Against the Ropes

Michael Martin from TrueNorth Church in North Augusta, SC brings us this great LED tape design.

Materials:

• LED Strip Lighting
• 15 decoder boxes
• 15 power supplies
• Cat5 cable
  Lumber
• Black paint
• Uni-strut
• U bolts

Techniques:

From Michael: One of the greatest challenges came from attempting to mount the LED tape to the structure. The adhesive that comes on the back of the tape is not strong enough to hold the tape over long runs. We found that clear zip ties worked the best in holding the strip to the wooden frame. When the LED strip is on, the zip ties are not visible.

We purchased our LED materials off of Amazon (made in Chine) to help keep the cost down. With this, there are some quirks. These boxes do not work well when chained with DMX. We found that running into the first box DMX and then chaining the remaining 14 boxes with Cat5 worked the best.

Our par cans were mounted from our back truss. We attached the 10′ sticks of uni-strut with U-bolts.

We heavily utilized Craigslist for this set. Before purchasing the 35 par cans for this set, we only owned 10 cans and they were all silver. Searching through Craigslist one day I ran across an ad selling all 35 of these matching par cans for $350. We jumped on these and now we have added 35 new fixtures to our inventory. Moral of the story, don’t be afraid to buy used! This is also a good example of purchasing with the mindset of thinking ahead. Since using them on this set, these same cans have been utilized in four other set designs.

Design Concept and Inspiration

The “Against the Ropes” design draws its name from the vertical LED tape strips that create a cascading light effect reminiscent of ropes hanging from above. This approach offers a dramatic visual impact while remaining surprisingly achievable for churches with limited technical resources. The vertical orientation of the LED strips draws the eye upward, creating a sense of height and grandeur even in spaces with standard ceiling heights.

Michael and his team at TrueNorth Church were looking for a way to transform their stage without breaking the bank. The LED tape solution provided the perfect balance of visual drama and affordability. By spacing the vertical strips evenly across the stage, they created a rhythmic pattern that works beautifully with both static colors and dynamic lighting programming.

Construction Details

The wooden frames for each LED strip were built using standard lumber painted black to minimize visibility. Each frame was designed to be lightweight yet sturdy enough to support the LED tape and withstand regular handling during setup and teardown. The frames were then suspended from the existing truss system, allowing for easy adjustment of height and positioning. If you are looking for affordable truss options for your church stage, check out our guide on budget-friendly truss alternatives that can help you achieve professional results without breaking the bank.

The decision to use 15 separate decoder boxes rather than a centralized controller provided greater flexibility in addressing individual strips. This modular approach means that any single strip can be controlled independently, opening up possibilities for chase sequences, wave patterns, and other dynamic effects that would be impossible with a simpler setup.

Budget Breakdown and Cost Savings

One of the most impressive aspects of this design is the cost efficiency. The LED tape and decoder boxes sourced from Amazon represented significant savings compared to professional lighting fixtures. The real steal, however, was the par can purchase from Craigslist. At $350 for 35 matching fixtures, that’s just $10 per light—a fraction of what new par cans would cost.

This approach demonstrates a key principle for church stage design: invest in versatile equipment that can be repurposed across multiple designs. The par cans purchased for this set have now been used in four additional designs, spreading that initial $350 investment across many services and events.

Related Designs

• Falling Strips – A similar vertical strip design using different materials for a unique cascading effect
• LED Tape – Another creative implementation of LED tape lighting in a church setting
• Light Bars – Horizontal LED strip design that complements vertical installations
• Vertical Lines – Clean vertical design using alternative materials for a different aesthetic
• LED Wall – Full wall coverage using LED tape for maximum visual impact

Pro Tips for LED Tape Stage Designs

Plan Your Power Distribution: With 15 power supplies in this design, power management was critical. Michael recommends mapping out your power needs early and ensuring you have adequate circuits available. Consider using power distribution boxes to keep wiring organized and safe.

Test Your DMX Configuration: The discovery that these particular decoder boxes work better with Cat5 chaining rather than DMX chaining highlights the importance of testing your signal path before final installation. Always test your full lighting chain before hanging everything to avoid troubleshooting headaches later.

Think Modular: Building individual frames for each LED strip made this design highly adaptable. The frames can be rearranged, some can be omitted for a different look, or additional strips can be added later. This modular approach future-proofs your investment.

Scout for Deals: The Craigslist find for the par cans shows that patience and persistence in searching for used equipment can pay off enormously. Set up alerts on classified sites and check regularly for lighting equipment that might work for your needs.