Help me put lights on my house! - DPChallenge Forums

Olympus 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Zuiko Digital Zoom

11/20/2007 08:59:55 PM · #1

OK, this year we're having the family over and Jenn wants lights on the house. I'm trying to figure out how in the world to do it. I bought some lights, but it appears you can only have two strings end to end (50 feet total). I have an external plug under the upper eave between the two windows over the garage. There is another external plug by the front door but you'd have to use extension cords to get that anywhere close to the house.

Using photoshop, take this picture and come up with your best plan of attack. :) The long level portions over the garage, for scale, are 22 feet long.

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MQuinn

Olympus OM-D E-M1

11/20/2007 09:06:55 PM · #2

You selling the house Doc? Saw it looked like a for sale sign up front there.

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/20/2007 09:15:40 PM · #3

Originally posted by MQuinn:

You selling the house Doc? Saw it looked like a for sale sign up front there.

Haha, no the picture is from when we bought it. And, no, that's not me. It's a random utility guy.

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

11/20/2007 09:23:38 PM · #4

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I think you should do it up right! Here's some examples for you!

rex

Canon PowerShot SD780

11/20/2007 09:38:16 PM · #5

Just to make it easy for you I would suggest doing this. Make sure you don't have to go around and plug in four or five cords. I would strategically place outside surge protectors.

I have done a quickie, Each color representing a different light string. The light blue would be your outdoor surge protectors , and the black would be your extension cords.

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You can add some to the windows and door but these are the main light strings. It is much easier to just click on two or three surge protectors then it is to plug up 20 light strings.

So each color on this would be two strings plugged together.

Also take note that when done with shingle clips all you have to do to remove these lights at the end of the season is to yank the shit out of each extension cord from the ground and the lights will come down in one quick pull. I know becasue I have done it.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

11/20/2007 09:44:24 PM · #6

Why should I help a *photographer* light his house when he (for shame!) can't be bothered to show me a photo with the frickin' garage door shut?

jejejeâ�¢

R.

11/20/2007 09:59:18 PM · #7

I like your thinking rex, I'm going to give it some thought. The surge protectors are sorta randomly placed because they aren't close to where I have outlets.

rex

Canon PowerShot SD780

11/20/2007 10:15:58 PM · #8

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

I like your thinking rex, I'm going to give it some thought. The surge protectors are sorta randomly placed because they aren't close to where I have outlets.

Yeah they are randomly placed. You can always put extension cords on those and run them wherever. The main thing is you will tire quickly if you have to go around every night and plug in 6 or 7 cords.

SDW

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

11/20/2007 11:12:24 PM · #9

Message edited by author 2007-11-20 23:18:11.

Creature

Nikon D70s

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

11/21/2007 12:11:18 PM · #10

DO THIS! Your house would be perfect for it, and you'd be the hit of the neighborhood. :-)

Bugzeye

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

11/21/2007 12:53:16 PM · #11

Our neighborhood has been at War for years. We normally hang about 8000 lights however this year we have a new deck that I want to trick out. So I have been shopping for lights and ideas. Normally we outline the entire house Roof Windows doors etc, as well as all the bushes in our front yard. I heard one of my neighbors will be using nearly 20,000 lights this year, So I want to do something new. We also have a new neighbor who seems to me like he will dive into this war headfirst so the ante might be upped this year.

dassilem

Nikon D90

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

11/21/2007 01:14:17 PM · #12

Just don't over do it like this]

alanfreed's pic....

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

11/21/2007 01:28:12 PM · #13

Hire a professional.

Ozzie

Nikon D90

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR

11/21/2007 01:37:04 PM · #14

I have the best solution to all this. Just go away for Xmas and come back in the New Year, we did this by going to Australia one year, and that was when we were hit with the worst ice storm here in Seattle.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

11/21/2007 01:54:03 PM · #15

Originally posted by Bugzeye:

Maybe your expertise can help. With 8000 lights, how do you string them? In parallel or in series? The package says you can do 60 lights in a row (which would be two strings), but maybe you can really do more. What's the risk?

rex

Canon PowerShot SD780

11/21/2007 03:17:07 PM · #16

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

What's the risk?

Low voltage lighting.......the risk is blowing the fuse in the light string.

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

11/21/2007 04:39:49 PM · #17

I am both lazy, and afraid of hights, so this is what I'd do:

Judi

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

11/21/2007 05:57:39 PM · #18

Xmas Lights.

ClubJuggle

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/21/2007 07:39:11 PM · #19

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

I am both lazy, and afraid of hights, so this is what I'd do:

Looks kind of grungy, don't you think? Do

DrAchoo and

Joey Lawrence live on the same street or something?

~Terry

Stiger

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

11/21/2007 09:11:04 PM · #20

Now that I'm home from work, I can finally share my idea for your Christmas decorations. It's sure to make you the most popular family in the neighborhood.

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Genius, isn't it? Your neighbors will stand in awe of your creativity. And I hear that the Steelers are a very popular team in Washington state. :)

Message edited by author 2007-11-22 00:36:01.

SDW

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

11/21/2007 09:36:15 PM · #21

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Beetle

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

11/21/2007 09:52:39 PM · #22

To get one of those crazy light shows, you don't even have to be creative anymore...... just buy one ready-made

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

11/30/2007 09:16:15 PM · #23

Thanks for the help guys! This is what we came up with. Went up fairly easy although being up on the roof during a windy day will certainly put the Fear of God in you. :)

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alanfreed

Nikon Z9

11/30/2007 09:54:15 PM · #24

Now we're talkin'!

Originally posted by Stiger:

Now that I'm home from work, I can finally share my idea for your Christmas decorations. It's sure to make you the most popular family in the neighborhood.

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idnic