HomeAutomationNerd Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 I'm looking to replace old X-Mas lighting with modern outdoor programmable color-chaning LED lights. This would be ~200 linear feet (perhaps as much as 300). Ideally, the lights are left up year-round, so they're fairly weather proof. Quality is more important than up-front price, as replacement costs are high, due to rooflines and the like. Control4 integration is optional, and a lighting controller for them is fine although a software app is preferred. The outdoor plugs are already integrated into C4, so at least I can do timers. The Outdoor Philips Hue Rope lights look nice, except they are only 16' (5m) and cannot be chained together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybuch Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 How much of a DIYer are you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C4 User Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Look at JellyFishLighting.com. They are very nice but not DIY pricing. I plan to have these installed this fall before Thanksgiving/Christmas. I was told that the owners are C4 fans (this is a Utah company) and that there is a C4 driver in the works, but do not take my word on that, and confirm for yourself if you go this route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pounce Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 3 hours ago, ChrisM said: with modern outdoor programmable color-chaning LED lights. Do you want the lights to be addressable so you can do color chasing etc? Curious what you have in your head. Wide range of solutions out there so its good to know what effect you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaphod Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Are the lights in tree(s) or on a house or other buildings? I don't know your experience with traditional lights, but I have traditional lights on a large tree that were installed by a snorkel truck. The problem is that the lights would generally only last a year or two due to wind and/or squirels. That therefore required new lights every couple of years but the biggest issue was the cost of the snorkel truck coming back The Hue lights tend to be very expensive on a per foot basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyknight Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 14 hours ago, Pounce said: Do you want the lights to be addressable so you can do color chasing etc? Curious what you have in your head. Wide range of solutions out there so its good to know what effect you want. Quite. There is a BIG (PRICE!) differnce between an RGB LED strip that can change colors (such as fading from red to green to blue etc) vs a CHASING LED strip (which means EACH LED -sometimes a small set of LEDs) need to be addressable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pounce Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Good down to earth DIY primer on xmas lights. https://drzzs.com/beginners-guide-to-all-holiday-leds/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAutomationNerd Posted August 31, 2020 Author Share Posted August 31, 2020 6 hours ago, Cyknight said: Quite. There is a BIG (PRICE!) differnce between an RGB LED strip that can change colors (such as fading from red to green to blue etc) vs a CHASING LED strip (which means EACH LED -sometimes a small set of LEDs) need to be addressable. I'm interested in either, although if all things were equal the chasing led strips seems like a great way to waste some time. Got links to brands you recommend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAutomationNerd Posted August 31, 2020 Author Share Posted August 31, 2020 7 hours ago, zaphod said: Are the lights in tree(s) or on a house or other buildings? These would be stapled (or clipped) to the runs along my house. The old-school lights we've got there have held up well for ~3 years, but as I'm replacing them anyway seems like an opportunity to explore other options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAutomationNerd Posted August 31, 2020 Author Share Posted August 31, 2020 2 hours ago, Pounce said: Good down to earth DIY primer on xmas lights. https://drzzs.com/beginners-guide-to-all-holiday-leds/ Thanks - that's a great link. I've spent the last hour reading it. This looks like yet another fun rabbit hole to fall into... Pounce 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyknight Posted September 1, 2020 Share Posted September 1, 2020 1 hour ago, ChrisM said: I'm interested in either, although if all things were equal the chasing led strips seems like a great way to waste some time. Got links to brands you recommend? LED is either Environmental Lights or Lotus - control is DMX. Couldn' tell you about more DIY friendly options for control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybuch Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 On 8/31/2020 at 4:30 PM, ChrisM said: Thanks - that's a great link. I've spent the last hour reading it. This looks like yet another fun rabbit hole to fall into... I currently run a RPI with FPP on it and some falcon boards and control it from control4 for my front, back, and inside pixels. I use http commands to start and stop playlists depending on time of year, special days, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaphod Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 14 hours ago, cybuch said: I currently run a RPI with FPP on it and some falcon boards and control it from control4 for my front, back, and inside pixels. I use http commands to start and stop playlists depending on time of year, special days, etc. What's FPP? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pounce Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 3 hours ago, zaphod said: What's FPP? Falcon Player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAV Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 On 9/1/2020 at 11:04 PM, cybuch said: I currently run a RPI with FPP on it and some falcon boards and control it from control4 for my front, back, and inside pixels. I use http commands to start and stop playlists depending on time of year, special days, etc. Are you sending HTTP commands to the PI or directly to the Falcon Boards? Is there a published list of commands? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybuch Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 On 9/4/2020 at 10:18 AM, RAV said: Are you sending HTTP commands to the PI or directly to the Falcon Boards? Is there a published list of commands? I am sending it to the PI running FPP. Yes, its in the help section in the FPP software. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWRobinson Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 Again, the biggest question I am not sure has been answered is what is your end goal. This may be more “control” than you are looking for, but here you go. The options are limitless. http://www1.lightorama.com LoR Christmas Videos - http://www1.lightorama.com/christmas-videos/ LoR Halloween Videos - http://www1.lightorama.com/halloween-videos/ LoR DIY Kits - http://www1.lightorama.com/build-it-yourself-kits/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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