How To - 20 Foot Megatree Setup

In this video, I show how I setup a 20 foot tall pixel megatree.
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Timeline
00:00 20 Foot Megatree Setup
00:05 Megatree Parts and Tools
04:00 - Assembling Frame Pieces
06:32 - Placing Hook Head and Topper on the Frame
07:49 - Attaching Star to Top
09:40 - Showing Guy Wires Attached to Top
10:05 Mounting Winch and Attaching Guy Wire to Pulley and Hook Head
14:26 Running Star Wiring
16:05 Prep Before Raising the Tree Frame
17:36 Raising the Tree Frame
18:35 Anchoring 4 Guy Wires
23:05 Using the Winch to Lower the Hook Head
24:13 Assembling the Base Ring
25:27 Setting Base Ring Anchors
26:38 Attaching Pixel Strips to the Hook Head
29:26 Attaching Guy Wire to Hook Head for Rotation Adjustments
30:35 Raising the Hook Head and Pixel Strips
30:56 Attaching Base Ring Anchors to the Base Ring
33:22 Attaching Pixel Strips to the Base Ring
35:01 Megatree Setup Complete
Materials
NO LONGER AVAILABLE
20’ Megatree Kit - christmaslightshow.com/collec...
Includes:
Hand Winch
Hook Head
Pulley Head
5-way Pole Stand
Pole Pin
Guy-Wires (4)
Megatree Topper
Boscoyo Studio Megatree Topper - boscoyostudio.com/product/ste...
Boscoyo Studio 36” Star
boscoyostudio.com/product/chr...
From local home improvement store:
(2) 10’ x 1 1/2” Black Pipe - To link together for the center pole (can be cut to shorter lengths for shorter trees)
(2) 10’ x 1 1/2” Black Pipe - Each cut in half to make 4 legs
(4 or 5) 10’ x 1” Electrical Grey PVC Pipe - Cut to desired length
Galvanized pipe pieces and T-Connector to mount star to Megatree Kit Top piece
Hardware for Tree Topper from BoltDepot.com
(Box of 40) 1/4"-20x2-5/16" J Bolts
(Box of 100) 18-8, 1/4"-20 Hex Nuts
(Box of 100) 18-8, 1/4" Flat Washers
Miscellaneous Items:
Fishing line
6” Bungees with Ball - amzn.to/3Qwg0IJ

[@anddan11111]

The best set up video on youtube from start to finish you make it so easy to understand thank you

[@donpaige6929]

Great video! I like how you showed each step. This will be my second year and I've been told that by the wife that I need to add a Mega tree this year. :) This video really helps me make the decision on how to build my tree.

[@eugeneorendain4429]

Very informative video

[@krazytrinisteve]

This is awesome

[@steveharman8430]

I really don't like how you drop bolts and nuts into the grass and I can see every one of them. But when I do it in my yard, they disappear and are gone forever. Anyway, thanks for all your how-to videos and your willingness to share. Learning lots.

[@NiFamilyLights]

Glad to hear these videos are useful for you. And, don’t you worry, I’ve lost plenty of nuts and bolts in the yard too. I totally know what you’re talking about!

[@jwellin8693]

Thanks for the video really like this mega tree setup its unfortunate that they are out of stock right now or i would purchase this right now.

[@3rdWorldGamingHD]

Great video! That's a lot of wood stacking. I'd recommend going to harbor freight and get a cheap jack stand.

[@NiFamilyLights]

Haha, thanks. I had the wood left over from a fence project, so I used what was on hand. A jack stand would be nice.

[@BobbySullivan]

The pole is 2 x 2 solid steel. Wicked heavy. 30 inches of that is in the ground surrounded by concrete. There are four 1/8 guy wires that are mounted from the top pulley to the ground. The pool is all one piece.

[@NiFamilyLights]

Impressive! I think you’re in good shape! What type of ground stakes are you using and how deep are those? And, how far from the center of the tree are the stakes in the ground? That’s the last thing to check regarding the stability of the frame.

[@toddward4756]

Thanks for video, im going for a copy of your setup. I saw anchors for the guy wires and anrchors for ring. Any anchors for the base to keep it from sliding? Maybe not since so heavy?

[@NiFamilyLights]

Good luck Todd, there’s nothing better than having a megatree in your show! You are correct, there are no anchors needed for the base. All the weight is going straight down the pole from the top to the ground. So, unless you have people practicing football lineman drills against the main pole, there’s no need there. Even the bolts used to retain the 4 legs aren’t all that tight, just snug enough to prevent them from accidentally being pulled out.

[@mikeyandalyssab4782]

Great video!!! What is the diameter of your base ring? I'm considering using a 14ft trampoline frame for my 20ft mega, but wasn't sure if that was too wide. Thanks in advance for your help and videos!

[@NiFamilyLights]

Thanks for the comment and great question! We tried a few base ring sizes and settled on a 6.5’ radius. That means the diameter is 13’ which is pretty close to the 14’ trampoline frame. That size would look pretty similar to my tree. Best of luck to you with your megatree build!

[@mikeyandalyssab4782]

@@NiFamilyLights Thanks so much, I really appreciate it! Cant wait to see the show!

[@Aaron365]

What are the names of your ground anchors and the brackets that attach them to the ring at ground level?

[@NiFamilyLights]

You can get the ground anchors from Amazon. www.amazon.com/dp/B01417336K/?coliid=I22SIR5CS230LO&colid=BB8RAXZDRK0F&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it For the base ring, I haven't found an alternative to those. However, they aren't really doing too much to keep the base ring down other than to keep the ring lifted off the ground while I attach the strips. I use a couple of the 18" anchors and zip tie them to the base ring to keep the base ring down.

[@TheHobbyShopFilms]

is there a diagram for inserting the pixels into the Chromastar 36” 6 ring star. It has 270 nodes. Thanks.

[@NiFamilyLights]

For the 6 ring Chromastar, follow the steps shown in this video by Ryan Cook. You'll start at the bottom center of the inner star. Then work your way outwardly around each concentric star. From the back side, the pixels should be pushed in a counter-clockwise direction. From the front, they'll be going clockwise. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4Okd35sZ6eYp6c In xLights, the star model should be defined with 6 layers with the starting location being "Bottom Ctr-CW" aka Bottom Center - Clockwise. In the Layers drop down, enter 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 for the inside layer, layer 2, layer 3, layer 4, layer 5, and outside. Now your xLights model and your physical model will perfectly match. Good luck.

[@jtapoling]

Do you still recommend this setup after having it a few years? Looking to build my first 16 - 18ft mega tree.

[@NiFamilyLights]

Jeremy, thanks for the comment. Absolutely, the setup is simple yet sturdy and reliable. I’ve been using this setup for 7 years with my show and 4 years at another show. Unfortunately, the vendor where I sourced all the components is no longer doing business. However, Mattos Designs produces and sells a similarly design megatree setup. His system does require square tubing vice the commonly available black pipe that I use. That said, I’ve been asked to make some detailed measurements of the parts for fabricators out there to replicate this setup which I’m looking to make a video of at some point. Many folks have gone the route of making a strap and a pole (ASAP) megatree frames. That setup does require assembling a number of moving telescoping parts. I personally prefer to setup a rigid frame that gets “locked” into place, then get the pixels attached and raised. Good luck with planning your build.

[@javaman1996]

Would u have any pic of the topper love the design with added support hard to get good look for my welder(brother)

[@NiFamilyLights]

Sheldon, are you interested in measurements of the trolley part with the pixel topper that goes up and down the pole or are you interested in the top piece that has the pulley, star mount, and guy wire arms?

[@andrewallsbrook5127]

@@NiFamilyLights I would be interested in measurements of both

[@NiFamilyLights]

Andrew, I've got this on the list. Since the items are currently in use for the show season, I'll get to this in the post season.

[@CarinEisenhauer]

The hook head from Boscoyo looks as if its changed from the one your using. I have the Christmaslightshow mega tree kit also and would like to get a hook head that can be winched up the poles, any suggestions? Or did you modify and weld to create your hook head?

[@NiFamilyLights]

The hook head I use is from Boscoyo. It’s quite possible that they changed the design of their hook head over the years. You can contact Boscoyo and ask them to make some modifications that work for you. At a minimum, you need a hole cut out of the center to allow the hook head to trolley up and down the center pole. I used zip ties and attached the hook head through the various round holes in the middle to secure it to the trolley piece from the megatree kit. For the church, I went with another company that had a design specifically with slots cut out so the hook head would sit down into the original “fingers” of the older trolley. I still used zip ties for those. Unfortunately, he also stopped making and selling hook head toppers. If you get in touch with Boscoyo, I’m sure they can help you out.

[@CarinEisenhauer]

You Rock!!

[@freejack102]

Where did you say you bought your megatree hook head and steel topper? Video was not heard.... Upper (something) metals?

[@NiFamilyLights]

The hook head was part of a megatree kit from ChristmasLightshow.com. It looks like he’s not been doing business over the last couple of years. For a solid tree setup, check out Mattos Designs. For the topper piece, look up Overkill Metals for solid steel toppers. Mattos Designs also sells a topper piece that works well with their kit. Another good option are the solid steel toppers from Boscoyo Studio.

[@danielpendergrass3862]

Wish I could find those anchors that hold the base ring down like that. Christmas light show seems to be out of business.

[@NiFamilyLights]

You can get them from Amazon here, www.amazon.com/dp/B01417336K/?coliid=I22SIR5CS230LO&colid=BB8RAXZDRK0F&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

[@NiFamilyLights]

I mis-read your post. The base ring anchors were from ChristmasLightShow.com. I'll be honest and say that those anchors are only 8" or so long and are good for keeping the base ring in place before strips are tensioned. They aren't strong enough to keep the base ring down, so I add a couple of 18" anchors to really hold the ring down.

[@GS-oj3gv]

Take the handle off of the winch and hook a drill to it, it is a lot faster. That is what I do with my tree

[@NiFamilyLights]

Thanks for the tip!

[@glenstinson5032]

Where did you get the 1” conduit and anchor brackets from? I love your videos! They are very informative! This was my first year and I am in the process of building my mega tree and hoping to have it ready by the 4th of July! (Disabled Veteran Family)

[@NiFamilyLights]

@glenstinson5032, thanks for the comment and glad that you find them informative! The 1" gray conduit is Schedule 40 electrical conduit from the local home improvement store. They come in 10' segments, so you can cut what you need down to size for your mega tree base ring. Unfortunately the base ring anchor brackets are not available anymore. They came from an online store that is no longer in business. Hopefully you can source some other options to set your base ring off the ground. It isn't necessary, but I like that it doesn't kill the grass and provides a place to easily loop the strips without being in the grass.

[@charlesc4325]

what size J hooks are those? I bought some but they don't seem to be large enough to hold the strip

[@NiFamilyLights]

All the items are listed in the description. For the J hooks, I got them from BoltDepot.com. The J bolts I use are 1/4"-20x2-5/16".

[@harrydeimel8716]

What is the length of the black strips from top of the tree to the bottom of the tree

[@NiFamilyLights]

It's about 20'8" long or so. There are 80 pixels spaced every 3 inches with 6 or so inches at the bottom where the strips attach to the base ring. The strip is made of 3 Boscoyo pixel mounting strips connected together, making a total length of about 23'8" long or so. Here's a link to the pixel strip product from Boscoyo Studio. boscoyostudio.com/product/the-original-12mm-pixel-rgb-mounting-strips/

[@harrydeimel8716]

@@NiFamilyLights thank you so very much for sharing

[@wallacewimmer5191]

👍💵

[@BobbySullivan]

I got 3 feet of 20 foot pole in the ground with concrete. 4 guys wires. we have 60-70 MPH winds tomorrow night. Am I OK?

[@NiFamilyLights]

@Bobby Sullivan, there’s a few more details needed to assess your situation. First, the 3’ in the ground isn’t necessary. As long as the pole is vertical, gravity will keep the center of the pole on the ground in the same place. 1) What material is the pole made of? 2) Is the pole a single piece or multiple pieces? If multiple pieces, how are they linked together? 3) where are the guy wires attached? 4) how are the strips and base secured at the bottom? If you are very concerned, I recommend lowering the pixel strips a little and tying all the strips together so they don’t whip around like sails. Hopefully it survives!

[@titustitus7105]

Poles should be 10% of length plus 2 ft. Guy wires should be able to hold it.

[@thomasolmeda3980]

Where did you purchase those paddle ground stakes?

[@NiFamilyLights]

I got them from ChristmasLightShow.com. I just checked, and it doesn't appear that he has them in his store anymore. If you can find something like it, they are excellent and easy to get into the ground using a compact impact driver.

[@thomasolmeda3980]

@@NiFamilyLights The fact that you can use an impact driver to stake them is what impressed me. I'll keep looking for them. Please post if you ever come across them somewhere. Thanks!

[@jwellin8693]

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08H4DZCV4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 This is the one i was able to find, I have purchased it just haven't received it yet but looks identical to what he is using.

[@NiFamilyLights]

@@jwellin8693 The anchors you found on amazon would work great. It's a few inches shorter at 15" instead of 18", but it should work just fine. Great find and the price is very reasonable!

[@thomasolmeda4377]

@@jwellin8693 Purchased. They seem very sturdy and look forward to using them.

[@ernestbrown795]

Where did you get the 180 degree tree topper.

[@NiFamilyLights]

The topper is actually 360 degrees that I’m only using the front 180. I got it from Boscoyo Studios. I believe they still sell that piece.

[@adoolferguson5429]

how many pixels per string and how many strings?

[@NiFamilyLights]

There's a total of 32 strings. Each physical string is 80 pixels, spaced every 3 inches. Sets of two strings are wired to each other at the top, making 16 sets. So, all the connection wiring is at the bottom. More technically, two strings are completely connected (Power, Data, and Ground). Data goes up one string and back down the next one. I then power inject for the next two strings, and then power inject one more time for the third set of strings. So, the data output from the controller runs 480 pixels (80x6). This tree only uses a total of 6 outputs from the controller.

[@adoolferguson5429]

@@NiFamilyLights Thank you I am planning on building a mega tree. I need all the help I can.. lol

[@BobbySullivan]

how many screw topper is that? Looks like 64 holes

[@NiFamilyLights]

Yes, you are correct. It has 64 holes, but I only use 32.

[@BobbySullivan]

have you gone through any heavy winds? We have had up to 130K Kilometer Winds in Nova Scotia. This thing is a real pain in the butt taking down when the pole is 31 inches in the ground.

[@NiFamilyLights]

Over the 7 years with this mega tree setup, we have certainly gone through a number of high wind events. I've never dropped the tree or did anything to prep it for the winds, and it's been fine. We may have had gusts up to 60 mph, but I don't know if we've ever had gusts up to 130kmph (~80mph). With that amount of winds, you may need more than 4 guy wires at the top and some guy wires in the middle to keep the pole straight. Even with high winds, the bottom won't move since all the weight is basically going straight down. So, I see no need to sink any part of the pole into the ground.

[@BobbySullivan]

How long are your 4 legs?@@NiFamilyLights

[@NiFamilyLights]

@BobbySullivan the legs are half the length of a full pipe section, so 5' each.

[@BobbySullivan]

If I cut this pole to 16feet above ground, would 4 foot legs be OK@@NiFamilyLights

[@NiFamilyLights]

@BobbySullivan sure, 4 foot legs with a 16 foot center pole would work well.

[@BobbySullivan]

where did you get the stakes?

[@NiFamilyLights]

If you are referring to the earth anchors used with the guy wires, here's a set available at amazon. amzn.to/3g3lg94

[@robertbailey1894]

where did you buy your mega tree kit?

[@NiFamilyLights]

@Robert Bailey, I purchased the kit over 8 years ago, and unfortunately, the guy closed down his business a few years ago. The two viable options now are to build your own ASAP (A Strap and A Pole) set or purchase the Sasquatch Megatree Kit from Mattos Designs. Alternatively, if you have access to a metal shop that can cut and weld, you could make your own. I have no affiliation with Mattos, but that would be the route I would go now with 2” square pipe, if I had to built a new one today. His design is similar in concept to this setup with a single square pole you need to obtain locally with a wench, hook head trolley, guy wires, base, etc. It’s a bit pricey, but should be strong and last many years.

[@robertbailey1894]

@@NiFamilyLights thank you so much

[@Asaurus8424]

@@NiFamilyLights I'm brand new to this and was thinking of starting with just the Mega pole from Mattos, but what controller? Availability of any of them seems nonexistent. Any advice?

[@NiFamilyLights]

@Asaurus8424, the megatree setup from Matt's is definitely a solid way to go. Regarding a controller, there are a number of options on the market. If you monitor pixelcontroller.com, they do get Falcon controllers in stock from time to time. Other good options are the Genius line of controllers. You can also go with a small computer based controller (requiring a Beagle Bone Black or Raspberry Pi compute module) like what is offered by Kulp Lights or Wallys Lights. These controllers run the Falcon Pi Player in combination with the pixel controller function.