Maybe you've seen videos that show Christmas lights flashing to the beat of the music. Even PSY's song “Gangnam Style” which is the most watched video on YouTube can be used to liven up your Christmas lights. If you want to make your Christmas lights flash to the tune of your favorite song, have a plan and the tools you'll need to make this stunning look. You'll need a lot of time, lights, and equipment, but the end result will be pretty awesome.
Step
Step 1. Determine how big your light show is
You can spread the lights throughout the house, both inside and outside, or choose a special location in the yard and garden. Keep the following in mind if you want to create a light show:
- Channels are lamp units that can be individually controlled. For example, a bush in your garden can become a channel if it is decorated with a set of lights.
- All the lights on the channel work as one unit. Unfortunately, you can't turn on each light individually.
- 32 to 64 channels is enough to get started if you've never adjusted lights to music before. If it's bigger than this, chances are you'll be overwhelmed (and maybe the project will never be completed).
Step 2. Prepare the equipment
The best time to buy a lamp is a day after Christmas. Often times, you can find lamps that cost more than half of them. Try checking hardware stores like ACE Hardware. You can also check prices in advance via the internet.
Step 3. Obtain the control system
You will need hardware connected to your computer, you can buy a ready-made system, or build your own.
- The fully assembled system can be used immediately. The price ranges from IDR 260,000 to IDR 325,000 per channel. You can buy them from suppliers on the internet. Choose this option if you don't want to be involved in any electrical work (such as soldering), or really don't know where to start.
- The system device that must be assembled first. The price is around Rp. 195,000 per channel, but is more or less the same as a ready-to-use system, minus the cover case. Since the electronics board is easy to fit in the enclosure, this is an excellent option if you want to save money. Some suppliers sell everything needed to build a control system, including blank circuit boards and components. If you want a little bit of soldering, try this option.
- Homemade systems cost around IDR 75,000 per channel. The price depends on how far the system wants to be assembled. The system consists of a controller, which is connected to a computer, and a solid state relay (SSR), whose function is to turn on the lights. SSRs can be purchased and made yourself. With the build your own option, you can spend a lot of time building hardware, but it's worth the money saved. You will also be able to modify your hardware at will, and fix problems easily.
Step 4. Ask for help
These projects are quite large and complex, and can often overwhelm beginners. Ask for help from interested family or friends, or submit a request for help in some of the forums listed below.
Depending on the difficulty level, allow 2-6 months of preparation before your light show is fully operational. It may seem long enough, but you need it
Step 5. Get the software
For the layman, please purchase software to help program your lights. There is also free software for custom systems (see links section). If you're ambitious and tech-savvy, we recommend coding in almost any major programming language yourself. However, it should be noted that you cannot use this option for semi-finished products, as most of the protocols are closed-source.
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The chosen software basically breaks the song synced to the lights into short segments (0.1 seconds) so you can program each light channel to turn on, off, dim, flash or sparkle. There are three commercial software options to choose from.
- Light-O-Rama is the supplier for most home decor lights. However, the software is quite complex, and can take up to four hours per minute of song to program 32-48 channels.
- Animated Lighting is the most expensive option but easier to program. Most home decor lights and most of the most commercial choose Animated Lighting.
- D-Lights are the second cheapest of all options, but you should already have experience and knowledge of control systems and electrical engineering.
- Hinkle's Lighting Sequencer is a simple but powerful free software on light bulbs, LEDs, and RGB LEDs.
Step 6. Design your lamp display
Create an original exterior design of your light show. Typically, a design consists of the following elements:
- Mini lights or netting lights to decorate the landscape.
- Icicle or c-series lights are usually installed on the roof.
- Mini Trees are 5-7.5 cm tall trees often made from tomato baskets wrapped around lights in one or a variety of colors. Arrange them in a line or triangular shape, as they are very useful for moving decorations.
- Mega Trees usually consist of a large pole with lights extending from the top to a wide ring around the base of the pole. This decoration is also very useful as an animation.
- A wireframe is a metal frame to which lights are attached.
- Blow Mold is a glowing plastic figurine that usually takes the form of a reindeer, Santa, etc. These statues are placed in the garden.
- The C9 Light is a colorful round light that usually surrounds the garden.
Step 7. Program your show
This is the time consuming part! Decide on the music you want to sync, then start programming your timing grid. Don't do it all at once. This process may take several months, depending on the length of the show and the number of channels you have. How to program your show varies, depending on the software selected.
Step 8. Let the neighbors hear you
Do it in such a way that the music sounds great but doesn't annoy people. Neighbors will get annoyed if they hear the same music over and over again. Therefore, in most cases you will need to broadcast over the FM frequency. See the Warning section at the bottom of this page.
- Politely inform neighbors of your plans to have a light show with music. This is important if you want the show to last long enough for a large number of people to see.
- Try to hold the show only at strategic times, once or twice a night. If the neighbors knew the show only lasted three minutes, and would be playing every 8 and 9 p.m., they would certainly be more aware than the show going on non-stop from 6-9 p.m.
Step 9. Provide power
Make sure the house has enough power to turn on all your lights. One thread of a mini light circuit, for example, requires 1/3 amp of power. You need to know, computerizing the appearance of your lights will save on electricity bills compared to turning on all the lights at once. See the Warnings section below.
Step 10. Spread your show
Post announcements on your page. Create a website. Share on forums. Tell your friends. All this hard work won't be worth it if no one is watching it. Don't go too extreme either, but make sure people know your show.
Again, let the neighbors know that you are publishing your show. They will be better informed if they know of a plan to attract attention around your home
Step 11. Take care of your light show
Go into your garden every morning and check your light circuit. Repair or replace a faulty lamp. Make sure everything can light up at night.
Step 12. Done
Tips
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Use your time wisely.
This is a big project so you shouldn't be afraid to ask for help or try to work more efficiently. Take the time to check the lights and make sure they are not starting a fire.
- Ask someone who understands electronics for help, maybe someone in your family, friends or neighbors is already an expert in this field? Try asking
- Sign up for the forum a light show location might be a good idea. You can receive and give help from and to other people.
- Talk to neighbors, police and RT members related to the risk of traffic jams, commotion, etc. It is easier to prevent problems than to fix them. However, make sure they know that possible there will be problems, and not really will There is a problem. People should know what they're getting into, but don't panic and ask you to stop before you even start!
- FPGA make custom control device, which can be connected between the connection R5232 on the PC and the relay board for the lights. The price of Xilinx's Spartan 3e demo board is around IDR 1,950,000
- If your neighbors have lots of pets and children, make sure your set is safe from pets and children to prevent injury.
Warning
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Tolerant of neighbors.
Neighbors may not like flashing lights or loud music at night so you may have to turn them off at some point. Some areas have regulations regarding lights and sounds at certain times. Some people will suggest that you start and stop at the same time every night. For example, Monday to Thursday, 7pm to 9pm, and Friday and Saturday 7pm to 10pm. Ask neighbors if the time is right for them.
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Use the appropriate control system for your environment.
Many countries use higher voltages than the US, sometimes with different mains frequencies, some places even require lamps with a step-down transformer. Check with the manufacturer of your product, or the one followed, to see if the control system works in your area.
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This project takes a long time.
Start six months in advance (more if using a homemade system).
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The FM transmitter may not comply with PLN regulations.
The transmitter will operate at a very low power so it shouldn't cause any interference. There is a limit of transmitters that can be used without PLN's permission.
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When you're dealing with lights, you're also dealing with high voltages.
The very high voltage can kill you. always use GFCI for all circuits outside the home, including your lights for the safety of you and everyone else.
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Do nothing to the Belkin other than lengthen the antenna.
Assembling an amplifier is not recommended. If the transmitter is causing interference to everyone, your only option is to turn everything off.
