Christmas decorations question.

[Excalibur]

This could possibly go in the technical section, but it's not disco related, so this will do.

We have a small tree in the garden, which we light each year. It's a really awkward flowering cherry, and threading the standard strings of lights through it each year is a real struggle, as they snag everywhere on twigs. So, I'm looking at rope lights, as they will be sooo much easier to install.

The simple question is this- filament or LED? Which lasts longer, and is more resistant to handling?
Filament are significantly cheaper, but if they only last half as long, it's not a saving. :confused:

[Imagine]

I thought this was a wind up to start with :o

How about some nice simple uplighting instead ;)

[musicology]

How about some nice simple uplighting instead ;)

Indeed. Much more sophisticated.

[Excalibur]

I thought this was a wind up to start with :o

Heaven forfend, dear boy, heaven forfend. :no: You've not met my wife, have you? Her ideal Christmas lighting scenario would look a lot like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. :D


How about some nice simple uplighting instead ;)

And at first, I thought that was a joke. ( Still reckon it is actually, but as it's nearly Christmas, peace on Earth and goodwill to all men, even Wayne. :) )

I was about to point out that my Tripars aren't IP65, but a quick Google came up with this. (http://www.lightingever.co.uk/remote-control-10w-rgb-flood-lights.html?gclid=CjwKEAiAvZTCBRDvnoOaoa2j3xISJABx PjN9PL4xhtCFphhk2MK25OOVitfBs5o6YlVulAZkugkD0hoCFi Tw_wcB#reviews)

I'm just going outside with a Tripar and an extension cable. Back soon.

[Excalibur]

And the results for the uplighting trial are in.
She Who Must Be Obeyed scored it nil points. :(

In all honesty, partly due to the spread of the tree, it was just too understated.
Ah well, back to the drawing board.

[Imagine]

Heaven forfend, dear boy, heaven forfend. :no: You've not met my wife, have you? Her ideal Christmas lighting scenario would look a lot like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. :D

And she's married to a DJ???? Surely she's aware that these days less is more ;)

[deltic]

And the results for the uplighting trial are in.
She Who Must Be Obeyed scored it nil points. :(

In all honesty, partly due to the spread of the tree, it was just too understated.
Ah well, back to the drawing board.

Perhaps a call to a certain Cumbrian retailer May reap dividends,the nice chap may just have a small stock of white rope lights.....

[Nakatomi]

This could possibly go in the technical section, but it's not disco related, so this will do.

We have a small tree in the garden, which we light each year. It's a really awkward flowering cherry, and threading the standard strings of lights through it each year is a real struggle, as they snag everywhere on twigs. So, I'm looking at rope lights, as they will be sooo much easier to install.

The simple question is this- filament or LED? Which lasts longer, and is more resistant to handling?
Filament are significantly cheaper, but if they only last half as long, it's not a saving. :confused:

Filament lamps always look better than LED IMHO, so would win if they're cheaper regardless.

[stormproductions]

I'm going to chip in, as someone who does a lot of outdoor lighting (Google 'Powis Castle Illuminated Garden' for an example...).

I can understand your wife's requirement for a bit of Christmas bling and let's face it we're all quite fond of over the top Christmas lights and a bit of naffness, even if we won't admit it in public. So yes, if you've used fairly lights previously you're unlikely to be able to get away with being lazy and just trying to use a flood on it.

To attempt to answer your original question, I'd suggest going for LED rather than filament. Of course it depends on the type as to how long they'll last etc, but generally I'd expect the LED ones to last longer, use less power and not get warm. I've only got 4 x 45m lengths of rope light (2 of which have never been used but 2 have done a reasonable number of jobs over the last 7 years of so and are still going fine). As regards to the look, from more than about 50cm away they look the same, just depending on what colour LEDs you get (you'd be hard pushed to tell the difference between warm white LEDs and filament lamps).

However, be wary that rope light is significantly heavier than fairy lights, so you'll probably need to get it further into the tree rather than hanging it on the ends of the twigs.

Those RGB LED floods you linked to (or any number of vaguely similar ones) really aren't very bright and have a very wide beam spread so don't throw the light very far at all. They actually work quite nicely for some small bushes with a wide spread, such as grasses etc but certainly don't bother trying to light anything with much foliage on with them.

I've learnt that lighting plants really is quite an art and even now I can have a reasonable guess in daylight but I always need to do a lot of the work at night and quite a lot is still trial and error. A small change in the position or angle of a light can make a big difference.

Always worth looking at more than one light source, so maybe a coloured flood of some form combined with fairy lights, or 2 different colours from different directions etc.

[Excalibur]

Thank you one and all for your advice, much appreciated, and all well reasoned points.
For various reasons I've just ordered a filament one, mainly because it flashes/ twinkles/chases, and is cheaper. As long as it does this year that will do.
After that we'll reappraise the situation.
The tree will definitely support it, no question, but definitely a point to consider. I'll keep you posted.

[stormproductions]

Maybe you can post a daytime photo of the tree so we can add suggestions... and a nighttime one when you've done it!

My elderly parents have got a tree (guesstimate 12m high) in their front garden that Dad used to try to put some fairy lights in but he's far too decrepid now so I've done it 2 or 3 times in the past few years using some of the pro extendable fairy light strings I've got, but couldn't do it last year as the kit was out elsewhere. Hoping to be able to find time nearer Christmas to get it done again this year as a surprise for him. It's a Zarges plus long bit of cane with a hook on the end kind of job - certainly nothing I'd do professionally! A cherry picker would be ideal...

[DeckstarDeluxe]

LED all day long. Cheaper to run and last much longer.

[musicology]

I hope you realise that we WILL require pics of the completed extravaganza! :)

[Daryll]

Here go , all LED


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guyz_WwM6HM&feature=youtu.be

[Sapphire Disco]

This is what you need Peter although I'm not quite sure how legal it is ?



https://www.gearooz.com/laserworld-gs-60rg-xmas-rc

[Excalibur]

This is what you need Peter although I'm not quite sure how legal it is ?



https://www.gearooz.com/laserworld-gs-60rg-xmas-rc

Funnily enough, the dearly beloved went out last night for a family event, and two of her family had lasers on their dwellings. Suddenly they're also on the table, despite previously being well and truly on the banned list. :daft::D:D

[Nakatomi]

Those laser thingies should be banned IMHO if only for taking tacky to a level previously impossible using blue LED icicle lights