99 days

[wbuehler]

Very Nice

Bill

[blearning]

Very Nice,

How big are those arches?

Thanks

Rick R.

Arch Info,

Arch height in center is 6 feet,
2 Full lengths of 1 Inch PVC 1 = 20 feet,
legs are spaced 11 foot 6 inch wide
total length of the 2 arches is 23 feet
1 arch is 8 channels,
1 100 count for each channel

the 2 wreaths at the end of each arch is 5 feet high.

[ThaiWay]

Looking good Bill!

John

[Kwajtony]

O U Ch!  Nice Job.  Arches are neat and pinwheels are cool.

[blearning]

So Out of the 60 DIY components we added this year.

I had 6 LEs that needed TLC, One bad transformer, one with the 485s in backwards and the rest with the 3.3 volt issue resolved with the Jumper wire mod. 

We also have 3 180 ohm resistors fried with no load on them on different controllers.  I was lucky to see 2 of them go .... they released their magic smoke right in front of my eyes.  It was a sight to see.  I need to replace them once everything is completed.   you can tell they are gone by the morphing to a all black color. 

I had a faulty transmitter I haven't got to the bench yet. 

An antenna issue where when a car drove up the wireless signal was interrupted, I fixed that by raising the antenna up above the SUV height.
 

Bill on the ones that the 180 ohm resistors fried I can tell you what causes this. The only thing that will put enough load on them to do this is if the solder joint on the triac has some resistence and then it will put a large load on the resistors and make this happen. So when you replace them hit the joints on the triac and high voltage side of the optos again. That will fix it.

RJ

Finally got this one on the bench ... yup you are correct ... as you stated and now fixed. 

you're da man *SMILE*

[blearning]

I thought I would write up a little list of the common troubles and how to fix them.

Bill's trouble shooting Guide,

Channel staying on, Check Solder joints, remove Solder spill over

Channel staying off, Check Solder Joints, make sure you use enough solder and have good heat

DMX not working, Check Solder Joints, make sure you use enough solder and have good heat

LEDs not lighting, Check Solder Joints, make sure you use enough solder and have good heat

Self test not working,  Check Solder Joints, make sure you use enough solder and have good heat

Sporatic Light ons, Check Solder joints, remove Solder spill over

Wireless not working, Check Solder joints, remove Solder spill over, make sure you use enough solder and have good heat

Dongle Not working,  Check Solder joints, remove Solder spill over, make sure you use enough solder and have good heat

Transmitter Not working, Check Solder joints, remove Solder spill over, make sure you use enough solder and have good heat

Receiver Not working, Check Solder joints, remove Solder spill over, make sure you use enough solder and have good heat 

It was working but not now, Check Solder joints, remove Solder spill over, make sure you use enough solder and have good heat

It wasn't working but if I power cycle it it works for a while, Check Solder joints, remove Solder spill over, make sure you use enough solder and have good heat

It works sometimes, Check Solder joints, remove Solder spill over, make sure you use enough solder and have good heat

When it is wet it doesn't work, Let it dry out, Check Solder joints, remove Solder spill over, make sure you use enough solder and have good heat

The dog bit the cord, not it doesn't work, Check Solder joints, remove Solder spill over, make sure you use enough solder and have good heat , replace cord.

The breaker tripped and now it doesn't work, Check Solder joints, remove Solder spill over, make sure you use enough solder and have good heat  Reset breaker.

Wife is Mad about the light show running too long, Check Solder joints, remove Solder spill over, make sure you use enough solder and have good heat

I'm hungry, Check Solder joints, remove Solder spill over, make sure you use enough solder and have good heat, go eat. 

*SMILE*

[RJ]

OH MAN!!!


THIS IS JUST WRONG!!!!!!!

ROFLMAO

RJ

[blearning]

Missed one that came up tonight .... 

Lightning strikes all over the area ... Disconnect .... Don't worry about the solder joints... DISCONNECT DISCONNECT... 

A lightning Storm in Atlanta in DECEMBER .... SHEEEEEESH  ... I have more then 2 dozen poles in the yard with a good grid of wire and cable to the HOUSE.... Ben would be proud of me.

[blearning]

Have the first batch of Videos up now ...

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I couldn't fit all in one shot so I decided to do a couple overviews (walkabouts) and then do each yard ....

I have some more to put up after conversion ...

enjoy

[RJ]

Awesome Job BL!

RJ

[JJ]

     Fantastic Show.
                            

                             JJ

[KeithTarpley]

Greetings,,,

Hey, BL.  That 2006 show looks almost like the 2009 show does in real life...   

Just need a small title change on Yahoo's site there.  But still was great to see in person.  And to get candy canes.   

Keith

[Made2Rock]

I LOVED the pinwheels.

AWESOME!!!!!

[vairmoose]

Bill, we knew from your earlier descriptions that something great was being put together...   your videos confirm this.     

Absolutely wonderful!!!!   

Larry

ps..  the only problem....    what are you going to do next year??    hard to step up from Great.     

[ThaiWay]

Wow!

Thanks for sharing....

John