Wiring Christmas lights

[imamartian]

Can someone explain to me how these people wire up 30 sets of lights outside in their gardens?!!!
Do they have 30 wires through a window and 6 6gang extensions?
Or am i missing some new wireless electrical connectors?

 

[Lectrician]

13amp extension, buckets, dustbin bags.......you name it!

I am not condoning this action!

 

[streetlighter]

spotted a house in Crewe the other day on Alton street for those in the area it was covered in lights.
Under the porch they had installed a few 2 gang socket outlets on surface boxes standard white plastic ones, plugged in some 6 way extension leads and plugged the displays into this.
Also seen a few extension leads wrapped in plastic bags and taped up.
I have a pic a took but dont know how to post it.

 

[imamartian]

so as i suspected, maybe not the safest bit of DIY ever done?

What's the correct way to temporarily wire up 30 sets of lights in you front garden?

 

[disinfo]

 

[imamartian]

i have an external socket, can't i get a waterproof 6gang extension?

but seriously, if one in every 5 house is dangerously wired, then shouldn't the authorities be taking action?

 

[streetlighter]

You can buy in most DIY stores a product called a weatherbox this has a 4 gang extension block inside and can accomodate transformers and timer plugs with a sealing gasket on the cable entry.
They are IP rated which means suitable for use outside and cost around £20 maximum load is 13 amps from this.
My preference for outside sockets is the MK masterseal range a few of these in the right location make for a good job.
Of course all outside electrics require RCD protection.

 

[ericmark]

Only when more than 150W is used will Part L come in!!!!!!!!!

 

[DESL]

You can buy in most DIY stores a product called a weatherbox this has a 4 gang extension block inside and can accomodate transformers and timer plugs with a sealing gasket on the cable entry.
They are IP rated which means suitable for use outside and cost around £20 maximum load is 13 amps from this.
My preference for outside sockets is the MK masterseal range a few of these in the right location make for a good job.
Of course all outside electrics require RCD protection.

Lile this

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Boxes_and_Enclosures_Index/Outdoor_Box/index.html

 

[breezer]

Also seen a few extension leads wrapped in plastic bags and taped up.
I have a pic a took but dont know how to post it.

posting a pic is info is in forum information

as its near crimbo you can also email it to me, i will post it (stick it in my diynot forum album)

 

[dannyboi2003]

Hi imamartian,

If you click the link below it will take you to my photobucket album which has pics of my christmas lights display for 2007, i've yet to take any of this years. There's a little technical section which you may find interesting, any questions feel free to ask me. Oh and the password is "mandalore".

http://photobucket.com/guestlogin?a...albums/n26/thomdan/Xmas Lights 2007/My House/

All the best
Dan

 

[DESL]

Dan

Your link is password protected

 

[dannyboi2003]

Hi DESL,

i've given the password in my post above, its "mandalore" without the quotes obviously.

All the best
Dan

 

[Adam_151]

I have a 300VA toradial traanfromer mounted on a weatherbox on a piece of plywood, need another one in it, the lights that would exceed the rating are on their own suplied transformers whichb are in a sepaate wetherbox

 

[electronicsuk]

Each to their own, I have a 1.5kVA 24v SELV isolating transformer with a couple of 32A CEE17 ELV outlets (the purple ones) which then lead off to a couple of boxes outside with a number of the small barrel type DC power outlets on them. Obviously I don't use anything like the full load capacity of the transformer, otherwise the place would be lit up like a council estate.

Anything running on LV is hardwired to IP56 J.B.s with arctic flex, no bothers with individual overcurrent protection as the whole lot runs quite happily on a 3A fuse.