How Do Christmas Light Chase Controllers Work?

Christmas light chase controllers create effects across the channels of the controller and allow you to do all sorts of creative things with lighting. For example, a 4 channel chase controller will turn channel 1 on and then off when channel 2 comes on, channel off when channel 3 comes on, channel 3 off when channel 4 comes on, and then the sequence repeats. The same is true of 2 and 3 channel chase controllers. The speed of the chase between channels is controlled by a dial on the front of the controller. Our standard controllers have a slight overlap between the time the second channel turns on and when the previous channel turns off, this is call ‘cross talk’.

Build Up Controllers

A build up controller like our 2 channel build up controller will turn channel 1 on, then turn channel 2 on, then turn both channels off and repeat the sequence. The speed of the build up is controlled by a dial on the front of the controller.

Multifunction Controllers

Multifunction controllers like our 3 channel and 4 channel multifunction controllers contain 8 different effects that apply themselves across the channels. Effects include slow chase, fast chase, twinkle, shimmer, all on, slow glow, cross fade and all glow. There is no speed control dial on the multifunction controllers

Other Controllers

Our higher end controllers from PBS lighting do have additional functionality such as the Animator controller which is programmable to be a 2, 3 or 4 channel chase controller and does not have any ‘cross talk’ They can also be set to slower and faster chase speeds than the less expensive controllers, they can be connected to computer controlled light controllers such as those from Light-O-Rama and the Light-O-Rama effects will be passed through to the channels on the animator controller and they have a much lower average lifespan.

Can a Chase Controller Make My Standard Lights Chase Down the Strand?

NOTE: No. Chase controllers do not make bulbs on standard light strands chase down the strand. No controller can make standard lights chase down a strand. Rather, they apply the chase or other effects across channels.

Do These Controllers Work with LED Lights?

Yes, in most cases they will work fine. There are some older LED light sets that do have issues with light controllers of any kind and will not work with any light controller. But most newer, commercial and professional grade rectified, dimmable LED lights will work fine with light controllers.

Check out all of our available Christmas Light Chase Controllers!