A design feature we are trying to incorporate in a rear bar area is long strips of bulbs (6-8 ft) in a starburst pattern that would be on the bottom side of a semi-circular soffit over a counter and free standing bar in the rear of our entertainment room

Rows of regular old light bulb sockets and 25 watt clear appliance bulbs would look perfect BUT be just TOO hot for an interior application because this would require over 100 bulbs.

We've thought about rope lighting, I've thought about LED string lights

http://www.led.lightwavesconcept.com/index.php/cPath/213

ANY IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS or SOURCES come to mind??????

DE had introduced me to a series of low voltage lights called 'Clik Strip, made by Ardee. Can't seem to find the quote or the specifics, but will keep looking.

I think it would fit your requirement but was very expensive.

It's used primarly in commercial installations and is flexible to allow for mounting around curved surfaces.

Found the web site. Here is the URL to the Ardee product:

Ardee Clickstrip (http://www.ardeelighting.com/page.php?id=clikstrip)

And a pointer to the installation manuals:

ClickStrip Installation (http://www.ardeelighting.com/page.php?id=download_files&section=clikstrip)

--curtis

Thanks for the links.

I found these bulbs in LED.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/store/html/images/e27-w8-g.jpg

At $3.95 a bulb

Now I would need to figure our how to do a long set of sockets that would be simpler than mounting 100 porcelain sockets and wiring them all up.

Found this socket solution that comes in 10 or 40 ft lengths and can be cut to fit. Haven't got the price info yet.

http://www.displayit-info.com/christmas/images/lights/MQ.gif


I still would prefer a clear bulb though.

Big,

Have you seen this thread?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=689889&highlight=chase

Bud

Thanks China

some more things to consider I see.

Anyone know the source of the lighting used in this poster box????

http://www.stargatecinema.com/NEW-Illuminated-Marquee-Poster-Case-with-Chase-Lights-pr-16321.html

I am resurrecting this thread.
Have any of you guys found any ideas for lights. I am working on a marquee as we speak. If I can come up with a decent option, I would consider the chase type bulbs you see on the face of marquees.
Why are these things so hard to find??? :confused:
The best thing I have found so far are Christmas lights. But then, how do you mount them securely and uniformly. I think it would be tough to get them to mount straight so they didn't look tacky.


Craig

After a lot of searches and some puchases of various cords and bulbs that didn't work out here is what I think I'm going to be using.

I needed 50-100 lights and if you do the math 100 times anything is a lot of wattage so my first attempt was Christmas lights and they looked just like that, and then tried some LED christmas lights. The problem with the LED was the light color, too cool for my taste looked light cheap neon.

They have some great full sized LED bulbs and theaters are switching over, but to get the right color was going to run $13 or so a bulb. https://store.lsgc.com/G11-GLOBE-BULB-MEDIUM-EDISON-BASE-P5C0.aspx Found them cheaper($4), but not in the warm white color, bought a couple to test and hated the color of the light
http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs/e27-w8.htm

Then I looked into actual marquee sized lights that happen to be 11 watts. Then I figured that if I used those almost full sized bulbs I could probably get by with 50 on a dimmer so Then I looked at either mounting 50 ceramic bulb bases and wiring the sucker up. I thought about all that wire stripping and screwing and thought about an easier way. So I bought a 100ft 50 socket commercial grade light string. I've experimented with 1/2 inch MDF by drilling holes just larger than than the ouside of the socket. I think I can silicon glue the sockets in the holes and just push the wiring all over the place to take up the slack. but I'm not at that point quite yet. I'll be mounting the MDF panels to perimeter rails up in the rounded soffit I've created. Also thinking of what to cover the surface of the MDF with, Paint or smoke colored window film glued to the MDF.

Give me a week and I'll give you some feed back.

http://www.budgetlighting.com/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=6069801.3245*QL89-2&p_id=1513&xm=on&ppinc=search2

http://www.budgetlighting.com/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=6069801.3245*d04pA6&p_id=1504&xm=on&ppinc=search2

I am resurrecting this thread.
Have any of you guys found any ideas for lights. I am working on a marquee as we speak. If I can come up with a decent option, I would consider the chase type bulbs you see on the face of marquees.
Why are these things so hard to find??? :confused:

I intend to construct a marquee with chase lights as well. Never completely figured out the lights themselves but my electrician is pretty crafty so I figured we'd come up with something. I found a bunch of chasers that I hope will work at digitallighting._com/animationfolder/genchase.htm((SORRY CAN'T POST A LINK YET-remove underscore)) Personally not worried about the prices, but they seem to have a lot of options.

Anyone know the source of the lighting used in this poster box????

http://www.stargatecinema.com/NEW-Illuminated-Marquee-Poster-Case-with-Chase-Lights-pr-16321.html
Sorry no, but my poster box came with a box of spare lights. The box has the following label:

G25 E12 120V 7W Clear

They look similar to the one in your link above:

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/htmarket_1934_795507708

--curtis

Here is another option I thought about. It was my second place idea.

http://www.partylights.com/products/strings/G40.html

Here is some more interesting reading on the subject of LED marquee lights.

http://www.ledtronics.com/product_news/ledm_article_073005.htm

From my research the bulbs are $10 each or more.

Here are the ones from the article:

http://www.ledtronics.com/ds/DEC-S14L/

a bargain at $30-50 each??? how about a power buy?

Alright!!
Some pretty good idea's here.
I can't wait till I can take more time to pour through all of them. :)


Craig

Guys, I need some help here and I am sure you resourceful folks can help me out. :D :D
I am at a bit of a stand still right now with the construction of my marquee. The problem I am having believe it or not, is finding decent lettering for it in the size that I need. I am afraid I have taken for granted the fact that I would be able to easily find 2 or 3 inch lettering for the face of the marquee. Unfortunately the smallest I can find that looks good is 4 inches tall. :(
My marquees front dimensions where the face will be backlit for lettering is only 10” X 31” in length. I just think two rows of 4 inch lettering would take up to much space on the face and not look right. Now, I have seen plenty of lettering that resembles what you see on a gas station sign. What I am looking for is lettering that is about 1/8’” thick. Even better if it was a snap lock type design like the letter in the below link.

http://www.alphabetsigns.com/marquee.html

I thought lettering like this would be easy to find, but apparently it is not.
Currently I have the frame built. I don’t want to go any further till I get the situation resolved. And I definitely don’t want to start over.
Any idea’s??

Thanks

Craig

Google is man's best friend.

I just typed in 3 inch sign letters and this was in the first few hits:

http://www.woodlandmanufacturing.com/plastic-letters/ACRYLIC1-8.HTML

Google is man's best friend.

I just typed in 3 inch sign letters and this was in the first few hits:

http://www.woodlandmanufacturing.com/plastic-letters/ACRYLIC1-8.HTML


Those letters are cool, but how do you mount them? Their advice to me was to use double sided tape. :( Hardly changeable.
I was hoping for something like the snap lock letter in the earlier link I posted.
As of right now, it looks as though I may have to settle for the changeable plastic type lettering you see at gas stations. Even though the letters in the below link are 4" there are plenty of two inch letters available n that style.
http://www.alphabetsigns.com/flexchange.html

Oh well, I guess there is always some give and take. :(

Craig

anyone thought about christmas lights? cheap, mount em through a board, or boards. and you can get them to chase, flash, blink. and bulbs are very cheap. i have built several "light boards" for my friends personal bar/gamerooms.

I've tried Christmas lights and fact I've now got an assortment that failed the audition process. They basically looked like christmas lights sticking through a board.

What I've ended up with is an 11 watt sign bulb in a medium socket (normal lightbulb socket) for my marquee.

http://www.budgetlighting.com/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=1183004.10887*-z8Zv8&p_id=1513&xm=on&ppinc=search2

Here is one panel at the factory:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/bigmouthindc/DSC00318.jpg

It's going up under here:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/bigmouthindc/DSC00314.jpg

That is going to look awesome!

Thanks Heynow, I didn't have a collection of helmuts so I had to do something different. I admire your bar it's got a feeling like I could sit there all day.

Another thing I came up with for lighting the Marquee letters is a one of a kind. I started with a LED strip lighting system from IKEA:

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15576&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=11158&langId=-1&categoryId=16082&chosenPartNumber=90098177

Then I took a piece of base molding cut out a reccess and glued the led's in the recess.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/bigmouthindc/DSC00292.jpg

I actually put the molding up first in the shape of the Marquee then glued in a total of 8 ft of the white LED strips up.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/bigmouthindc/DSC00288.jpg

That's how I ended up getting the Metallic letters to come alive.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/bigmouthindc/DSC00300.jpg

Nniiiiiceee

Looks great Big, I just saw those lights in the Ikea catalog yesterday. I was thinking about using them for either in cabinet or under cabinet lighting for my bar.

Bud

Wow, looks awesome!!
Was it difficult to get the sockets to mount straight so the bulb will look straight? Did you use a cordless drill or a drill press to drill the holes? That was the dilemma I was stuck with with rope lights.
Can you take a close up or two of the socket both on the back side and face? What kind of glue did you use to mount the lights?

Craig

These were the bulbs I was going to use for the bottom perimeter of the marquee.

http://partylights.com/products/strings/G40.html

Mounting the bulbs straight was/is the issue holding me back on this concept.
Since I don't have a drill press, I was going to have to go out and buy one. I believe that is the only way you could really get the bulbs and sockets to mount straight. Even then, I question how it would turn out.

Craig

You could use a projector lamp with a gobo.

Craig I actually tried that string and changed my mind. The sockets are tapered and it's the wrong direction. The part that you would want to shove in a hole first is the biggest.
That would make for a sloppy fit.

With the medium size sockets (see link) the sockets are straight and there is actually a lug just a little less that 1/2 inch from the lip so that when you press them into a hole in 1/2 MDF the front lip just comes just a little short of the surface (perfect)

http://www.budgetlighting.com/store/agora.cgi?cart_id1183004.10887*3U6YL0&product=Light-Strings-Medium-Base

I used a hole cutter in an electric drill, I did have to order online the right diameter because neither Lowes, HD or Sears stocked the one I needed. I cut 1/2 the depth from one side and then flipped the wood and cut the remainder of the hole to keep the edges from tearing out.

I used Loctite construction adhesive, glueing just a few at a time. You have to keep checking that they haven't come out of position because of the weight of the cords tugging.

I'll post some more pics.

Big - the Bar area is really coming together.....sweeeet!

Bud, The last time I was at IKEA they were $20 per set less for some reason. You also need to know that they don't dim (I tried), they aren't as bright as Halogen cabinet lights and the quality of light is a lot different (bluer).

Can you take a close up or two of the socket both on the back side and face?
Craig

I'm not taking it down to get a closer pic of the back but here is the business end. That's a 1 7/16 hole. It's actually about 1/64 to big but you gotta use what you gotta use.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/bigmouthindc/DSC00323.jpg

I'm going to put another coat of paint on now to hide the marks from the construction process and to cover up a few of the sockets where some of the white glue is peeking through. When it dries I'll put in a few bulbs and take a pic.

Bud, The last time I was at IKEA they were $20 per set less for some reason. You also need to know that they don't dim (I tried), they aren't as bright as Halogen cabinet lights and the quality of light is a lot different (bluer).

Interesting about the jump in price. I did see they also come in green, blue and white. The blue must be real blue.

Bud

Man, this space is killer, nicely done!

Bud the price was a reduction, I took that as a sign that they were either trying to move some excess inventory or that they are discontinuing the item.

Yes the blue is blue and I have a set I might be using for another application.

Thanks Winkelmann

OK, with bulbs.
You are going to have to wait till next week when I get my 2 cases of bulbs, I only bought a few at HD.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/bigmouthindc/DSC00334.jpg

Big,

I am not an electrician so your route spooks me a bit. :)
Looks awesome.
So what you did was buy the sockets, then wire them with what looks like lamp cord or something?

Craig

Craig I actually tried that string and changed my mind. The sockets are tapered and it's the wrong direction. The part that you would want to shove in a hole first is the biggest.
That would make for a sloppy fit.




Exactly!!
This is why I have held off!!!
Also, it looks like there is a clip on each socket. However, it looks like that clip could easily be removed. But as you said, I think it would be difficult to keep straight so the bulbs were straight.

I am going to check into your new source. Since my marquee is only about 3 feet long, I am hoping they have something that is smaller in scale. It looks like your bulbs are pretty good size.

Craig

Big,

So what you did was buy the sockets, then wire them with what looks like lamp cord or something?

Craig

I actually thought about getting 50 ceramic bases and wiring them up but I took the easier route and got a commercial pre-wired string.
http://www.budgetlighting.com/store/agora.cgi?cart_id1183004.10887*_A4_R7&product=Light-Strings-Medium-Base

I actually thought about getting 50 ceramic bases and wiring them up but I took the easier route and got a commercial pre-wired string.
http://www.budgetlighting.com/store/agora.cgi?cart_id1183004.10887*_A4_R7&product=Light-Strings-Medium-Base


I actually called them to see if they had some string lights with a smaller socket. Unfortunately they don't. :(
I am starting to see why nobody has built one of these marquee's before. :(

Craig

Actually that's not quite true as I copied the Cinema Paridiso Marquee posted some time ago.
I've saved a pic I'll look for the link.

I've got a PM from the guy it's Dcostanza. I'll see if he'll hook up some pics.

Actually that's not quite true as I copied the Cinema Paridiso Marquee posted some time ago.
I've saved a pic I'll look for the link.

I've got a PM from the guy it's Dcostanza. I'll see if he'll hook up some pics.

That would be great. Actually, I can't believe I missed it. I was thinking of ways to do a marquee, almost before I built my theater. So I have been searching periodically since I have been a member of this site. If done right, I think it will add a lot to the mood of the entrance area.
If you could list the dimensions and product listings of where you bought your supplies when you find your pictures, that would be great. ;) :) ;)

Craig

I posted some pics of other entrances that are related to this discussion here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9624262#post9624262

Good morning everyone. BIGmouthinDC Pm'd me about this discussion and I thought I would post a comment in the thread. I will see about posting some pictures later today/tonight. I had a section that detailed the marquee construction on my website but took it down since I didn't have the time to keep it updated.

Best regards,
Don

Good morning everyone. BIGmouthinDC Pm'd me about this discussion and I thought I would post a comment in the thread. I will see about posting some pictures later today/tonight. I had a section that detailed the marquee construction on my website but took it down since I didn't have the time to keep it updated.

Best regards,
Don


If you know what the dimensions of the marquee were, could you please list them along with any parts you used.
Looking forward to seeing your pics.

Craig

Did some searching in the archives and here are some of my previous comments about my marquee...

"suffolk112000,Forgot to answer your question about changeable letters. My letters will be permanently affixed, dimensional letters. I have been toying with making them halo lit (router a groove behind each one then placing either neon or LED's in the groove of each letter) but should probably get back to the actual theater progress.

Material List:
I got the bulbs and sockets from a company called N.Glatnz and Sons. They handle commercial sign materials. web site link: http://www.nglantz.com/
The sign flasher I got from one of our local theaters. (N.Glantz sells the same one as well as several more) Wire is standard 12g solid wire. 60' of white, 150' of black. Wood is 1/2" CDX (I think, I don't remember). Gloss laminate is from Nevamar."

The size of the marquee is roughly 120"L radius front. Center is roughly 4'deep.
Will have to post pics tomorrow or so as I have a full schedule today. I originally made it as one piece until one of my shop guys made the comment about getting it down my stairs. Had to put the thing on a huge table saw and cut it into three sections. I can laugh now but at the time it wasn't very funny :D . Remarkably I was able to put it back together, cover the seams and it is still hanging in one piece. Make sure you take the overall size into consideration if you build something like this... and it has to be brought downstairs!

Hope this helps a bit...

Best regards
Don

Did some searching in the archives and here are some of my previous comments about my marquee...

"suffolk112000,Forgot to answer your question about changeable letters. My letters will be permanently affixed, dimensional letters. I have been toying with making them halo lit (router a groove behind each one then placing either neon or LED's in the groove of each letter) but should probably get back to the actual theater progress.

Material List:
I got the bulbs and sockets from a company called N.Glatnz and Sons. They handle commercial sign materials. web site link: http://www.nglantz.com/
The sign flasher I got from one of our local theaters. (N.Glantz sells the same one as well as several more) Wire is standard 12g solid wire. 60' of white, 150' of black. Wood is 1/2" CDX (I think, I don't remember). Gloss laminate is from Nevamar."

The size of the marquee is roughly 120"L radius front. Center is roughly 4'deep.
Will have to post pics tomorrow or so as I have a full schedule today. I originally made it as one piece until one of my shop guys made the comment about getting it down my stairs. Had to put the thing on a huge table saw and cut it into three sections. I can laugh now but at the time it wasn't very funny :D . Remarkably I was able to put it back together, cover the seams and it is still hanging in one piece. Make sure you take the overall size into consideration if you build something like this... and it has to be brought downstairs!

Hope this helps a bit...

Best regards
Don


Sounds great. :)
I think where I went wrong is when I decided to make my marquee only three feet long. :( It really makes it hard to find parts that will be at least somewhat to scale like lettering and lights.

Craig

OK, the guy in the brown truck delivered two cases of 11 watt S14 bulbs so here is one final shot of the Marquee.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/bigmouthindc/DSC00347.jpg

Big, looks great! I'm confused though. Did you hotwire the strings or do you have a hidden outlet somewhere?

Bud

Bud I consider the light panels as a fixture. Each panel (3) is held in place with 6 screws and the junction of the wires from the string lights to the romex is "accessible"

Here is a shot of the romex peaking down out of the bottom of the soffit, which isn't the ceiling, The ceiling is above that.

Might not make everybody happy about code but............

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/bigmouthindc/DSC00305.jpg

Nice work.....what is the effect like from a distance?

Cheers,
Mark

BIGmouthinDC
Very well done!

Don

Bud I consider the light panels as a fixture. Each panel (3) is held in place with 6 screws and the junction of the wires from the string lights to the romex is "accessible"

Here is a shot of the romex peaking down out of the bottom of the soffit, which isn't the ceiling, The ceiling is above that.

Might not make everybody happy about code but............

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/bigmouthindc/DSC00305.jpg


Nice Job, it looks great...

Are you using a junction box to connect the panels to the romex??

Is a junction box inside the cutout? Maybe I just answerd my own question!

BK

OK, the guy in the brown truck delivered two cases of 11 watt S14 bulbs so here is one final shot of the Marquee.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/bigmouthindc/DSC00347.jpg

Now that's a money shot!

Sick...sick...sick....

Black glass on that wall would be killer.

Yeah I'm late to this thread but the lighting on the lettering with the LED strips is unreal.

How did you get the lettering cut? Where did you find it?

Richard

How did you get the lettering cut? Where did you find it?
Richard

The letters are actually very easy. There are dozens of on-line vendors of "sign letters" One kind that most of them carry (or have access to) is metal faced gator foam letters.

What I ordered was the the brushed silver 1 inch thick Gator foam letters with the sides painted to match the silver.

Now most places have stock fonts. A few places will work with custom fonts and corporate logo's. I admired Dcostanzas marquee work (his source of the font had been discontinued and it had changed names) so with hours of searching I found it. The ITC Anna font has kind of a Hollywood/art deco feel. It was a custom font and I had to send the sign company the font.

Here is one good research tool for "theater style fonts"

http://www.fontscape.com/explore?7SW

The reason I ask is some day I will have my dream theater, a combination of Art Deco and Mission Style/California Craftsman (yes it's been done) and I would love to have the theater marquee with lettering such as yours. The front lighting is amazing.

Great job.

Richard

That gives me wood.

Sorry, I just had to say it.

Thanks, I really need to point out that couple of years ago another AVSer gave me the idea: I saved his posted pic:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/bigmouthindc/Picture20081.jpg

Which one did you use?

Awesome work by the way!
The letters are actually very easy. There are dozens of on-line vendors of "sign letters" One kind that most of them carry (or have access to) is metal faced gator foam letters.

What I ordered was the the brushed silver 1 inch thick Gator foam letters with the sides painted to match the silver.

Now most places have stock fonts. A few places will work with custom fonts and corporate logo's. I admired Dcostanzas marquee work (his source of the font had been discontinued and it had changed names) so with hours of searching I found it. The ITC Anna font has kind of a Hollywood/art deco feel. It was a custom font and I had to send the sign company the font.

Here is one good research tool for "theater style fonts"

http://www.fontscape.com/explore?7SW

these guys:

http://www.dimensionalletters.com/metal-gatorfoam-letters.htm

Awesome! Thanks!