I had posted a question on one of the Christmas forums about building leaping arches using pixel based lights. I particularly was interested in using strips similar to the Light-O-Rama Cosmic Color Ribbon. I had heard about using a PVC type of pipe called PEX tubing. Usually found as water lines in mobile homes and travel trailers. I had done a test already and found that a light strip inside the tube really looked great. It had a nice glow to it. I got back several suggestions from the forum inquiry, but what I was really looking for was to place the strip inside the tube. Some told me that they had done that, but I was confused on how you would mount the arch if there was something inside the tube. In original variations of the leaping arch, people would wrap incandescent lights around the outside of PVC and stake out the arch by slipping it over rebar. I was talking to Jim last night, a forum friend from California, and he showed me what he did which was a variation of something he discovered from other display builders. I saw that and a big light went off in my head ... OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..... So I headed off to Home Depot and picked up a few CPVC couplings and a long piece of PEX tubing and took it home. Literally, five minutes later, I have a glowing arch. I used a "T" and 2 45 degree fittings. The PEX goes into the 45's which gives a really nice height to the arch and the "T", I will put a piece of PVC in the bottom and slip it over a piece of rebar in the ground. Easy Peasy ... Here are some quick picks of the testing. I'm using dumb RGB strip connected to a 12V battery for simplicity and testing.. Basic concept.. is a GO !!
4 Comments
Mike
12/23/2013 03:21:35 am
I plan to make leaping arches with LOR's cosmic color pixels. This looks like it might work. Are you using PEX or thin-walled PVC? The image looks more like thin-walled PVC.
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Mike,
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Evan
2/16/2014 09:49:03 am
Really nice.Looking forward to the updated page. I'm going to be working on 14 of these puppies for my 2nd year light show. Going with a smart RGB strip from Holiday Coro and thinking about pairing that up with the PixLite 16 controller that ties back to my LOR. From the pics those about 6' long and 21/2 or 3' high? Thanks for sharing!
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AuthorBob and Sandra Moody. Archives
May 2016
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