The 2006 Controller Cart Project
Revised in 2007
Constructed in 2006 and Rebuilt for 2007
Many people ask how we animate and control every aspect of our Christmas Light display. The simple answer is we use electronic controllers from a company called Light-o-Rama. Each controller is connected to our main display computer and has 16 channels or outputs that can control lights. We use specialized computer software (also from Light-o-Rama) to send commands to the controllers at just the right time when the music is playing. The software allows us to synchronize our lights to the music. Each song is custom-programmed for our display, and takes hours of time to program each of the lights and decorations and control what they do during each song or announcement. It's the perfect way to bring our Christmas display to life! We built the controller cart out of heavy plywood and 2x4's, using large lag bolts and bracing for support. It's on wheels for portability and ease of storage.
The Controller Cart is our way of organizing the various Light-o-Rama controllers and wiring to the lights, as well as managing the wiring to the outlets that the controllers get their power from. There are over a dozen 20 amp electric circuits that feed the 24 controllers, providing over 20,000 watts of lighting power for the display. We use over three miles of wire to connect to the lights, and this year we'll be controlling over 400 separate sets of light strings and decorations. Don't run those appliances, honey, the Christmas display is on!
Each Board Controls 16 Circuits