LED Christmas Tree lights help
2So Lowe’s has an artificial tree that has these crazy lights with a ton of different cool functions. After doing some searching, I found that they are this GE brand of lights:
https://m.lowes.com/pd/GE-Color-Effects-100-Count-33-ft-Multi-Function-Color-Changing-Mini-LED-Plug-in-Indoor-Outdoor-Christmas-String-Lights-ENERGY-STAR/1000110737
They are super bright, change to almost any color it seems, and has a ton of neat twinkling and color change effects. Only problem is, they’re expensive. $50 for 100 lights. I buy a real tree, otherwise it would be cost effective to just buy the fake tree with the lights built in.
Most websites recommend that for a 6-7’ tree, I should have around 500-700 lights. That’s way too expensive to go with the GE ones.
Does anyone know of any similar alternatives? If not, I’ll hopefully manage to buy the GE ones on clearance for next year.
The only things I’ve found with lots of functions, do not color change. They twinkle, or chase, but stay the same color.
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If that is the same as this, these a marginally cheaper
https://www.amazon.com/Staybright-100-Count-Multi-Function-Changing-Christmas/dp/B015Z079VM
@Kidsandliz those only change from white to multi color. The GE ones are sold exclusively at Lowe’s according to GE’s website. Each light can change color completely to whatever color. Even PURPLE.
@RiotDemon I love purple.
@Barney @Starblind
Dunno why I’m sharing this.
We have a fake tree with LED lights and fiber optic stuff. Pretty.
Wait 'till after Christmas and buy them on clearance?
maybe just get some of these?
@carl669 let us consult the mehcromicon’s ten commehndments: “19. Thou shalt not have a board meeting ending with a new logo containing what appears to be a word @carl6969 would use”
@legendornothing good thing Bic used a different font “back in the day”
@legendornothing hey! that’s my shtick.
What you’re looking at are called addressable rgb leds, or rgb pixel Christmas lights. Ebay has tons for cheap; look up ws2811 Christmas lights. You’ll have a little bit of a project to control them depending on how diy you want to be. Here’s a little bit of a start down the path.
You can go as simple as an arduino ($) or as complicated as a Light-o-Rama setup ($$$).
The bonus is you’ll likely end up with a more cohesive display. The video on the lowes lights made it sound as if you have to program every string separately.
@djslack looks cool. Never used an arduino before. It’s worth looking into.
I checked the GE website and it says you can connect up to 6 sets. It has a video of the lights all working together… But not clear if they had to sync the individual strands or if they automatically sync when together.
@RiotDemon be careful, arduino can become an addiction!!! My hubby and son are now doing a Christmas light display at my son’s school with arduino. Hubby is doing the manual labor, kid is doing the light design. I have all sorts of pieces/parts in my living room of arduino sensors/relays/resistors/etc…
Banggood is a great source of the stuff, but it sometimes takes a while.