Newbie looking for advice to hang Christmas lights

[Clyncher]

I want to use a drone to put Christmas lights on a tall tree (~30' tall). Need something that can hold the end of the strand, lift around 1 pound (probably less), and release the strand while in flight. Not interested in a camera. None of the descriptions online mention being able to hold and release, or how much they can lift.

 

[holtneil]

Hi look on hobby king the do a candy dropper it's like a small box you can put the end of the wire in it then when you press the button on the transmitter it will open

 

[Clyncher]

Hi look on hobby king the do a candy dropper it's like a small box you can put the end of the wire in it then when you press the button on the transmitter it will open

Thanks for the quick reply, holtneil, but I can't find anything described as "candy dropper" on the site. Can you provide a link? Also, any advice on how to know the lift capacity of the different models?

 

[holtneil]

Hi i will have a look and see if i can see it

 

[holtneil]

well it looks as if they dont do it any more , but not all is lost , mount a servo under the quad so the arm holds the wire against the bottom of the quad , then use the spare channel on the receiver to move the servo arm so it drops the wire

 

[Wildwelder]

this sounds very difficult. To control a quad with a varying load sounds like trouble. And I would think youd need a large quad to lift what will end up being at least 10' of lights. All I can see in my head is another quad in a tree. But if it was me, id make a hook to hang a few feet at least below the quad to keep the props from the tree. I cant really see this as feasible but by all means good luck with it. Let us know how you do.

 

[RENOV8R]

Better hurry up, it's almost Christmas!

 

[ArmyVet]

I have been thinking about this to get a Ham Radio Antenna up into 2 trees. But hate to lose my quad.

Hams use compressed air shooters to throw a fishing line up and over. Then pull the actual antenna wire up using the fishing line.
Try something like this;

http://www.antennalaunchers.com/antlaunching.html

I have built something similar but have not hooked up a reel yet.

good luck

 

[Clyncher]

Thanks for all the input. In the end, I did what I've done for the past few years, similar to what ArmyVet suggested. I use a wrist rocket to shoot a small rubber ball with 30# test fishing line attached over the tree from a few different angles, and pull up a couple of light strands at a time.

I'm going to keep investigating the quad concept for next year.

Thanks again!

 

[ArmyVet]

Glad that worked for you!

Question? How did you dispense the line? Reel? Spool? That is one area am having problems with.

 

[GlassKnees]

If you can't use a ladder, I suspect that the load will much much more than a pound.