Yes, I am already planning for next year. This year (my first haunt) I just had a simple DIY color organ kit with a 100 watt floodlight from HD.

I would like to take it to the next level with a multi-channel lightning machine (maybe I-Zombie) and better lights.

What do you guys (and gals) recommend for lights?

Thanks!

I used a 500 watt halogen work light and it worked good but should have been better placed, next year I am going to try a photo flood and see how that looks

Any FYI on what I did recently:

Maybe I have a unique indoor lightning storm?

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"The dissecting room and the slaughterhouse furnished many of my materials; and often did my human nature turn with loathing from my occupation, whilst, still urged on by an eagerness which perpetually increased, I brought my work near to a conclusion." - Dr. Victor Frankenstein

here are some of my favorite lights

-HQ 1.5KW DMX strobe light with blinder mode (I don't think its available in US as 1.5KW, but have seen 750W versions)

-Chauvet DMX LED spotlights

-500W Halogen yard light

-Garden PAR 80 spike lights

My question is, how do you guys plug in all the lights and wire it all up? I have one outlet on the side of my house with two plugs. I didn't light up my graveyard this year, just put a strobe behind Grim and I'd really like to light the stones up next year.

CAREFULL use of gang sockets, and an understanding of amperage, try and limit the output of each WALL socket to 13 amps (1.5KW in US, 3KW in 240VAC regions), so your 2 wall sockets can handle 3000W, which in simple terms is 30 100W bulbs, 50 60W bulbs or any otehr combination of hardware that makes up 3000W.

Its actually a lot more complex than that, but these are good guidelines for anyone starting out

Thanks for the replies - I am looking into the Photofloods right now. I'll try some different things over the next 360 days!

God, I'd KILL to be able to get 3000W on my external outlets! (3000W at 120V = 25A)

But alas, I'm still having the issue of being behind a ground fault outlet that trips whenever I have just three 100W floods running through it. I may have to swap out the GFCI and put an end to the mess!

Granted, it's only a 20A circuit, so at most I'd be able to get 2400W (on the super high end), but still...

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Recipe for haunting success-

Artist's eyes, surgeon's hands, and the heart of a child.

I have a question about the photofloods for those that have used them, are they all on then all off or do they act like regular incandescent bulbs and "warm up" to full bright then 'warm down" to off?

are these what people use?
Amazon.com: Westcott #550 500 watt Photoflood...

I love electrical issues, I am so happy we had them wire our garage for a workshop. we have designated Heavy Load sockets in our garage matched with some thick extension cords to give us power.