Christmas Mains Light Chains
From
G8MNY@4:902/6 to
WW on Wed Dec 11 05:58:00 2024
To : TECH@WW
By G8MNY (New Dec 06)
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If you are having problems with those plug/screw in Christmas fairy lights after getting them out from last year here are some tips.
FINDING DUD LAMPS
Use a DIY metal/mains detector to show the mains field along a chain of lamps..
ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
Fuse ³Detector³
Lamp ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ live dead
LiveÄÄÄ(x)ÄÄÄÄ(x)ÄÄÄÄ(x)ÄÄÄÄ(x)ÄÄÄÄ( )ÄÄÄÄ(x)ÄÄÄÄ(x)ÄÄÄÄ(x)Ä¿
dud lamp ³ NeutralÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
Provided it is wired correctly & the live wire goes to the first safety lamp, then the detector will fail when the LIVE electric field disappears at a dud lamp.
SHORTED LAMPS
Normal chain lamps have shorting link around the oxidised internal lamp wires, if the lamp sees too high a voltage such as when the filament blows the oxide layer breaks down the link welds the lamp short. If too many lamps go short the whole chain will blow in a few seconds, that is why you must have a fuse lamp!
SAFETY FUSE LAMPS
As shown above the 1st lamp in the live circuit should be a fuse bulb. These do not have the shorting link, & they also have a thinner longer filament. They are identified with a white frosting on them.
LAMP VOLTAGE
When swapping/changing lamps it is important to get the same current & voltage lamp. This is easily worked out by counting the number of lamps in the chain
& dividing the supply volts by that. Often 20, 30 or 40 lamp sets are standard, giving 6, 9 or 12V for 240V mains.
LIFETIME
Lamps run properly will last a long time (500 hours), for longer life, if you can use more lamps than standard e.g. a 22 chain set instead of 20, may last twice as long but 20% dimmer.
SAFETY
Do not put these light chains near metal objects like tinsel or metalized Christmas trees as there is always a chance that bare wire contact can be made.
Also note lamps do get quite hot & any material used nearby must be flame proof!
See my TECH buls on "LED Test Screwdriver". "Fairy Light Flasher" & "Night Light Switch".
Why Don't U send an interesting bul?
73 De John, G8MNY @ GB7CIP
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