Your First Year of Animated Lighting

Before you jump into the lake wearing lead overshoes, it's a good idea to know how deep the water is, right? Every few years we conduct surveys to learn what kinds of problems hobbyists encounter and to better understand how displays are built. The following survey results provide a snapshot of the hobby at the time they were conducted (2016 and 2020) and remain useful for understanding the kinds of challenges DIY decorators commonly experience. Often, users will include additional comments after taking the poll -- you can read them all in our "Surveys and Polls" forum: https://diychristmas.org/vb1/forumdisplay.php?72-Surveys-amp-Polls

• 18 respondents said they had ZERO problems. That's roughly 1 in 6. It's not the greatest odds, but it's an encouraging figure! But a beginner should understand that "zero problems" is not the norm, even for experienced DIYers. Therefore, you should always expect that you will likely be tinkering with your display to either get it to run or keep it running. This is not a plug-n-play, set-it-and-forget-it hobby.

• The kind of lights you decide to use makes a difference as to the scope of problems you're likely to have. At the time of the survey, incandescent mini-lights were still common and generally had fewer technical issues than RGB pixel systems. Today, RGB pixels have become the dominant choice for many animated displays because of their flexibility, although they also introduce additional complexity involving networking, controllers, power supplies, and software configuration. One could say that pixels are about 350% more problematic than Incandescents, and almost twice as problematic as strings/strips of LEDs. Incandescents and LED strings are normally directly powered by 120vac (just plug them in) while quite often, LED strip lighting and pixels require the use of DC power supplies of different voltages and current capacities, adding complexity to the issue. Many experienced DIYers still encourage beginners to start with a modest display and gradually expand their knowledge and equipment each season rather than trying to build a large, complex pixel display all at once. You've been forewarned.

• Two issues that affect every user new and old are electrical power and weather, and 2016 was a tough year: more than 1/3 of respondents cited weather as an issue for them. Some struggled to keep their shows running at all because water caused GFCI breakers to trip. And while you can't prevent weather, you can prepare for it. This means doing everything in your power to keep connectors dry and elevated so they can't leak current and cause a GFCI to trip. We've included controller malfunctions here because power problems, moisture, wiring faults, and poor connections are among the most common causes of controller issues in any type of display. You may want to read the comments in the thread to find out more about any controller issues users encountered.

• Computers, sequencing software and the connectivity between the computer(s) and controllers was an issue to some degree. Nearly 1 in 6 had connectivity problems, and with the widespread use of RGB pixel controllers communicating over Ethernet or Wi-Fi, beginners should understand the importance of having decent skills in keeping things connected. Making good cables, keeping them from getting wet, good cabling organization in the yard, and using quality wire are highly encouraged. A cable tester is a valuable troubleshooting tool, especially if you build or repair Ethernet cables. Many hobbyists now purchase pre-made cables, but understanding basic cable testing remains a useful skill. to fix cables that get stepped on or stretched too much, and certainly, you'll need to know your way around your computer and the sequencing software you use, too!

• Outside influences such as vandalism and traffic were not significant issues -- and that's encouraging! That said, understand that it CAN happen to you. As a deterrent, some DIYers employ the use of one or more video surveillance cameras and post signage in their yards to that effect. Traffic problems are unpredictable but remember that the more promotion you do of your show, the more potential issues you'll encounter with it. There were few problems with neighbors, which is not always an universal situation. Being mindful of potential noise and neighborhood disruption caused by your display is a good thing to do. Keeping your neighbors informed and sometimes even involved in the overall display is a pretty good idea. Consider hosting a summer barbecue and show them what you're working on and what your plans are. Developing allies is always better than creating enemies!

• In early 2020, we asked users about setting up their shows. While equipment and technology continue to evolve, these results still provide useful insight into the amount of time, effort, and preparation typically involved in building a DIY animated display. -- and this info may be very helpful to new enthusiasts, too!