Jason Christensen from Resurrection Life Church in Grandville, Michigan brings us this LED tape mountain range.
This stage build was for our churches One Heart Youth Conference. Every year we put on a conference for students in 6th grade up to 12th grade.
This year the theme for the conference was Arise.
Coming up with design to reflect the idea and concept behind the word Arise was a challenge and in the end we settled on this abstract mountain range.
To start, I took a black and white photo of the stage and printed a few copies so I could draw and sketch ideas and concepts on them.
Once we had the design in place and everyone agreed upon it, I started taking detailed measurements of the stage so I knew how much space I had to work with.
Once this was determined, I planned out my space on the floor and begin plotting my build with gaff tape.
To get the overall structure built I purchased a total of 45, 2x4s. The main outside lines and structure were a full 2×4 and all the inner diagonal lines were 2x4s ripped in half to make a 2×2. Believe it or not, do this actually saved money.
I assembled all my pieces using 2.5 inch screws and liquid nail to give it strength. I used a basic miter saw to get all the angles and I basically followed the design I played out on the floor with gaff tape. Once I had my overall structure build for each side of my stage I broke the pieces down into small chunks to make it easier to move onto stage.
To light my design I used basic RGB LED tape I found on Amazon. This design took a total of 40 rolls to light up.
The majority of my lights are wired up in a parallel circuit. This helps keep the power, color, and brightness even and consistent over the entire set. Running LED tape in a chain can get weird as I’ve learned in a pervious stage build. The longer the chain the dimmer your lights get. Wiring LED tape in a parallel circuit eliminates this problem.
To help diffuse the LED tape I purchased 4’x8′, 1/4 plastic Coroplast sheets and cut them into 2″ strips on a table saw. Once I had my strips I used clear push pins to raise the Coroplast off the lights and used hot glue to attach the Coroplast to the push pins.
In order to power all my LED tape I purchased 2, 360w power supplies and 2, 8 channel DMX controllers which I found on Amazon.
All LED lighting was then patched into our lighting system via DMX.
I had a total budget of $2000 to pull this design off. I used roughly $1500 for materials and the remainder of my budget was used to rent intelligent lighting from a local audio visual company called Division 16.
The bulk of my budget was used to purchase theLED tape, power supplies, and DMX controllers. Lumber and Coroplast is relatively cheap.
In a nut shell this was a very fun stage to build and the conference was a big success. I learned a lot about LED lighting and design durning this stage build and look forward to learning more.
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Such talent! That is an amazing stage!
Thanks for the comment. I do appreciate it. This was a fun stage to build.
This is really nice
Jason – really great stuff. So inspiring to see you build such interesting shapes. You said you rans strips in parallel – how did you decide the correct balance between current and size of strips, and number of strips? I’m quite intrigued as I have had the same power issues in the past with long strips. Would you have a wiring diagram you would be willing to share? Again- so fun!
Mark – Would you be willing to give me your email address? I can send you links to all the parts I ordered from Amazon and I can go into more detail about my build.
Jason, thanks for the extra info!!!
markmanley@mac.com
This is great. If you’d be willing to share, in interested as well.
What’s your email address?
Hankscaddy@gmail.com
Same. Can you share with me as well? bchristenson@northshorechristian.org
Could you send the wiring schematics to me as well
vicrodssfc@gmail.com
Jason, would you have the schematics, measurements or desing for the structure. It would be really helpful
As long as your sharing, I would be interested in how you wired the Tape in parallel?
brad@thenaz.org
Thanks!
Hi Jason, great work! I would love to receive that info, too! – manalac.karen@gmail.com
Could you send me details as well
Vicrodssfc@gmail.com
Thanks!
Jason, is there anyway of getting more info as we are starting a similar project soon at our church.
landon@newhopefp.org
Jason, would you have the schematics, measurements or desing for the structure. It would be really helpful
Hey Jason, I’m planning on doing some work with LED strips in the next few months and would love some insight into how you powered and patched everything. I’ve been getting lost in the sea of power consumption for LED strips. My email is kris@watersedgechurch.net
Hi Jason, great design!! Could you please include me a copy of the lighting notes. I have a great source for lighting and dmx boards but the wiring process you mention i’m interested in. Email is colemankent@hotmail.com. THANK YOU
Looks great! Can I get a link to those white connectors you use for attaching the LED’s together? seanb@christianfaithcenter.org
Hi Mark,
I have seen this website for awhile, but what you did just blew my mind. Can you help us out with what name brand you bought from amazon and notes of how to connect the lighting system? Hope you can help me out! :-)
Hector Soto
ciudadelshaddai@gmail.com
Hector,
I will work on getting you some information within the next day or two.
Thanks!
Jason C
Jason,
Could you send me the information as well. I’d love to build something like this for a youth camp coming up this summer. I’d love to know what DMX, power supplies, and LED Tape you used.
Thanks,
David
dleininger@lifeteen.com
Jason, you guys did an awesome set on your backdrop for your church, a question could you send me the link where you got your LED lighting, I’m having trouble lighting some of my Cora Plast, Kevin
LEDniceker 5050 LED Strip Lights – 32.8ft / 10M Flexible 5050 RGB LED Light With 44key LED Controller and DC 12V5A Power Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G568E00/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_XnJQybMN3CD90
Great look and design! Is it possible to also get the product list and wiring info from you as well? Thanks for a great resource & setup explanation. jkoepke@portlandbiblecollege.org
wow Jason… great stuff you did
would also love to receive the info
odunahyah24@gmail.com
Thank you all for the wonderful comments and for showing so much interest in my design. I’ve been rather busy the past few days so If I haven’t sent you info that you have requested please let me know so I can get that to you ASAP.
If you have any other question let me know and I will do my best to answer them for you.
Thanks again! I do appreciate it!
As requested previously. Please forward writing info. Great job and execution I’d this design.
Colemankent@hotmail.com
Jason! What type of connection did you use to parallel the lights together?
Hi Jason, I really liked your design, I wish I could use the same idea at a conference at our local church in Brazil. Could you share more information?
Email ; miguelribeiroo27@gmail.com
Hey Jason.
You did a perfect job, I am planning to do something similar. Would you please send me the information of the wiring diagram, products on amazon, how you set up the lights etc.
I am really interested it
ricardo.serrano.urbina@gmail.com
Could you email me that information as well. Really appreciate it. Blessings!
Absolutely I can!
What is your email address? I can send you some information and all the amazon links for the items I purchased for my build.
Humbertorenkcato@gmail.com
We are redesigning this but I wanted to know what you used to parallel the strips to each other.
Hey Jason,
If you’re still checking this I’d love some extra details on how exactly you did this. Hoping to try something like it for our Easter this year! Great job!
Email: seth@covenantchurch.us
Hey Jason. I would love the info on what you used and how you wired it. Thanks!
jimmyrobeson@yahoo.com
Hey Jason! Great set! Could you please send me any details you have on this set. Im sure you can just copy and paste what you have sent other people
Sure thing. Whats your email?
Hello Everyone!
I found something that may be useful for anyone running LED tape in a parallel circuit. My original build I used these cheap, plastic spring clips. Since building my stage I have learned these are not the best choice and I have since been searching for a suitable replacement.
Today I found a 4 pin terminal block that I looking to purchase as a replacement.
I have included the link below.
https://www.amazon.com/Position-Covered-Screw-Terminal-Strip/dp/B008DS266M/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1489338055&sr=8-6&keywords=terminal+block
Thanks again for all the great comments and I hope this link is helpful.
Hey Jason, I’m the 73rd person to ask this, sorry I’m so late to the game, but I’d love your wiring notes as well….wonderful job on the set piece!
jburns@westbowles.com
This is great. I was thinking of trying it with white yarn and lighting it up with led parcans
Tiffany- interesting idea. If you have LED par cans, and they happen to have UV output (some do these days!), try turning that on, and use fluorescent yarn colors.
Or just try plain blue- it’ll make the color of the yarn pop (bright yarn colors work better!)
Have fun!!!
Me too! Can I please get that wring diagram? Thanks so much!
gary@londonbridge.org
If you wouldn’t mind shooting me the wiring info as well, that’d be great – thanks! bryce@sacchurch.org
Jason, this is such a great idea! Looks rad! Would you be able to send us information on your build and the supplies you used. Thanks so much! kelly@auroracommunity.org
Hey Jason! I would love to get the plans for this design, specs, materials, links… all that good stuff. This is exactly what I have been looking for. Thanks a ton! c.morrison@northsummit.com
Hello Jason. Love this design and we are making this week. Could you please share all wireing plans / links to materials to make it happen. Thank you.