Mega Tree Behind The Scenes 2019
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2020
- A detailed look at the design and construction of my 48 string mega tree as well as how to model the tree with the bottom skirt in xLights.
See more design ideas, mounting clips, prop mounts and sequences on our website.
inspirelightshows.com/
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Thank you. Awesome overview of the Megatree construction and great Xlights tutorial!
Doug I said this before...this is the best Mage tree so far! Great work 👍. I like how you pay attitude to detail. Your display is very clean looking. I’m the same way so I can relate lol.
Awesome walkthrough! Well done.
Best Mega Tree that I've seen.
This is amazing, I love the detailed walk through. I’ve been researching pixel lighting for a few months now hoping to setup a display next Christmas 2021. This overview has really helped connect many of the dots for me thanks! Especially appreciate the controller box overview at 5:10.
So did u build ur box or is there a place you can buy everything all together
man that’s just nuts!
Brain is smoking but seems easy enough. Thanks bud. Your channel is definitely under rated. I’ll be sure to share
Great design, I am new to this hobby. I was wondering what is the size of
base ring for your tree
Thanks for putting this video together! I have been planning a mega tree for the last 3 years and will start my build this spring. Can you tell me what the circumference of the bottom ring is? Thanks in advanced.
Great setup. How do you have the dual power to each Falcon board connected? Each power supply does one board or do you split it up?
Hi Doug - I love your tree and I am inspired to build nearly the same thing. I am new to this world but I am doing a lot of research to be ready next summer. I will be buying an F48 with 12 differential receivers and I'll be building a variety of 1, 6, 10 and possibly 48 port power outputs for power injection - all 5V pixels by the way). I understand that you are using 2 additional F16 expansion boards with a total of 3 power supplies for your tree. I was considering building a 48 port power supply using 2 1000 watt Mean Well's and using 4 differential outputs from the F48 giving me 16 ports for data for the 48 strings... Seems like a lot of blah blah to get to my question. I can build the same controller setup that you have, and daisy chain the F16 off of the F48 giving me the full 48 ports for the tree, or I can stay with my design. I would like to know what the advantages are of running 48 ports for the data (1 string per port) vs running 16 ports (3 strings per port) or even 1 port for the whole tree. What does more ports give me as far as flexibility and control?
Doug, Incredible design and more importantly your sequences are awesome! How much difference did it make to change from 53 pixels with 3 inch spacing to 80 pixels with 2 inch spacing. Also the extra 16 or so strings? Hope to hear your thoughts!
David McKee there's a huge difference in detail that is gained by going to more strings and tighter spacing. Many people even go with 64 strings and 1" spacing, but I wanted to still be able to see into my tree for that 3D look and going with even more strings would have hindered that. The added detail is most noticable when displaying pictures or videos on the tree, however all effects benefit from the added density.
Doug - great video and detail. Where did you purchase your large perimeter ring at the base of the tree?
Hey Brain, I’m building my first mega tree and hoping you can guid me since I’m new to Xlights.
This is an excellent display, I really liked the details you provided. I'm looking at setting up this display in 2021. What is the diameter of the Base ring?
It's about 128" in diameter.
great video. You are very detailed. BTW for the controller do you always have to have the ethernet cable mounted throughout the show or is it just for the initial setup
Doug. You are a very talented and creative soul and I appreciate your hard and detailed efforts. On your tree are your pixels turned inward on the back half of your strips or are all pixels facing outward around the entire circumference? If they are not oriented that way is there a reason to have them turned inward. Would it create/limit visual interference? Thanks in advance for the reply
All the strips are facing outward. If there were a mix of inward and outward the result would look pretty bad IMO.
I’m very new to the pixel game. I’m running a basic Light-O-Rama 48 channel setup with standard lights. Do you have a video about the pixels you use or a little more information about the electronics setup that you use? Thank you so much for this video. I’m ordering stuff to build my own this next year!
I'll try and add more videos this year.
Doug, what do you use as your base for your ASAP pole? Is it something you have buried into the ground or is it a portable hole? I couldn't make out what you were using in the video. This is an amazing tree by the way!
It's 3' of pipe buried in concrete below ground with a threaded coupler to join the sections.
Appreciate the insight in your mega tree build!
I'm working on building my first mega tree this year. I'm worried my J hooks will rip my boscoyo strips. I see you used metal grommets on your strips.
Where did you get those? Is it something you pick up at a Home Depot/Lowes, or are they special order for the strips?
Thanks!
I didn't even know how they are called, now thanks to you I know they are called "metal grommets". I will go now and try to find them on amazon. Regards.
I used 1/2 grommets from Harbor Freight and had to drill out the holes in the strips ever so slightly for them to fit. They really work great.
Doug - I profusely THANK you for this posting = I have watched it over and over, and over and over more! My first venture into xLights was following your lead provided here. Amazing! I have studied your tree more than A LOT! As a newbie, I'm building qty. 2 MegaTrees this year - I like your design so much, essentially both trees are modelled after your tree shown here. One area of your tree I have not figured out = your star. If I understand correctly, you're running 12V strings, and your port 48 has 1110 channels (370 pixels) on it (100-node string + 270 pixels on the star) - and without power-injection you are powering 235 pixels on port 47 (100 + 135), and powering 235 pixels on port 48 (100 + 135)? Is this correct? Does running "at 20% brightness" allow you to pull this off without power problems? Thank you in advance for your help, and THANK YOU again for your video here = I say I have benefitted from it more than all others combined!
You are essentially correct. The tree is actually 107 per string, 80 for the tree and 27 on the skirt. As far as pixel data goes the star is chained to follow the tree in xLights, so all the data comes from port 48. If I did nothing then that would mean 377 pixels off one port. So I essentially used port 47 as power injection. I had to actually go look at the prop to see exactly how I did it since I couldn't recall exactly. Now I will say this is slightly overkill, but does help to evenly distribute the power. I basically divided the power injection every 90 pixels. Port 48 comes in goes to the first pixel. Right before the first pixel I spliced in a wire that carries v+ and v- to pixel 90 to add a direct stream of power there. Then on the port 47 side the power from that is split so that one branch goes to pixel 270 and the other to pixel 180. Since port 47 and 48 originate from the same power supply I don't have to worry about separating the v+ wire.
@@reelpilot The fog is starting to lift! THANK YOU! I believe I even understand about not "separating the v+ wire". Did you do actual soldering type splices, or did you by chance use Ray Wu T's with pin removal(s)?
@@cheesemonkeyboy1 I solder everything myself. Depending on the prop I sometimes take the incoming power wire and have 2-3 outgoing ones to branch power down the line for balancing. You can run a lot of pixels that way off one input and have zero fading or pink when on full white.
Did you ever have a chance to make an updated video for the snowflake tower?
I did but it's not uploaded yet. I rushed it since the week I was planning on making it we had crazy winds the entire time. By the time the winds finally calmed down it was past the time to take down the display, so I didn't do as much as I wanted. I may make a new one next year with time lapse of the setup.
Any suggestions on an ASAP assembly for a 25' tree?
I don't know if I would trust an ASAP pole at 25'. There are those that do it, but I also endless failures of mega trees each year because of wind. I would be looking at much stronger metal tubing if I were building something that tall. There was an xessentials video a few years back called why mega trees fail. I'd take a look at that and also look at what others are doing in some of the FB groups.
What are those metal rings called that you have in your strips?
How many nodes per string? Whats your spacing? Looks great!
2" spacing with 80 pixels on the upper section and 27 for the skirt.
Is there a way to to connect the tree wirelessly rather than using an Ethernet cable
Where can you get stainless steel j-bolts? I can only find them in zinc.
Wow just simply amazing! I love your box where can I get all the components to build a box just like that my mega tree this year will be 5040 pixel 24 strings of 210 pixel 180°and I’m currently building a box for it. I had calculated I needed six Meanwell 350 to drive my 5000 pixel but on your video you’re using three and saying there and off what percentage are you running your pixel at?
The box is a Bud Industries box. The mega tree box is a NBF-32328. The vents for the boxes are also sold by them and available on Amazon as well as PWM fans that work with the F16v3. I run the tree at 20% brightness, but the only way to really know how many pixels can be run from a power supply is to test the load with a multimeter to get the actual current draw per string at white and do the math to make sure you have at least 20% margin to max load.
www.budind.com/view/NEMA+Boxes/UL_NEMA_IEC+NBF+Series
@@reelpilot any chance you can confirm the rough dimensions of your BUD box? The model you list, NBF-32326, according to their website is 15.75”x11.81”x6.30”. But at least in the video yours looks a bit bigger but it’s hard to tell. Thanks again! Subscribed and liked!
@@alex-j-cole I had to do some digging and found that the mega tree box is a NBF-32328, so that is bigger.
@@reelpilot thanks!
Hi Doug, Did you build your controller for the mega tree? If so can you give a parts list and where you go the parts or where to buy the complete controller if possible. Thanks,
Yes it's something I built, but I don't have a parts list. As far as I know there are two places that will do similar builds, CCL Controllers and Jdeation.
Love your setup. What pixels are you using?
12v, mostly bullets, but some squares when appropriate.
WS2811 chips?
Yes
I am thinking about building something similar, but I need your expertise, can you see from the front the LEDs from the back? I mean a 360 degrees tree vs 180 degrees will look the same seeing it from the front?
It depends on your viewing angle. My tree is clearly visible over 270 degrees since I'm on a corner lot. I wouldn't say the pixels at the back are visible from the front. At best it's a subtle glow. What is completely visible is the bottom skirt all the way around. That really adds the visual impact of a 360 tree.
@@reelpilot You have no idea how much I loved the bottom with these lights!, I will try to create one for this Christmas!, Thanks for inspiring
Doug, Where can I find the guide wire diagram?
inspirelightshows.com/2020/10/12/asap-pole-guy-wire-installation/
Link to the grummets you used on the bottom of the strips? Thanks
They are the 1/2 grommets from Harbor Freight.
Can you tell me what diameter of the skirt ring is?
I'm working on duplicating your Mega Tree, I really like the design. I just have a few questions:
01. What length and where can I find the long pigtails for your controller box?
02. Are you using unicast or multicast to configure it in XLights?
03. Did you use universities in your layout?
04. I understand you used port 48 to add the star pixels for Data & Power and you use port 47 to inject power at the other end. Did you remove the male prong for the data on that connection or just left the wire disconnected?
** I also order your framework for your Mini Trees looking forward to being able to put them together.
Thanks for all your help!!
I use a few different lengths from about 2' to 3' depending on the exact project. I just order custom length pigtails when I order pixels. I use unicast and currently configure everything using the universe - start channel method. On the power injection for the star, I simply don't connect the data pigtail wire on the power injection lead of the star.
@@reelpilot Thank You!!
@@reelpilot What Vendor do you use for pixels? There is so much talk about who to trues and not to. Just want to hear from someone that has done this for a whil.
I have used many different ones and have never had any abnormal issues or high failure rates, but I'm leaning towards trying some of the US vendors this year.
Kinda late for this year, but thinking of making a tree for next year. If you don't mind me asking, approximately, how much did it cost to build?
A good number when starting out is $1 per pixel when estimating the total cost. While the pixels themselves can cost $0.18 - 0.30 a piece, once you factor in controllers, power supplies, enclosures, wiring, miscellaneous parts and lots of trips to Home Depot, it works out to around $1 per pixel. Also once you have the basic setup with controllers, adding on in subsequent years isn't as expensive.
@@reelpilot Thanks for the reply. I figured it wouldn't be cheap, but looks like it would be a lot of fun to build and sure looks cool.
Hi Doug, do you use 5v or 12 v pixels?
12v
What did you use to make your base hoop?
I had it custom made at a local metal shop. Many people find old trampoline frames, bend their own EMT conduit or get one from the Christmas vendors who sell them.
@@reelpilot Doug, can you share the dimensions of the fabricated steel ring base? Along with holes spacing for your 48 strands?
amazing tree...what strips did you use to hold the lights
They are from Boscoyo Studios.
Can you daisy chain Falcon controllers together or do you use a switch?
The new falcon controllers do allow daisy chaining, but it's not something I do. Using a switch is one alternative, but I pair each controller with it's own remote raspberry pi.
@@reelpilot And do you keep a controller next to all of your pros. because you don’t power inject.
In a sense. I do have the controllers spread out so they essentially handle zones, such as the roof, left side yard, center yard, right yard, mega tree and so on. Some of these zones are then further broken down into sections utilizing 4 port receivers closer to a cluster of props. Even with that there are some runs to a prop that are 20-35 feet away from the controller.
@@reelpilot Oh wow and no power injecting, very nice.
Dont mean to pry. But whats the cost of the materials?
A general rule of thumb to estimate total costs when starting out is to assume about $1 per pixel.
@@reelpilot So an arm.
Let your nerd flag fly. Well done.