For the 2017 season we decided to retire the old “big bulbs” and exchange them with some big bulbs that would be RGB, meaning that they would be able to turn virtually any color. The reason we decided to say good bye to the old bulbs is that they were getting dim and hard to see. They also used incandescent lights which were a hassle to replace, and used more electricity.
To make the new lights, we started with some “Really Big Lights”. That’s actually what they were called. They look like giant C7 or C9 bulbs… the type you see in classic Christmas displays. Only these are over a foot tall and made of plastic. They come in different colors and are normally lit up with a single LED inside, but we bought them in white, which allows us to change their color in the display by using RGB lights inside.
Then the LED stalk fits in right where the old C9 used to go. The plastic base was actually designed really nicely, with a hook that came off, allowing the wires to be passed through, and then reattached to make a nice strain relief.
Here are a couple daytime shots of the lights all strung together…
…and a couple of the many ways it can be lit up at night.
