Chris Spotts from Highlands Church in Cumming, GA brings us this stage that’s not hexagon…it’s hexahere to stay! (Originally posted February 2016)
While looking around at different designs on the website, Chris liked the look of the radiant squares project but wanted to go a different route with it. They had a low budget, under $1000, to cover the stage. They ended up right around $800 for 32 hexagons that were 21″ wide. They were able to realize substantial cost savings by using foam board from Dollar Tree for the back instead of Coroplast. They were originally going to be 24″ wide, but the Dollar Tree foam board was only wide enough for 21″.
Each hexagon was basically a wooden frame with a 5050 RGB LED strip run around the inside edge and a foam board back.
Each hexagon was constructed of 2×2″ lumber that was 10.5″ long and cut at a 60-degree angle. The pieces were then stapled together with 1/2″ staples. A 1/2″ hole was drilled for the wire to exit out the side and the inside edge was brushed with Liquid Nails adhesive. The adhesive on the back of the LED strip did not inspire confidence. After soldering all the LED strips (the joints were hot glued and heat shrunk as well), the LED tape was run along the Liquid Nails and out the hole. Each strip received 6-10ft of 4 conductor wire that was run directly to the DMX controller. They opted not to have connectors here both for cost and simplicity reasons (fewer things to fail). A two-inch, three-hole corner bracket was screwed to the top of each hexagon in order to hang it.
A black plywood wall from 5mm plywood and 2x4s was constructed across the back of the stage to hang the hexagons on. The appropriate lines and positions for each hexagon were chalk lined out and then a 1/2″ hole was drilled where it would hang to run behind the control modules. The wires were fed through the hole and each hexagon hung.
Control boxes with a 120v AC to DC 30 amp power supply, an 8 fixture, 24 channel DMX controller, and a pair of DMX panel mounts were screwed to the back of the black wall. Each hexagon was wired directly into the DMX controller.
Parts list:
Male XLR connectors
Female XLR connectors
4 rolls of RGB wire
4 power supplies
4 DMX controllers
11 rolls of LED tape
All other supplies were picked up at the hardware store.
Chris,
This is awesome! I love the design! I have been thinking, it would be so cool if someone did a cool hexagon set with LED tape and you nailed it! Way to set the bar high for serving Christ!!!!
,Steven
Thanks! Couldn’t do it without my awesome team. It took sooooo much more work than I expected but I love the way it turned out.
Chris Spotts you’re a genius! This design is top level and the videos you posted…. Well, all my Pastor friends are drooling over this stage now. Haha! Thank you for showing us that excellence in ministry doesn’t have to empty the bank, too. Keep up the great work bro!!!
Looked really nice!
I saw it first hand a few weeks ago and it is an awesome display!
Do you have any specifics on how this was all wired up? I have experience with DMX lights but generally just purchasing lights and assigning them addresses on our lighting board. Your technique has many applications. I have no experience soldering. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Sure. So, they make non-solder connectors – you can find them on amazon – but I wouldn’t trust them for a long term connection in an environment like the stage.
Take a look at this and see if it helps.
http://s10.postimg.org/pqmazwqmh/2016_02_28_12_46_44_A_web_whiteboard.jpg
Chris,
What do you use to control the dmx lighting?
I use Jands Vista dmx lighting software. But anything should work. Its just a series of generic RGB lights.
We want to start using the LED Tape, and Controllers for our Kid Church.
However, I am not familiar with what I need to get.
Can somebody maybe give me links to everything I need on Amazon?
Thank you
Look in the article above, just before the pictures- there is a series of Amazon links.
I saw those, but I am not sure if that is everything I need, or if there are other things I would need in addition to that.
That’s everything – minus basic electrical supplies. Soldering supplies, heat shrink, wire cutters, strippers, etc.
Hey Chris, are the LEDs mounted on the outside face of the hexagons? Or is it diffused from the back side?