Cotswoldchristmas >>> Tech Info

Tech info

Putting together a display is more than throwing up a few strings of lights. Here I will try to explain just what go's into creating my display.

		Electrical Systems:

The Heart of my display. First and foremost my display is SAFE. Most lights and decorations are 110v which is lower than our native 240v power, and therefor less likely to cause injury. However all power goes back to root and here is the system step by step:

	Connected into the Main Power of the house is this sub panel. This is NICEIC certified and houses 3 32amp 240v breakers to power the display as well as another 32amp breaker for power to workshop tools and a 6amp for lighting in the garden and shed. Each of the 32amp 240v breakers dedicated to the display is spurred off to two outlets per breaker
	All of the equipment is run from my alarmed and cctv monitored workshop shed. The only change to this setup for 2006 will be that the PC that controls X10 and the LOR functions of the display will most likely be relocated to the attic of the house as the insulation is better and I get a better wireless connection from there.

		X10:

X10 is the Computer (or RF) controlled switching gear that powers up the big transformers and for 2006 will mainly just power static portions of the display as LOR will take over the animated functions more extensively:

	X10 for my display is controlled by computer. It can be controlled by the LOR software in the USA but it has trouble locating the interface correctly in my setup. So in this case i use the homeseer software program to power up my garden lighting and security lighting. When it is time for the display to power up the system switches off the Lighting and powers up the transformers. At the end of the night the process reverses.
	X10 works by sending unique signals across the electrical wiring of your house. the interface between the computer and the wiring is shown to the left
	Of course as I said, the controlling can be done manually using a remote RF transmitter and a transceiver. I use these when testing the display during installation. this way i can just power portions at a time.
	And these are the actual switches for the X10. The flat panel is a switch for the exterior lights and the plug in modules do the transformers.

		LOR

In 2005 I had 16 Channels of Computer animation, there are plans to expand this to 104 channels for 2006. With the additions that LightORama are making to their product line, this will be an exciting time for the display. I cannot go into what makes LightORama work as I don't really fully understand the protocol or communication techniques use. However I can share with you what it looks like and what I did.

	Fuly assembled, this is what the LOR controller looks like in its waterproof housing.
	This is the LOR sequencing software. For information on the Software and hardware, you might like to visit http://www.wonderlandchristmas.com/lorfaq/lorfaq.php. This page does not belong to me but belongs to a fountain of LOR knowledge, fellow Planetchristmas moderator Don.

		110v systems.

As you may have already read, 99% of my display runs on 110v power (USA standard) and is imported from the USA. to do this I have to step down our 230v power. For this purpose I use several large heavy duty Builders transformers.

This is VERY important. If you plug 110v appliances into 230v outlets you will get fire and possibly serious injury.