Xmas Light Projects - 1,794 bulbs, 700 watts

RalphRussell · #1 09-24-2005, 08:23 PM

I have always liked putting up Christmas lights. I have decided to share an obsession I once had even though it will prove to everyone that I really am crazy. During the weeks following Sept. 11, 2001 something got into me and made me create this. After I finished it, I hung it on the side of my house during December that year for all to see.

It has 1,794 of those small Christmas light bulbs colored red, white and blue. I calculated that it uses almost 700 watts. It gives off a tremendous amount of heat. It doesn't actually look very good because the colors bleed into each other. If I ever get motivated to work on this again, I'll put baffles between the different colored lights.

This truly was an obsession. I injured my hand removing and inserting the little bulbs. It took six months to heal.

Has anyone else ever done anything like this? I mean make something with Christmas lights not necessarily an obsession.

PhotonWrangler · #2 09-24-2005, 08:34 PM

Wow, very nice! I've always wanted to do something like that.

If the lamps are removable, you might be able to increase the contrast between the colors by painting the mounting board black.

RalphRussell · #3 09-24-2005, 09:16 PM

It is black. The picture just doesn't show it.

Lunal_Tic · #4 09-24-2005, 09:26 PM

That is very cool. You must have incredible patience. The baffles will probably work well. Just a barrier plate between as you said. Maybe little pipe pieces around the white "star" would work for them.

I wonder if it would bleed with LEDs instead of incans since their light is projected forward.

-LT

yuandrew · #5 09-26-2005, 02:21 PM

My neighbor also made a lighted flag; I wonder if it is still up. He didn't mount it on a board like that though, he streatched the light cords all over a frame in a criss cross pattern and put colored bulbs in the right sockets. I don't think it is as big as yours though.

If you can find yourself a lot of 5mm LEDS, you can just remove the incandescent bulbs from their holders and replace them with LEDS. You may also have to rewire the sockets to regulate the power to them as well.