Category Archives: Misc

The LED strings need to be attached at the top and the bottom of the tree. The MegaTree companies make what they call Toppers – round plates with holes around the edges. These are available for $40-$50. As you may … Continue reading →

The tree itself is pretty simple – a set of vertical strings of LEDs tapering in at the top to look like a Christmas tree. LED strings and strips come in 5 meter (15-1/2 ft) lengths. The standard for strings … Continue reading →

While the K1000-X controller was fully functional the software development environment didn’t come with the packaged effects I wanted. It provided the tools to develop them, but didn’t include the ones I wanted. There was an effects package available, but … Continue reading →

With the (first order) of parts on hand it was time to blow something up! The actual intention was to see if I could connect the power supply, controller, and an LED string and blink the lights, but I have … Continue reading →

In yet another cycle of how I learn something new, start with something really simple and try to make my early mistakes as cheaply as possible. Since all of the parts are readily available, head down to the local hardware … Continue reading →

Watching TV is a bad idea for many reasons. Over the past few years I’ve caught random episodes of various TV shows featuring Christmas decoration and outdoor lighting. The people featured on these shows have gone totally over the top … Continue reading →

Yup, this is the 100th post! When I started this blog in 2017 I really thought it would die of neglect after a year or so. While I was sure I could remember everything, She Who Must Be Obeyed pointed … Continue reading →

Another big time consumer this summer was travel. In July we did something we’ve been planning for years – headed up to Alaska. I lived in Alaska for three years, but that was fifty years ago. My biggest question was … Continue reading →

It has been way too long since the last update. I have a weak excuse for this – I haven’t actually done anything to the Imperial… The summer has been consumed with other projects: The first major project was finishing … Continue reading →

When we last saw the Imperial in Handle This! it was ready for paint and little more could be done until paint was completed. Life continues, even while waiting for the Imperial to get into the paint shop. She Who … Continue reading →