Christmas Lights

Used 1000bulbs.com several years ago, but that was before everything went wonky with COVID, supply chain issues, inflation, UAPs & aliens, etc.

amazon

as mentioned, use online 1000bulbs.

dont do icicle lights.

im a fan of C9 clear incadescent

first year is a bit more work, installing each socket into the plastic clip for the gutter/eve and screwing in bulbs. but after the first year, its all set, cut to length, and much easier.

with C9 you dont lose a full section of lights, just replace a single bulb at a time when they go out. you can also by your socket strands and extra bulbs in bulk online.

I buy c9 pixel bulbs- I used Holiday Coro. I also bought their “spacer” material for their lights, zip tied them to PVC, drilled J hooks into PVC, hang them on the gutters.


Pixels are about $1/bulb or a little less. Incandescent are getting harder and harder to find. There are two LED varieties- there are dedicated LED strings - I had a set of multicolor and found the tiny button LEDs to replace them. Mine were GE I think. I got them at Costco.
You can also buy stringer + bulbs, but the majority of LEDs on stringer cost almost the same as pixels. Incandescent has some limitations- 200t is going to present some interesting problems with incandescent. You can run about 205 standard c9 in series. If 12” spacing is fine, great. If it’s not, you can still run two strands and stagger them for 6” spacing. Personally, I like 12” spacing best.


I use a flat-based c9 that has a clear “strawberry” diffuser. I prefer a white/transluscent/frosted and “smooth” bulb, but they didn’t exist. You can find some like this on AliExpress if you’re into it.


This year I’m probably expanding, adding some ground lights and upgrading my controller to a DigiOcta. I probably won’t ever get all the way into the “live shows” things you will see most people post about when using pixels, but I like having individually addressable bulbs and running a few color schemes each evening.

I have some LED icicle lights I got from HD last year. They are BRIGHT.

300L Warm White Christmas Mini LED Icicle Lights
Looks good on a white house.

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buy c9 pixel bulbs- I used Holiday Coro. I also bought their “spacer” material for their lights, zip tied them to PVC, drilled J hooks into PVC, hang them on the gutters.


Pixels are about $1/bulb or a little less. Incandescent are getting harder and harder to find. There are two LED varieties- there are dedicated LED strings - I had a set of multicolor and found the tiny button LEDs to replace them. Mine were GE I think. I got them at Costco.
You can also buy stringer + bulbs, but the majority of LEDs on stringer cost almost the same as pixels. Incandescent has some limitations- 200t is going to present some interesting problems with incandescent. You can run about 205 standard c9 in series. If 12” spacing is fine, great. If it’s not, you can still run two strands and stagger them for 6” spacing. Personally, I like 12” spacing best.


I use a flat-based c9 that has a clear “strawberry” diffuser. I prefer a white/transluscent/frosted and “smooth” bulb, but they didn’t exist. You can find some like this on AliExpress if you’re into it.


This year I’m probably expanding, adding some ground lights and upgrading my controller to a DigiOcta. I probably won’t ever get all the way into the “live shows” things you will see most people post about when using pixels, but I like having individually addressable bulbs and running a few color schemes each evening.

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I admire everyone and their spirit, but reading the above I converted it into the Charlie Brown school teacher voice.

I had no idea there was this culture of knowing about this stuff.

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had no idea there was this culture of knowing about this stuff.

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This isn't even the tip of the iceberg.

There are online forums of complete diy controllers for light shows etc.

It's a large community and getting larger as pixels are very cheap.

If you really get into it there are direct sellers from China where you can get pixels for pennies a piece. Add that to some diy enginuity and you can have a full show up and running for less than $500

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but reading the above I converted it into the Charlie Brown school teacher voice.

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It’s not fun being self aware of insanity. But here we are.

Another question. When I finish stringing the lights, what do I need to do with the end of the line? Add a female vampire plug?

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I had no idea there was this culture of knowing about this stuff.

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I go all out for my Halloween pumpkin carvings. After that I'm spent. I do admire people's Christmas spirit. But by that time I'm Ebenezer.