With the MegaTree fully functional the last stage of the build is to move the controller and power supply from the breadboard to its final location (hopefully not its final resting place) in a waterproof outdoor box.
For this I chose a steel NEMA 16″x16″x6″ enclosure. Waterproof, lockable, and built like a tank. Total overkill, but found one on Amazon for $50. If I decide to go larger in the future this box has enough room for two power supplies and two or three controllers plus cable management.
One of the nice things about NEMA boxes is that they have a removable steel plate that you can take out to mount things on – this makes the job much easier!
One of the additions to the final packaging is to connect all external wiring through terminal strips. This makes the system more robust and reliable by isolating the more delicate controller and power supply connectors from the heavier cables. All external cables are connected through waterproof glands providing extra protection.
The MegaTree is sitting in the workshop ready to go when we put up Christmas decorations, typically just after Thanksgiving.