Author Topic: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.  (Read 3464 times)

BlueStarLizzard

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I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« on: December 01, 2018, 07:27:23 PM »
There is a pathetic little random pine tree on the easement. It some how missed being wacked when the power company last went through and cut all the brush down under the power lines, likely because it's so close to the driveway and since our new neighbor actually mows the area under the power lines this little pathetic tree stands out just a little more.

Now, I normally don't do any Christmas decorating. It's just me and Dad and the trailer looks like *expletive deleted*it anyway, so I've never seen much of a point. Plus, the hassle is not worth it. However, this pathetic little pine tree caught my interest and I thought it would be funny to do it up, Charlie Brown style. And the neighbors have a kid, so she might get a kick out of it too.

I can't power it off the trailer, or rather, I could but it would take at least 5 or 6 extension cords and running them through the woods which is just stupid to run a single string of lights on a tree that's maybe 3 feet high. So I thought, in this day and age, how hard would it be to get a little battery powered or solar powered sting of Christmas lights?

Yeah, no, as far as I can tell, such a thing does not exists.

So I looked for a battery pack or little solar power supply that I could plug lights into.

Except I don't really know what I'm looking for and that it doesn't seem to exist either.

I come to you, denizens of APS. Is there someway I could accomplish this, cheaply and without needing to be electrically astute? or should I just give up now on the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree?
"Okay, um, I'm lost. Uh, I'm angry, and I'm armed, so if you two have something that you need to work out --" -Malcolm Reynolds


charby

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #2 on: December 01, 2018, 07:33:59 PM »
Ebay has tons of solar powered Christmas lights.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=solar+powered+christmas+lights
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230RN

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #4 on: December 01, 2018, 08:30:32 PM »
Car battery and inexpensive ~100 watt inverter, LED light string.

Nineteen to 22 bucks:
https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/power-inverters.html

New edit, 03 Dec 2018:   =D   >:D

I admire your sensitivity.  I have an affinity for disadvantaged trees, too.
« Last Edit: December 03, 2018, 07:49:28 AM by 230RN »
WHATEVER YOUR DEFINITION OF "INFRINGE " IS, YOU SHOULDN'T BE DOING IT.

Doggy Daddy

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #5 on: December 01, 2018, 10:07:39 PM »
Car battery and inexpensive ~100 watt inverter, LED light string.

Nineteen to 22 bucks:
https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/power-inverters.html

I admire your sensitivity.  I have an affinity for disadvantaged trees, too.

Your edit fooled me into clicking to see what the "new post" was.  I hope it was worth it to you, I didn't see a difference.   :rofl:    :rofl:    :old:
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230RN

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #6 on: December 01, 2018, 10:33:03 PM »
Oh, I just made a comment about a specific tree then deleted it.  I have a habit of editing interminably.

Sorta like "letters that cross in the mail."
WHATEVER YOUR DEFINITION OF "INFRINGE " IS, YOU SHOULDN'T BE DOING IT.

RoadKingLarry

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #7 on: December 02, 2018, 12:00:56 AM »
I was really hoping to see a KD5NRH solution offered.
 =D
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.

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Northwoods

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #8 on: December 02, 2018, 12:24:05 AM »
Detcord.  Won't last long but it'll be the best lit Christmas tree for 10miliseconds.
Formerly sumpnz

Nick1911

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #9 on: December 02, 2018, 12:32:27 AM »
I was really hoping to see a KD5NRH solution offered.
 =D

Radioisotope thermoelectric generator, built using a bunch of old smoke detectors in a crude breeder reactor arrangement.

Scout26

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #10 on: December 02, 2018, 12:43:48 AM »
On a welded tree.
Some days even my lucky rocketship underpants won't help.


Bring me my Broadsword and a clear understanding.
Get up to the roundhouse on the cliff-top standing.
Take women and children and bed them down.
Bless with a hard heart those that stand with me.
Bless the women and children who firm our hands.
Put our backs to the north wind.
Hold fast by the river.
Sweet memories to drive us on,
for the motherland.

BlueStarLizzard

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #11 on: December 02, 2018, 01:34:02 PM »
Radioisotope thermoelectric generator, built using a bunch of old smoke detectors in a crude breeder reactor arrangement.

Maybe next year...  :lol:



Quote
I admire your sensitivity.  I have an affinity for disadvantaged trees, too. 

I'll post pictures once I have it all gussied up.
"Okay, um, I'm lost. Uh, I'm angry, and I'm armed, so if you two have something that you need to work out --" -Malcolm Reynolds

Firethorn

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #12 on: December 02, 2018, 08:52:47 PM »
Car battery and inexpensive ~100 watt inverter, LED light string.

Nineteen to 22 bucks:
https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/power-inverters.html

I admire your sensitivity.  I have an affinity for disadvantaged trees, too.

You're wasting a lot of the power if you do that.  Just get a 12vdc string of lights for that.  Avoid going DC to AC to DC if you don't have to.

https://www.amazon.com/String-Silvery-Adapter-Control-Multicolor/dp/B017NO5KJG/

Hawkmoon

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #13 on: December 02, 2018, 11:57:06 PM »
Car battery and inexpensive ~100 watt inverter, LED light string.

Nineteen to 22 bucks:
https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/power-inverters.html

I admire your sensitivity.  I have an affinity for disadvantaged trees, too.

Lemme see: $50 to $75 for a car battery, $25 for the inverter, $10 for a string of lights, $35 for a battery charger ...

That's $120 to $150 to avoid paying $15 for a self-contained solution. Makes perfect sense.
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230RN

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #14 on: December 03, 2018, 07:51:05 AM »
^
Don't forget to add the cost of electricity for the battery charger, $0.15 / kWh around here, with all taxes and fees.
WHATEVER YOUR DEFINITION OF "INFRINGE " IS, YOU SHOULDN'T BE DOING IT.

BlueStarLizzard

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #15 on: December 05, 2018, 07:19:02 PM »
Got the lights today but didn't have time to do the tree. Of course, I had to test them first.

christmasdog" border="0
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MikeB

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #16 on: December 06, 2018, 10:23:17 AM »
Got the lights today but didn't have time to do the tree. Of course, I had to test them first.

Your test subject appears unimpressed by his festive decorations. It’s got me thinking about decorating my dog though.  =)

Ben

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #17 on: December 06, 2018, 10:30:53 AM »
Your test subject appears unimpressed by his festive decorations. It’s got me thinking about decorating my dog though.  =)

I was thinking he looks a little dejected. If he were a cat, he'd have the "revenge is a dish best served cold" look.  :laugh:
"I'm a foolish old man that has been drawn into a wild goose chase by a harpy in trousers and a nincompoop."

K Frame

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #18 on: December 06, 2018, 10:54:05 AM »
Your dog's penis is green and incandescent. He needs a trip to the vet...
Carbon Monoxide, sucking the life out of idiots, 'tards, and fools since man tamed fire.

dogmush

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #19 on: December 06, 2018, 10:58:24 AM »
Do you guys even dog?  He doesn't look dejected at all, I'm not sure he's even noticed the lights. 

He sure noticed the treats in the guy's lap though.  That's the dog "I can use the force to move the food to my mouth if I try hard enough" look.

230RN

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #20 on: December 06, 2018, 11:04:11 AM »
Quote from: MikeB on Today at 08:23:17 AM
Quote
Your test subject appears unimpressed by his festive decorations. It’s got me thinking about decorating my dog though.  smiley

I was thinking he looks a little dejected. If he were a cat, he'd have the "revenge is a dish best served cold" look.  :laugh:

Dogs are subjects.

Cats are citizens.

Terry

WHATEVER YOUR DEFINITION OF "INFRINGE " IS, YOU SHOULDN'T BE DOING IT.

BlueStarLizzard

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #21 on: December 06, 2018, 02:21:02 PM »
Do you guys even dog?  He doesn't look dejected at all, I'm not sure he's even noticed the lights. 

He sure noticed the treats in the guy's lap though.  That's the dog "I can use the force to move the food to my mouth if I try hard enough" look.

I would say he was more confused than dejected.

"Why are humans doing weird stuff to me instead of giving me treats?"

Quote
Your dog's penis is green and incandescent. He needs a trip to the vet...

Why are you looking at my dogs pecker, Mike? I mean, I know he's a handsome boy, but that's taking things a little far.
"Okay, um, I'm lost. Uh, I'm angry, and I'm armed, so if you two have something that you need to work out --" -Malcolm Reynolds

K Frame

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #22 on: December 06, 2018, 02:49:45 PM »
"Why are you looking at my dogs pecker, Mike? I mean, I know he's a handsome boy, but that's taking things a little far."

Because you didn't put his pants on him and hung a light off it.

Woman, we don't really judge what you do in the privacy of your own home...

Until you start posting pictures of it.
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BlueStarLizzard

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #23 on: December 06, 2018, 03:05:44 PM »
Alright, alright. Good grief.

From now on, I well never post a picture of my dog without making sure his groin is photo-shopped like a Ken doll to avoid damaging your delicate sensibilities.

No canine nudity. New APS rule.
"Okay, um, I'm lost. Uh, I'm angry, and I'm armed, so if you two have something that you need to work out --" -Malcolm Reynolds

K Frame

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Re: I'm trying to be festive but the lights are against me.
« Reply #24 on: December 06, 2018, 08:46:39 PM »
I never knew you took your dog's penis so seriously.

This is fun! Well, not looking at your dog's schwang, but torquing you up about it...  >:D
Carbon Monoxide, sucking the life out of idiots, 'tards, and fools since man tamed fire.