Setting Up a Holiday Light Display: Options and Operating Tips
Holiday light displays can be built with dedicated software and speakers, or you can take a simpler route by connecting strands to a Mr. Christmas Lights and Sounds of Christmas unit, powering it up, and choosing a tune. This overview covers light selection, control system types, software and audio considerations, and how to run the Mr. Christmas system within its wattage limit.
By Hayden Bailey
Instructions for Lights & Sounds of Christmas
Every year, Christmas light displays attract audiences both in person and through viral online videos. The more elaborate productions demand programming skills that most people don't have, but options like Mr. Christmas Lights and Sounds of Christmas and other control systems make the process more manageable.
Lighting and Control Equipment
A light show is built from several components: Christmas lights, a control system, software, and a sound setup. When choosing lights, LED options are worth considering over traditional string lights. LEDs suit displays well because they use less energy, which means more strands can be connected, and they generate minimal heat, reducing overheating concerns.
Control systems come in three categories, each offering different advantages: fully built systems, kits, and DIY setups. For beginners, a fully built system is the most suitable choice and involves no electrical work; the Mr. Christmas Lights and Sounds of Christmas system is one example.
Kits resemble fully built systems and usually cost less, but assembling them takes some effort, and they aren't as straightforward to operate as a pre-built unit. A DIY control system offers complete customization, though building one demands time and engineering know-how.
Software and Audio for Light Shows
Light show software is necessary to sync the display with music. People without programming backgrounds can turn to open-source programs that lower the barrier, including Vixen and xLights. Such software lets you divide a song into sections and assign light patterns to each.
For audio, several approaches exist. If you plan to use an outdoor speaker, pick a specific time window for the show and let your neighbors know. Should they object, an alternative is broadcasting on an FM frequency and posting a sign in the yard indicating which channel to tune to.
Operating Mr. Christmas Lights and Sounds of Christmas
When time is limited or do-it-yourself programming feels too complex, a fully built system can be the practical answer, and Mr. Christmas Lights and Sounds of Christmas may suit those needs. This product combines an outdoor light display with sound synchronization in a single unit, simplifying the setup. It is aimed at people who want an impressive display without the programming knowledge such displays typically require, and it can sync yard lights to 20 holiday songs.
Keep in mind that the unit supports a maximum of 420 watts. Before installation, add up the wattage of every light strand you intend to connect so the total stays within that 420-watt limit.
Operating it involves connecting each strand to the unit, then plugging the unit into a GFCI-equipped outlet. Move the switch to the "on" position. After powering on, press the button to choose a song from the book. The lights come on and stay active for the length of the song. The unit moves through 12 songs before stopping. Press the "power off" button to end playback.
