Re: Automated Christmas lights

[bearsfireworks1007@xxxxxxxxx]

On Saturday, November 16, 2002 at 6:00:12 PM UTC-7, Steve W.EE wrote:
> I would like some ideas on how to make an automated
> flashing Christmas decoration.	It has 14 small
> strings of 120-volt outdoor lights which spell out
> the words "Merry Christmas".  What I want it to do
> is turn on one string of lights for each letter at
> about 1 second intervals to spell out the words then
> when all the lights are on it stays on for a couple
> seconds then they all turn off and it repeats the
> cycle.	Sort of like the old "MOTEL" signs which
> were popular in the 60's.
>
> I need to keep the cost to a minimum hopefully under
> $100 and something which can be built in about a
> week.
>
> 30 years ago when I was a kid I built something which
> had a wooden shaft, it was driven by a 4rpm motor and
> had 14 wooden cams.  There were 14 microswitches all
> bought from a Radio Shack to control the lights, on
> a 15-second cycle.  One interesting design problem was
> how to synchronize all the lights to turn off at the
> same time.  There was no way to get the timing perfect
> with cams made of plywood.  What I ended up doing was
> taking the switch for the first letter "M" and wiring
> it so that it would turn off all the lights.  I
> adjusted it so this switch would open first shutting
> off everything then during the 2 or so dark seconds
> all the other switches could turn off.
>
> I guess I could do something like this again but I
> was hoping for something a little more high-tech.
>
>
> --
> Steve W.   stevew-ee.nym@alias@net   ( interchange . and @ )

Have you all heard of the San Device controllers????
Great for Pixels.
I also use DIYC controllers called Renard Controllers
there easy to build and Great to use.
email me or text me if you need more info on either k.
bearsquires1007christmas@xxxxxxxxx