The Light-O-Rama controllers have, by default, two power cords. (There are options available for just one, but this site doesn’t, as of this date, go into these details.)

If you lose power to the 1-8 side, then all that will happen is those channels stop working.

If you lose power to the 9-16 side, though, the entire controller will stop working. Why? The 9-16 side powers the logic in the controller. No logic, no lights.

If the 1-8 side isn’t working, then you should check to make sure the unit is plugged in, and that a fuse hasn’t blown inside the controller.

The Light-O-Rama controllers can be connected in any order you want.

You can connect #1 to #2 or to #42. It won’t matter what order the controllers are connected in, just that they are connected to each other.

For example, if you have 3 controllers there are 6 different ways you can hook them up.

01->02->03
01->03->02
02->01->03
02->03->01
03->01->02
03->02->01

Have 4 controllers? That number jumps to 24 ways you can hook up the controllers. As you can see, the order in which your controllers are connected simply do not matter.

These are some of the differences between controllers, as described by Dan Baldwin, the founder of Light-O-Rama.

The LOR1602W (LOR) is a commercial grade controller with a UL508 (industrial) rating. It is the only controller in the Animated Christmas Market Place with safety certification. The CTB16PC-ReadyToGO (PC) is not safety certified (but is designed with safety in mind!).

The LOR 1602W is in a heavy duty steel case, the PC is in a plastic case.

The LOR 1602W has a 2 year warranty, the PC has a 1 year warranty.

The LOR 1602W has (non-musical) standalone mode and can as director to control other controllers, the PC cannot.

The electronics in the LOR 1602W are designed for 40amps and down rated to 30 amps; the PC is designed for 30amps.

The LOR 1602W has unit ID switches for easy setup; the PC requires that you use a program on your computer to set the Unit ID. (Note: The G3 controllers now have LED screens.)

The LOR 1602W has safety plate to protect the electronics and reduce shock hazard, the PC does not.

The LOR 1602Whas an on/off switch with easy access fuses, the PC does not.

The LOR 1602Wand the PC do have the same lighting effects and are rated at the same current. They can be used interchangeably in a LOR network.