1. How To Build A Christmas Mega Tree Strategies for stringing your mega tree
Tips for assigning channels Press F5 to see full screen slide show mode
By: Jeff Ostroff
LauderdaleChristmas.com
Version 1.6 January 14, 2008
This How To Guide Includes:
Strategies for stringing your mega tree
Tips for assigning channels
Tricks for getting more lights on the tree

2. 32 Channel Red/Green Mega Tree 16 red strings, 16 green strings
Requires one
16-channel controller
Requires two
16-channel controllers
16 Channel Red Mega Tree
16 strings of red
Each string 100 lights
Total # Lights: 1600
32 Channel Red/Green Mega Tree
16 red strings, 16 green strings
Each string 100 lights
Total # Lights: 3200

3. 48 Channel Red/Green/Blue/White Mega Tree
Each color has 12 strings
1200 Red
1200 Green
1200 Blue
1200 White
Total Lights: 4800
Requires three
16-channel controllers
PROBLEM: 12 strings for one color can look sparse

4. PROBLEM: 12 strings for one color can look sparse
Solution: Fold each string in half as optical illusion to double up the number of viewed segments, or just double the # of strings
Fold the string in half and route from bottom to top, back down as another segment. This will effectively double the apparent number of strings with the same number of lights.
-Trees taller than 12 feet, you may need to actually double the number of light strings lights to go up to the top, 100 lights to come back down the next segment.
Instead of routing each string from the bottom of the tree to the top of the tree…

5. Connecting your improved and “folded in half string” solution to the controller
Example: Red Strings
CH1 50 50
CH2
CH3
Remember:
3 Controllers
16 channels each
48 Channels total
We have 4 colors so we need 48/4 = 12 channels per color.
CH4
Doubling your number of strings to get more viewing density presents another issue. To keep # of channels and controllers from growing, you must group your lights for each color. Above example shows 24 strings of lights, but we don’t want to exceed 12 channels per color, so pair up strings to the controller channels as shown.

6. How should I string my mega tree
How should I string my mega tree? Outline Mode or Radar Sweep/Searchlight mode?
Outline Mode:
String goes up over the top of the tree, and down the opposite side
Radar Sweep Mode: String goes up to top of the tree, back down same side
Pros
More versatility
Can also do outline mode by turning on opposite channel too
Lights can appear more dense
Radar Sweep/Searchlight effect looks cool
Cons:
Requires more channel assignments
Can require a bit more programming time
Pros
Uses fewer channels
Uses Potentially fewer strings
Less programming time for lights
Spinning outline effect looks cool
Cons:
You are stuck with the opposite channel always on
Can look less dense than searchlight method, which must use more lights
Top View
Top View
Profile View
Profile View
It boils down to preference. I prefer Radar Sweep mode, with the most versatility. It allows me to do a thin searchlight sweep around the tree. I can also create an outline by simply turning on a channel opposite on the other side of the tree. So I can create the outline by turning on channels 9 and 3 for example, if you use 12 channels for each color.
If you use the outline method, you are stuck that way forever. You’ll have to change all your synchronization files later if you decide you don’t like having opposite channels on all the time.

7. LauderdaleChristmas.com Mega Tree with 4800 LED lights that we used back in 2006:

8. LauderdaleChristmas.com 2006 Layout with 4800 lights:
Remember:
3 Controllers
16 channels each
48 Channels total
We have 4 colors so we need 48/4 = 12 channels per color.
50 Lights stretch up to the top of the tree and 50 lights stretch back down the tree on the same side a few inches over. Forms a 2-segment slice for that color on 1 channel.
48 Strings of 100 lights, folded in half to form 96 viewable segments
Each color has 24 viewable segments
1200 Red Lights
1200 Green Lights
1200 Blue Lights
1200 White lights

9. 4 Colors of lights spanned across 48 Channels on 3 controllers
LauderdaleChristmas.com
2006 Layout with 4800 lights:
1200 Red Lights
1200 Green Lights
1200 Blue Lights
1200 White lights
48 Channels Total
12 White Channels
12 Red Channels
12 Green Channels
12 Blue Channels
4 Colors of lights spanned across 48 Channels on 3 controllers

10. Q: How can we add even more lights to the mega tree?
Q: Can it be done without adding more controllers and more cost?

11. Photo of our super strings, Christmas, 2007.
We are already at 48 strings (96 segments) of light, for a 12 foot tree size, you can’t fit more strings.
The new strategy is to compact it all down and combine several strings into one super string.
Then This….
1600 Lights
4 Super Strings
Instead Of This….
Try This….
400 Lights
4 Strings twisted
Super String
400 Lights
4 Strings
Photo of our super strings, Christmas, 2007.
Instead of routing each color string separately, twist all 4 colors of strings into one super string to free up space around the base of the tree. The lights have been compacted to ¼ the space.
Note: You are not plugging 4 different colored strings together, just twisting them together. Each color will only be plugged into strings of the same color at the controller.
1 String = 100 Lights
1 Super String = 400 Lights
24 Super Strings = 9,600 Lights! foot tree
48 Super Strings = 19,200 Lights! – 20 foot tree

12. Making the superstrings
Making the superstrings. Our invention for a fast automated method to wrap your superstrings:
Get a 1” diameter PVC pipe about 3 feet long.
Drill a hole in the center of the pipe to run a 2” to 3” bolt through it to plug onto your drill chuck like a propeller.
Get 3 metal caster wheels. The swivel wheels will keep your strings from twisting up like a phone cord. You want to braid them, not twist them. You’ll still lose some length of string by twisting them.
Use re-usable zip ties to secure lights onto the wheels.
Secure the other end of the strings to a rock solid point like a heavy tripod, tow hitch, bracket on a wall, etc.
Use 2 people, one to spin the drill slowly at first, one to monitor the strings so they don't tangle up.
You can twist 2 or 3 colors of strings at once.
Maintain a fairly tight tension on the strings when you braid them with this setup. Don’t let the strings sag, this will make them fly like a jump rope and they will get caught on each other.
Make sure the braiding starts at the end opposite the drill at the female plugs. Work it up the string toward you at the drill.
Leave 2 feet of untwisted strings at the male plug end so you can separate plugs for their final destination in the tree.
We have a 1 minute YouTube video showing this invention in action, click the photo at left to view it, or Click This Link.

13. Each Channel has 2 super strings
Our LauderdaleChristmas.com 2007 Layout for 12’ tree with 9,600 lights:
CH12
CH2
Each Channel has 2 super strings
CH1
CH3
CH4
CH5
CH7
CH8
CH9
CH10
CH11 50
This is our tree for 2007!
Means 1 channel
Requires three
16-channel controllers
CH6
LauderdaleChristmas.com 2007 Layout with 9,600 lights:
2400 Red Lights in 24 super strings into 12 channels, 200/channel
2400 Green Lights in 24 super strings into 12 channels, 200/channel
2400 Blue Lights in 24 super strings into 12 channels, 200/channel
2400 White lights in 24 super strings into 12 channels, 200/channel
24 folded Super Strings: Each color has 50 lights on each segment stretching up, and 50 lights stretching back down the next segment.

14. LauderdaleChristmas.com 2007 Layout with 19,200 lights for 20 foot tree:
Each Channel has 4 super strings
CH1
100
100
100
CH10
100
CH2
CH9
Means 1 channel
CH3
CH8
Requires three
16-channel controllers
CH4
CH7
48 Super Strings Total
CH5
CH6
Recommended solution for a flag pole mega tree 20 feet or taller. Shorter trees will be too tight to wrap the strings.
LauderdaleChristmas.com Design for 19,200 lights:
4800 Red Lights in 48 super strings, into 12 channels, 400/channel
4800 Green Lights in 48 super strings, into 12 channels, 400/channel
4800 Blue Lights in 48 super strings, into 12 channels, 400/channel
4800 White lights in 48 super strings, into 12 channels, 400/channel