FAQ
I love the music you used? Who is the Artist?
Amazing Grace - Yule (Download for 99cents from Amazon.com)
Music Box Dancer - DJ Schwede (You can buy it from iTunes)
Overture (Miracle on 34th Street) - Bruce Broughton
Carol of the Bells - Monique Danielle (buy the song for 99cents here)
Winter Wonderland - Alexia Phillips
Jingle Bells - Master Tone (out of print but you can buy it used at amazon.com)
We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Highland Pipers
Silent Night - Sinead O'Connor
Angels We Have Heard On High - Brian Setzer Orchestra
Overture (Miracle on 34th Street) - Bruce Broughton
Why was the display moved for 2008?
I live in a Gated Community of about 33 houses. Traffic picked up for 2007 which caused some traffic problems. A few weeks into December we started to have a team of 3-4 people managing traffic which worked out nicely. We were able to have cars wait at the Gate and allow only so many cars in so it did not block the street. Neighbors were able to pass and get to their homes without much inconvenience. Other concerns though were raised related to Safety & Privacy. Most people move to a Gated Community to be secluded from others for various reasons. It came down to not wanting a bunch of strangers in the neighborhood. Many people want the Gate closed 24/7 which would mean that most people could not come into the neighborhood to see the Christmas Lights. A vote was taken and 11 votes wanted the gate to be open during the Holiday Season and 13 votes wanted it to be closed.
Many of the neighbors are great and are sad to see the display leave. I only wish that all my neighbors could truly get in the Christmas Spirit and be able to share their neighborhood and spread Christmas cheer. They have ever single right to be secluded if they want for any reason they choose. I think it is mostly my mistake to move into a neighborhood (one with a gate) where most people want to shut out the world.
The vote was not if I could put Christmas lights up on my house, but if the gate would be open. I thought it would be pretty lame to put all this work into the display, and then not be able to share it with the community. I made the decision to move the display to a strip of property that my parents own with a bunch of trees. It has worked out nicely but does look quite a bit different without a house in it.
I live in a Gated Community of about 33 houses. Traffic picked up for 2007 which caused some traffic problems. A few weeks into December we started to have a team of 3-4 people managing traffic which worked out nicely. We were able to have cars wait at the Gate and allow only so many cars in so it did not block the street. Neighbors were able to pass and get to their homes without much inconvenience. Other concerns though were raised related to Safety & Privacy. Most people move to a Gated Community to be secluded from others for various reasons. It came down to not wanting a bunch of strangers in the neighborhood. Many people want the Gate closed 24/7 which would mean that most people could not come into the neighborhood to see the Christmas Lights. A vote was taken and 11 votes wanted the gate to be open during the Holiday Season and 13 votes wanted it to be closed.
Many of the neighbors are great and are sad to see the display leave. I only wish that all my neighbors could truly get in the Christmas Spirit and be able to share their neighborhood and spread Christmas cheer. They have ever single right to be secluded if they want for any reason they choose. I think it is mostly my mistake to move into a neighborhood (one with a gate) where most people want to shut out the world.
The vote was not if I could put Christmas lights up on my house, but if the gate would be open. I thought it would be pretty lame to put all this work into the display, and then not be able to share it with the community. I made the decision to move the display to a strip of property that my parents own with a bunch of trees. It has worked out nicely but does look quite a bit different without a house in it.
Why do you do this?
Why Not? I have always loved Christmas Lights, Music, and Computers. This was a way to combine all three to make something unique and different. The real reason though is because it celebrates the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is another way to express our love for Him and what He has done for us and mankind. We hope that those who watch our display draw a little closer to God.
Why Not? I have always loved Christmas Lights, Music, and Computers. This was a way to combine all three to make something unique and different. The real reason though is because it celebrates the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is another way to express our love for Him and what He has done for us and mankind. We hope that those who watch our display draw a little closer to God.
Somebody said your display is "Wind Powered". I don't see the wind turbine in your yard.
It's true! The display is 100% wind powered. What I do is use power provided by my local power company, and then replace the power I use for my Christmas Display back onto the grid with Wind Turbines. For all the details you can visit www.renewablechoice.com - My display uses about 1800kwh and I have about 3000kwh replaced on the power grid.
How many lights do you have?
There were about 45,000 lights for 2007 and for 2008 we will have around 150,000.
There were about 45,000 lights for 2007 and for 2008 we will have around 150,000.
How much power does it take? How much is your electric bill?
If everything was on, it would consume about 33,000 watts or 300 amps. I had to install 17 dedicated circuits to be able to power everything. Most of the time only 30% of the display is on because it is animiated which helpes conserve power. A lot of smaller displays acutally use more power than mine, because they are always "ON". The power bill for 2007 was only about $100 more than normal.
If everything was on, it would consume about 33,000 watts or 300 amps. I had to install 17 dedicated circuits to be able to power everything. Most of the time only 30% of the display is on because it is animiated which helpes conserve power. A lot of smaller displays acutally use more power than mine, because they are always "ON". The power bill for 2007 was only about $100 more than normal.
Do you have your own Radio Station? How are you transmitting to my radio?
We use a small FM transmitter the broadcasts on 99.9FM. It only goes a short distance which allows people to listen to the music within sight of our display.
We use a small FM transmitter the broadcasts on 99.9FM. It only goes a short distance which allows people to listen to the music within sight of our display.
How much time does it take?
Like any hobby, it takes quite a bit of time if you add it all up. I plan and work on things throughout the year but things get really busy during November when I start spending all my weekends putting up lights and usually take a week off work right to get everything set up. My wife helps me with some things and I have some friends that come over and help with some of the bigger stuff (the Mega Tree). For the 2007 season I spent about 250 hours or so designing the display, making the leaping arches, programing the display, etc. I also spent another 50 hours outside during December playing traffic cop with volunteers because of the amount of traffic the display attracts.
Like any hobby, it takes quite a bit of time if you add it all up. I plan and work on things throughout the year but things get really busy during November when I start spending all my weekends putting up lights and usually take a week off work right to get everything set up. My wife helps me with some things and I have some friends that come over and help with some of the bigger stuff (the Mega Tree). For the 2007 season I spent about 250 hours or so designing the display, making the leaping arches, programing the display, etc. I also spent another 50 hours outside during December playing traffic cop with volunteers because of the amount of traffic the display attracts.
How do you control the lights?
Everything is controlled with software and hardware from Light-O-Rama. Our display for 2006 used 80 different channels, 2007 was 176 channels and for 2008 it is 215 Channels. This allows us to control almost every element in our display between Red, White, and Green. Because of how the display has to be set up, we use 7,000' of extension cords.
Everything is controlled with software and hardware from Light-O-Rama. Our display for 2006 used 80 different channels, 2007 was 176 channels and for 2008 it is 215 Channels. This allows us to control almost every element in our display between Red, White, and Green. Because of how the display has to be set up, we use 7,000' of extension cords.
How much did this cost?
???
I am not exatly sure how much I have spent but I could have bought a few 4-wheelers instead. I try and buy most of my lights after Christmas for the next year when they are 50%-75% off. Many people buy ATVs, Trailers, Home Theater Systems, Vactions, etc. Me, I buy Christmas lights.
???
I am not exatly sure how much I have spent but I could have bought a few 4-wheelers instead. I try and buy most of my lights after Christmas for the next year when they are 50%-75% off. Many people buy ATVs, Trailers, Home Theater Systems, Vactions, etc. Me, I buy Christmas lights.
What do you do for a living?
I have done a few things including owning a DJ Business (no money in that), Video Production, Graphic Designer, IT Director, and few other jobs. Currectly I do web work and mostly work with a product called Tahitian Noni Juice and created the web site at www.noniusers.com
I have done a few things including owning a DJ Business (no money in that), Video Production, Graphic Designer, IT Director, and few other jobs. Currectly I do web work and mostly work with a product called Tahitian Noni Juice and created the web site at www.noniusers.com