Possible Future Projects
I am always thinking of new things I can do with my hobby projects, its in my nature, can't help it. But for this list we have narrowed it to down the bigger items and spared the audience of the detailed type items. The show stays alive because we have new ideas, they keep us interested in the show, and it gives the viewers something new to see. The only problem usually is finding the time and gathering enough money to make them happen.
Merry Christmas Train Sign - One last future goal is to build a Merry Christmas sign to replace the roof train. This will be a big project when we start on it, metal frame fabrication, attaching the lights to the frame, and soldering extensions between the different frame sections. Here is a couple sign examples of what I am thinking of doing... Example 1 - Example 2
LED C7 Roof Peaks - Maybe a future goal is those "straight as an arrow" roof peaks that so many other decorators use, so this is one item I would like to do too.
Fireworks! - Someday we would also like to add fireworks to the show. Using the vertical trim elements of our house as the launching trail and having the bloom burst above the roof.
Red, Green, White Mini Trees - A future goal is to convert the mini trees to three color. Heavy duty easels will need to be built for the extra weight though so this will be a bigger project than the first ones built.
LEDs - Someday when we do decide to go with LED lights we are leaning towards the Creative Displays strings. From what we are hearing in the forums they are reliable, bright, and more color neutral (instead of being on the blue side). They don't have the rusting issue that so many other strings have. And they come in 100 lamp counts instead of the 60 lamp count which we like for easy spreadsheet tracking. Also the Walmart brand LED strings are tempting me with the bridge rectifier idea too that Folsom Lights is using, but the one downside for us is the Walmart lights are only available in 60 lamp stings.
Extension Cord Simplification - A future goal is to update the extension cords into three color bundles. The hard part is that the way we bundle our cords by location is, it locks us into a design and is not as flexible when change happens such as moving to a new home. Moving to a new home does not happen often but we want more flexibility when we would like to change the elements in the show.
2018 - Updates
Upgraded Extention Cords - To bring some order to the installation of the show we spent several days reworking the extention cords to align them with the new house. Now we can just roll them up at the end of the year and roll them down each fall when we setup the show. Should shave several days off the install in the coming years.
Lots of Replaced Bulbs - Our light strings are showing their age. Some strings have been around long before the beginning of our antimated show. We tested and replaced bulbs but they seem to be going out faster than we can replace them. So it looks like we will have to start recycling older strings with newer ones in future years.
2017 - Updates
We're Back, New location! - This year we moved into a new home! We did not have much time to do any new elements in the show but at least we are up and running! The extention cords where not setup for the new house so we had to wing it. Our strings of lights are still glowing strong.
2016 - Updates
A Year Without the Christmas Show - This year there will not be a Christmas lights show.
2015 - Updates
A Year Without the Christmas Show - This year there will not be a Christmas lights show.
2014 - Updates
A Year Without the Christmas Show - This year there will not be a Christmas lights show.
2013 - Mega Tree Update
We've moved! - Last year our family was in the process of moving so we were not able to setup our Christmas lights. But this year the show is back in a big way!
Mega Tree Stand Project - Since we did not have a large front yard tree to hang the mega-tree from this year, we had to build a mega-tree stand. Here is a list of the parts used to build a mega-tree stand:
- 10' x 1 1/4" Black Pipe - main tree support
- 2' x 1/2" Black Pipe - for mounting the star on top
- Standard Hook Head - for hanging the lights at the top of the tree
- Guy Wire Collar - for holding up the main tree support
- Swivel Pole Base - main base to support the mega-tree (home made)
- 3/16" Guy Wires - four main support anchor cables (home made)
- 2' x 3/4" Angle Iron - four anchors to secure the guy wires
2013 - Voice Overs Update
Announcements Voice Overs Project - Since our first year of the show we have wanted to share over the air some details about the show. We finally got the this item done. We setup a impromptu padded recording booth and individually recorded each of us. Then we put it all together in the audio editing software. The experience was great for the kids to see a small recording studio project.
Restructured Show to New House - Since we moved we had to rework the song files, song channel image, extension cords, and controller channel mappings. It was extensive work to change this show to the new house indeed, glad it's done.
2013 - Power Distribution Update
Power Distribution Project - At our old house we had enough room in the main load center to add all my show breakers, but on the new house I do not have the same luxury. So I built my own distribution center to handle the shows power requirements. It's a 100 amp sub-panel with eight 20 amp breakers which are broken out to separate outlets. I wanted a clean way to connect it to the house so there is a 50 amp double poll RV outlet that the distribution center connects to via a 50 amp double poll plug. Basically, 100 amps for the show.
2012 - Updates
A Year Without the Christmas Show - This year there will not be a Christmas lights show. We are in the process of unpacking after moving into a new house, and really don't need to tackle a big project like the show for now. The family is sad that we are not "On the Air" this year, but hopefully next year everything will be back to normal.
2011 - Updates
C9 Curtain Strobes Project - We added Christmas Light Show's C9 Curtain Strobes (3 to 4 flashes per second) to this years show. They are so cool and add sparkle to the show that you can't get from just blinking the lights.
More Red, Green, White - Another 2011 achievement is we finished off making the show three colors. The only thing that did not get converted this year is the mini trees mainly because the floral easels are not strong enough to support the weight of nine strings of lights.
2010 - Updates
Red, Green, White - This is the year we are getting closer to the three color (red, green, white) idea. I have been wanting to do it past years but this hobby has been a work in progress as we can afford things. I now have enough of the red and green to make it possible.
Sixteen White Mini Trees Project - We are adding 16 white mini trees to the mix this year. The project of adding the lights to the wire craft easels with zip ties was a lengthy task. About an hour for each tree spaced over two weekends. My mom worked on doing the bottom parts and I did the top parts of the tree.
Extension Cords Project - As with every year I had to add to the power snakes. It seems that the biggest part of a Christmas show really is not the lights but rather all the work on the wiring. I got a new 1000 foot roll of zip wire which went rather quickly. I will still have to use some cords from my neighbors for the new mini trees but hopefully next year I will finally be caught up on my power distribution.
Weather Observations - Also another different thing about this year is we are in the middle of November and I don't recall past years putting up Christmas lights in a short sleeve shirt smacking mosquitoes along the way.
2009 - Updates
The Santa Clause Train is Back! - By popular demand the Santa Clause Train is back! We did the frame repairs and replaced all the broken lamps to get the little train lit up again.
The Mega Tree Project - The year of the Mega Tree. We (I am) are attempting to put up a 12 foot Mega Tree this year, it's lots of lights that can be animated. Also, the star on top is a 2 foot, 700 light, retina burner. It really is quite bright.
Banished GFIs - This year we had lots of trouble with the GFIs so they where temporarily removed from the show for this year. We will try again next year to get the GFIs working correctly.
2008 - Updates
The Year Without the Santa Clause Train - After last year's nasty weather (I really did not tie down the train well enough) it got damaged pretty bad, so it will not be used during the 2008 show. This is not a favorable solution with the family because the train was a favorite item with them. I will have to get it repaired for next year.
2007 - Updates
First Year as an Animated Show - So I must have been crazy this year to think that it would be a good idea to add a few more lights to my Christmas display, but I think I went a little over board (uh...no I don't). From 40 strings of lights to about 135 strings of lights (totals 13,250 mini bulbs requiring two full 20 amp circuits), and it is fully animated to music too. My kids love it, my wife enjoys it. Friends, family, and neighbors are taken away by it when they see it for the first time.