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Control Central
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This is
Control
Central!!!
(2002)
How does it all work?
It all starts with an IBM based computer. My computer is
a home built Pentium 1 ghz Pent 3 processor with a
40 gb. hard drive, abd 384 mb of sdram memory.
It also has a Sound Blaster 16 pci sound card.
I was lucky enough
to have found a mother board
with 3 ISA slots. It is of old style with new technology.
It is a board that still uses the old slot 1 processors.
See the following link for more information on this board.
Micro
Express Company Mother
Board
Micro
Express Company
I know this
computer is still a dinosaur compared to
today's technology, but because my digital I/O cards are
for ISA expansion slots I had to stay with an older style.
As long as it makes the light shine and the music play,
WHO CARES!
In 2002 I used a software called
Dasher.
Dasher is no longer available and I now use a software package called
 ,
to control the lights. 
is a windows based program
that allows you to coordinate your light show with an
audio soundtrack. Programming is as simple as clicking on a
block located on a grid. For more information, click on
the
logo to go to the
web site.
How does
Control my Display?
LOR controls the entire light show 24
hours a day.
Starting at 5:30pm LOR turns on our light fence,
a prerecorded audio track, and the outside amplifier.
At 6:00pm LOR starts the light show.
At 10:00pm LOR turns off the light show, the outside amplifier, and
turns on a recorded message about the display.
At 6:45am LOR turns off the light fence. At 5:45pm
the sequence starts all over again. LOR
is not only a software package, but LOR also sells
hardware as well. I am using LOR's CTB-16D control
board. Check out LOR's website for future updates. 
The LOR software not only controls it own
hardware,
but LOR also controls X-10 modules, and controls digital
input output cards manufactured by various manufactures.
I use I/O cards made by Cyber Research Company.
They have series of boards that plug into your computers ISA slot.
They also have PCI versions. I use 2 of their cards, one is the
CYDIO48H
and the other is a CYDO128H.
The CYDIO48H is a 48 channel
card and the 128H is a 128 channel card. For more information about the
Cyber Research I/O cards contact them at 1-800-341-2525
or on line at www.cyberresearch.com
.
Each of the gray boxes shown in the photo above has its own
20 amp circuit. These boxes are what contain the solid state relays or
SSR's.
These SSR's are what are connected to the input/output card. These
SSR's are used and
were purchased for $5.00 each. I was amazed how new looking each relay
was. I bet some
were actually new. You can purchase these relays from All Electronics
Corp. There
number is 1-800-826-5432, there web site is located at
www.allcorp.com
.
Each relay is connected to a 120 volt receptacle so you
can
just plug in the extension cords that go to the lights.
When the program is running LOR sends an
OUT command to the input/output
card. This card sends 5 volts of DC electricity to the relay.
When the relay receives the 5 volts it allows the 120 volts
AC to pass through the relay to the receptacle, thus turning on the lights.
Still have questions and can't find the answer's?
Visit the Planet Christmas
chat room.
There, about every question about Christmas lighting
has been asked. Click on the "Talk to Us" icon.
Last update:
Sunday, May 11, 2008 05:55 PM
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