Curious about ferris-wheel lighting control

Anyone have experience what kind of parts are used in amusement-park
lighting?

I see ferris wheels with animated lighting sequences that look like
every single one of thousands of incandescent bulbs is individually
switchable to create swirls and pinwheels of visual effects.

Do they really use a $5 SSR per bulb?

 

No, relays.

 

If you look carefully (I suggest making a video and freezeframing it)
you will discover that the lights are in groups that always go on
and off together. It's hard for the eye to catch this if there are
more than 20 or 30 channels.

They are far more likely to use mechanical relays (in sockets so
that they can be replaced if they go bad).

 

I would have thought they'd use triacs for cost/maintenance reasons.

 

Its a simple matter of cost.

Relays are cheaper, and cheaper to wire up.