE's with an e681 for my roof outline. I hot glued magnets to the back of them and put them on the flashing on the fascia. Individual control.
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: chrisatpsu on January 04, 2013,
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I used GECE's with an e681 for my roof outline. I hot glued magnets to the back of them and put them on the flashing on the fascia. Individual control.
what did the node look like?
Title: roof edge...
Post by: JDM1oc on January 04, 2013,
Pic attached.
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: rdebolt on January 04, 2013,
Using Nodes with C9 for entire roof outline with 4 colors of icicles.... that is until you get your new project done.  ;)
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: hicksjo on January 05, 2013,
Use dumb flex strips
use 12 channels of an mr16 to give 4 sections of control that coincide with the architectural breaks in the roof line

With the pixel tree in use these have become more of an accent than a main feature so the lack of individual control is not a big deal to me
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: chrisatpsu on January 05, 2013,
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Use dumb flex strips
use 12 channels of an mr16 to give 4 sections of control that coincide with the architectural breaks in the roof line

With the pixel tree in use these have become more of an accent than a main feature so the lack of individual control is not a big deal to me

so about how big of a span were the controlled parts?
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: Jeffl on January 05, 2013,

Great engineering using the magnets!
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: zwiller on January 05, 2013,
SS flexstrips.  Although I bet dumb strips in sections would be a very good value to performance, eventually you will want individual control.  Seeing your house outline twinkle is breathtaking.  Videos don't do it justice.  I predict 2013 will bring some serious improvements in individual control effects.  I made wood frames for everything so setup is a snap.  I mean it took longer to drag the ladder out than to hang them...

Twinkle section at 3:40 https://vimeo.com/56736848 (https://vimeo.com/56736848)

See transitions highlighting individual control starting at 1:45.  I cannot even imagine how you could even attempt to do this sort of thing in vixen.  https://vimeo.com/56736848 (https://vimeo.com/56736848)


Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: Jeffl on January 05, 2013,
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I made wood frames for everything so setup is a snap.  I mean it took longer to drag the ladder out than to hang them...

I like this idea.
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: zwiller on January 05, 2013,
I used pipe hangers upside down screwed into the rear of the wood and hung the frame to gutter.  To my surprise when testing I learned a side effect using these was the weight of the frame/wood (3/8' exterior ply) forced the frame to the face of the gutter making the leds in a better line of sight from ground.  The same happened for the window frames using eyelets mounted to the rear of frame created a pleasant line of sight.  At first I didn't like this but then I realized what it did!   :o  The hangers are cheap too.  http://www.lowes.com/pd_301286-34146-AV301286_4294822034__?productId=3223413&Ns=p_product_avg_rating|1 (http://www.lowes.com/pd_301286-34146-AV301286_4294822034__?productId=3223413&Ns=p_product_avg_rating|1)

To continue, the reason I chose flex strips was the ease of mounting them to the frame.  No drilling holes for nodes, etc.  If you go this route make sure you have plenty of mounting clips.   ;D  (If you run out Chris let me know  ;D)

If you look at my vids note the top gutter line is actually 2 sections, the entrance ^ shape is prebuilt one section, as well as the sides.  I used to risk my neck climbing the entrance peak to install the gutter lights!  Now I just hang one from each side and push them together.  I actually think it might be divine intervention that flex strips are 13.5' and my roof line was 27'...
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: cBell on January 05, 2013,
Flex strip attached to 1x2 strips of wood with hooks to hook onto the gutters. Running in hybrid mode.
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: hicksjo on January 05, 2013,
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Use dumb flex strips
use 12 channels of an mr16 to give 4 sections of control that coincide with the architectural breaks in the roof line

With the pixel tree in use these have become more of an accent than a main feature so the lack of individual control is not a big deal to me

so about how big of a span were the controlled parts?

Various ... But pretty close to 5m each, which worked nicely with 5m strips I bought
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: twooly on January 05, 2013,
I've got nodes in j-channel under my eves.  It was nice to put up but I think I may change it to pvc for a little more strength.   j-channel was a little flimsy and stupid me forgot about how much it contracts in cold weather.  Made it hard to take down considering the way I mounted it.
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: zwiller on January 05, 2013,
Todd, make sure you use schedule 40 since I used the cheap thin wall (sch 20?) last year and it was too flimsy for me but it is still probably better than j channel.  As a wooddorker, I think the alternating grain and added glue strength of ply makes it the best wood based material but I have decent saw to rip it.  I realize that 1X is ready to go but my experience with that stuff is that knots and irregular grain cause breaks, especially on longer pieces.  If you pick out good stuff you might luck out.  I suppose I am old school with the wood, but I am familiar with it...  Wood gets no love here...   :'( 
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: jeffcoast on January 06, 2013,
count another flexstrip, I wanted the individual control and ease of putting them up evenly. Although after we played with them we didn't use all of the LEDs, just about every 3rd one.
Title: roof edge...
Post by: loveroflife96 on January 06, 2013,
For those that used flex strips and didnt use all the LEDs, how did u sequence?  Just keep those channels off all the time??
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: chrisatpsu on January 06, 2013,
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For those that used flex strips and didnt use all the LEDs, how did u sequence?  Just keep those channels off all the time??

^^^  +1
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: zwiller on January 06, 2013,
How?! 

Why?!   ;D
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: jnealand on January 06, 2013,
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For those that used flex strips and didnt use all the LEDs, how did u sequence?  Just keep those channels off all the time??

You can cut flexstrips about every 4"
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: chrisatpsu on January 06, 2013,
my plans so far i think is to do something similar as my smart arches, but up on the roof edge...  maybe using a clear tube to place my sections in... 

but i'm still see what others have come up with, in case i see something i like better..

keep the ideas coming...   I'm sure others (especially the 2013 new guys that are starting to join) are interested in the different methods as well...
Title: roof edge...
Post by: mitch09 on January 06, 2013,
I think I am going to do the same as my window frames. 3/4" sch40 with nodes taped on with white electrical tape. My frames looked awesome this year and held up no problem to rain,snow,wind. I will run the pipe jus under my gutters. I haven't figured out how I want to mount them yet. But I think I can do my whole front roofline with 5 SSC
Title: Re: roof edge...
Post by: jeffcoast on January 07, 2013,
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For those that used flex strips and didnt use all the LEDs, how did u sequence?  Just keep those channels off all the time??
I actually just deleted those channels out of the sequence. Which made it much easier to sequence, although channel numbers if I renumber them is an issue, you can't just change the first one in the controller and have them all move the same, it puts them back in sequential order. Hence I just left all of them alone. I am using LSP to sequence if anyone wanted to know.