Christmas Lights

[BsFaninCGY]

I have two massive trees in my yard I would love to do up one year, but I'm wondering what the best way is. Ideally I could use LED string lights lights and change the color depending on the season. Does that exist for a not insane price?

[bigtmac19]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I don't plan on taking them down until the spring, but what's protocol for using them? I've just left the timer running, but I assume at some point I need to shut them down. Do you leave them on all winter, or end it in January?

I think there’s no protocol this year. If it makes you happy to turn them on, then do so!

[RichieRich]

besides isn't there an unofficial neighborhood "award" for house who has Christmas lights on the longest, as well as house that displays Christmas tree in window the longest?


A neighbor up the block a few years back went October through March with the Christmas tree display in their window.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I don't plan on taking them down until the spring, but what's protocol for using them? I've just left the timer running, but I assume at some point I need to shut them down. Do you leave them on all winter, or end it in January?

I have a couple of lawn decorations that I take down in January. I pull off the lights from the bushes at that time too. I keep the lights on until then, which is normally a week after new years, depending on the weather. I normally pull the lights off of my house in March or April, again, depending on the weather.

This year the house lights will probably stay on since they are red and I'll turn them on for Flames game days!

[Lubicon]

My lights usually stay up until there is a weather window and the snow is gone. I turn them off generally in early/mid January, once Ukrainian Christmas is over. I'm not Greek Orthodox but that always seemed to be a good time and growing up most houses kept theirs on until then so I kind of got used to it. This year I might run them longer and hope others do too. It's been a crap year and this helps brighten the dark nights just a little bit so seems like a good plan.

[bagofpucks]

Got our quote from Gemstone. I think I put in the request on their website on Monday and they were out on Thursday, which was a lot quicker than I would have guessed. They do a really good job with the quote and give the quote on sections of your house. I was surprised at how expensive it was. To do it all, is $8200, but to do the most visible parts would be closer to $4500. At this point, I think it’s too much dough, but we’ll discuss it a bit and then decide.

[greyshep]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I don't plan on taking them down until the spring, but what's protocol for using them? I've just left the timer running, but I assume at some point I need to shut them down. Do you leave them on all winter, or end it in January?

I am often conflicted about this too. Typically I will stop turning them on when the kids go back to school after the Christmas break. But this year with all the crap we have been enduring I have found it nice to see lights still on so I will leave my timer on for a bit longer.

[Jimmy Stang]

For the Gemstone nerds, what Flames colour scheme have you settled on? I found the presets to be a bit too white and yellow, and thus not red enough. Currently I am leaning toward a pattern of: 3 red, 2 yellow, 3 red, 1 warm white (and then repeating). Seems like a good ratio based on the home jersey colours.

I also toned down the shade of yellow a bit to R:100 G:65 B:0 W:0. It looks a bit orangey in the app, but it seems like the proper yellow on the lights.

[Madman]

Anyone heard of Mr. Bright Lights?

https://mrbrightlights.ca/

They have a 15% off promo right now and don't seem crazily priced, just not sure if they are any good.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by Madman

Anyone heard of Mr. Bright Lights?

https://mrbrightlights.ca/

They have a 15% off promo right now and don't seem crazily priced, just not sure if they are any good.

They just did a house close to me they look fine just like every other install 4” ish spacing. I haven’t seen them run much for programming so not sure on their app.

I was speaking with a company and make sure any lights you are permanently installing are Cul certified to avoid any insurance issues. There has been some fires with led lights this past year more so on the Christmas hobby side of things which are typically a different pixel but something I would double check on installs since they could be coming from the same Chinese factory.

[combustiblefuel]

####.. I thought november was early for christmas lights or even talking about Christmas lights....

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

####.. I thought november was early for christmas lights or even talking about Christmas lights....

I’m in full planning and prep mode for my display next year. It really is a year round hobby

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

I’m in full planning and prep mode for my display next year. It really is a year round hobby

[stampsx2]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

For the Gemstone nerds, what Flames colour scheme have you settled on? I found the presets to be a bit too white and yellow, and thus not red enough. Currently I am leaning toward a pattern of: 3 red, 2 yellow, 3 red, 1 warm white (and then repeating). Seems like a good ratio based on the home jersey colours.

I also toned down the shade of yellow a bit to R:100 G:65 B:0 W:0. It looks a bit orangey in the app, but it seems like the proper yellow on the lights.

I’m going to try your color scheme for flames days. Now if only i could get them all to flash when the flames score.

[jwslam]

bump for the proactive

Originally Posted by Madman

Anyone heard of Mr. Bright Lights?

https://mrbrightlights.ca/

They have a 15% off promo right now and don't seem crazily priced, just not sure if they are any good.

Saw online this guy has horrible reviews; heads up

[troutman]

I met an electrician that can do GlowStone:

https://www.glowstonelighting.com/

[Slava]

Originally Posted by troutman

I met an electrician that can do GlowStone:

https://www.glowstonelighting.com/

I think this is the year I'm doing the LEDs. I need to figure out a company and such though...and it seems like there are a lot of options on that front.

[The Fisher Account]

My neighbor used Heilight (https://heilight.ca/)

They look awesome. Nice, clean long LED strips too.

[Fuzz]

Are there DIY solutions that still use quality products? Feels like something I could do myself for a lot cheaper.

[me_dennis]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

My neighbor used Heilight (https://heilight.ca/)

They look awesome. Nice, clean long LED strips too.

My neighbour got Heilight as well too. It looked good for the first season, but the second season, the plastic casing has yellowed, and I think that it has stopped working, because I don't see the lights on very often anymore (even this past 2020 Christmas season)

Online reviews are also really bad for this company.