

    <ul>
    
    
        <li>Roughly 70,000 lights will go into the 2009 show. Many of these are C7 and C9 large bulbs at 5W+ each.</li>
    
    
        <li>A mini lamp is generally 0.25 to 0.5W, so one C7 or C9 is the equivalent of about 12 mini lamps.</li>
    
    
        <li>To compare, on the Mega Tree if the C7/9’s were replaced with mini’s that would be about an additional 17,500 light bulbs.</li>
    
    
        <li>Total system power this year is 190 Amps at 240 volts. That’s equivalent to 380 amps at 120V or nineteen 20 amp outlets.</li>
    
    
        <li>All-in, the power used for the show can drive about 45,000 watts of lights at one time though there are more than that installed.</li>
    
    
        <li>It is usually not possible to turn everything on at once without blowing fuses and tripping breakers.</li>
    
    
        <li>In 2005, the show consisted of zero computerized channels, 80 amps / 120 Volts total</li>
    
    
        <li>The show has grown in size and power needs every year, and in 2009 will consist of 128 computerized channels, 380 amps / 120 Volts total</li>
    
    
        <li>The interior lights in the house pulse as the show runs. After a while it is possible to recognize which song is playing by the pulsing.</li>
    
    
        <li>Over 150 3-prong extension cords are used.</li>
    
    
        <li>Custom 240V 4-wire cords feed from dimmers to large loads</li>
    
    
        <li>Each year, about 1500 cable ties, 15 cans of black spray paint and 2 rolls of black duct tape get consumed. The mulch in my yard consists of about 1% plastic cable-ties.</li>
    
    
        <li>It takes roughly 5 full working days to set everything up and months to take it down due to procrastination and cold weather.</li>
    
    
        <li>A new attraction can take months of evenings and weekends to build.</li>
    
    
        <li>Most industrial/mechanical parts are purchased used to save money.</li>
    
    
        <li>Programming a single 3-4 minute song can take many hours to days.</li>
    
    
        <li>Light-O-Rama and Light Show Pro are used for programming</li>
    
    
        <li>Mini lights are stored in 1500 light “wreaths” made with a wire-winder like they use at Home Depot.</li>
    
    
        <li>Many of the light sections are made in “mega-strings” where several strings or channels are bundled together for quick setup and easy storage.</li>
    
    
        <li>Feed extension cords are often bundled into mega-strings.</li>
    
    
        <li>Mega-strings are labeled as to where they go on the house or in the display.</li>
    
    
        <li>Most lights/cords and dimmers store in the attic. The Frigid Flyer and Polar Plunge go to a mini-warehouse.</li>
    
    
        <li>There is a single master switch that can emergency-stop the whole display.</li>
    
    
        <li>A $7.95 digital lamp timer turns the whole show on and off.</li>
    </ul>