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HowTo: Light Control Basics
( Mike Robinson)
Step 2 : Control Methods - Standalone
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| | Currently, you can purchase a strand of lights that has a multi-function light controller attached. You can also purchase variations such as an outlet strip version. These controllers will cycle through a series of pre-programmed lighting sequences. You can use these controllers to control your lighting show for a basic display. There are some HowTos about modifying one of the light strand controllers to control more lights, but if you overload the controller, it will die. The outlet strip method is much more flexible and the one pictured above has a remote and supports up to 30 strands of 100 lights (10 amps). In this approach, you would group your lights into channels and then the controller would cycle through the sequence, switching the channels on/off. You can take this a step farther and actually build a standalone controller, program in the sequences, and then place it in your display. For something basic such as animation, this works well. However, for timed sequences synchronized to music, this can be very complicated and is best left to those with more experience.
Pros: This system is completely plug and play if you use an off the shelf controller. If you modify a strand controller, it will take minimal time and effort.
Cons: You are limited to very few channels on most of these types of controllers and unless it is programmable you cannot change the sequences or synch them to music.
Cost Breakdown: For a simple off the shelf controller you will spend anywhere from $2-$100. The above 6 channel controller with remote was $59 at Amazon.com the last time I checked.
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