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Light O'Rama - anyone use it?
ChadTower:
Does anyone here use Light O'Rama? My son and I have been poking around the idea of a big halloween display this fall. He's all set with trick or treating now, I think, so we'll be home for the first time Halloween night.
Howard_Casto:
Well are you talking about the hardware or the software?
I haven't used either but I've investigated both extensively. (Unfortunately I've never had the time to take that final step and buy/make a rig.)
The software seems to be very good BUT the hardware is extremely overpriced.
Example: Their digital i/o board, which is nearly identical to a pacdrive/iowarrior costs 150 bucks!
Your mileage will vary as to if you think that's a good price, but myself I decided that when I do it I'll just do the hardware end myself or at least buy more reasonably priced hardware. I mean aside from a i/o board all you really need is a bank of relayed outlets. You can buy outlets for around $1 and if you break the brass flags off the side they turn into two outlets (top and bottom). Then you can go on to buy a bunch of 5v mini relays for around 60 cents a pop (if you buy a 20+ package from china via ebay). You can get a teensy or arduino, which are cheap enough to be "throw away" PICs for under 20 bucks.
It takes more work, but you can get a really nice rig going for 40-100 dollars instead of hundreds of dollars.
There are also GE light strings that are super-hackable. Some of the ge led sets have a pic controller embedded on each light socket. You can cut off the ends and use a arduino or similar device to control each light serially. Usually each "bulb" is a rgb led and you can control intensity and specific color mixing. Just another idea.
If you can afford it I don't think I've ever heard any complaints about the LOR system, it's just that it's really expensive to get even a basic setup working.
Howard_Casto:
Hold up... I missed that "halloween" part. I shouldn't post when I can't sleep.
For most haunters, halloween is more about props than lighting. (Although some static lighting is certainly required.) There are individual and inexpensive prop controllers available, that are generally just PIC's. Light-o-rama is usually used for Christmas to do complex light mixing. That sort of thing isn't really done on Halloween. Unless your props are really complex, I actually suggest manually triggering them rather than using a sequence. I've did my yard up for years and I can tell you that scares done on a loop or via motion sensors rarely ever startle or impress anyone. What works better is a hidden remote in your pocket or a well placed switch that you can trip at just the right moment. I like to let them walk up to the prop and examine it carefully, only to trip it when they are walking away.... works every time. >:D
ChadTower:
Awesome, thanks, that's good starting info. I know most people do props for Halloween but I don't want to have to dedicate my whole shed to a bunch of props that only get used 7 days a year. I'm a lot more interested in lighting for storage reasons and also because that's just what we want to do. My son loves lighting and working with light controllers. I can see us getting into props later on, I suppose but for now I'm thinking of just a lighting setup.
I'm not surprised their hardware is overpriced. That always seems to be the way with the most visible products for a niche hobby. I could see us using their software along with someone else's hardware and maybe Hallowindow. I would love to do the whole thing custom with arduinos and such but that would be an unrealistic commitment prior to finishing up my gameroom. Hell, this might be unrealistic, but at least I'm way ahead of schedule with the research. :)
Karpro:
My old next door neighbor uses their products extensively for his Christmas display and raves about them. They usually do a big sale in the spring. Get on their mailing list and they'll email for the sale.
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