LED outside lights.

[IJWS15]

SWMBO bought some lights for use outside.

They have 10 metres of cable between the transformer and the first light, not quite enough to reach the socket.

The cable (2 core) is the thinnest I have ever seen. Would any of you forsee any problems if I replace the bulk of this 10m with 15m of larger cross section 2 core cable?

 

[ColJack]

does it have a plug on the end?

you can usually get extension cables for pre-made lighting setups... use the proper ones for the set..

 

[IJWS15]

It does have a plug which fits into the plugtop transformer.

I was more concerned about voltage drop if I extended it.

The cable is like 2 core bell wire and is 2mm over its longest dimension including insulation, and the transformer is rated at 5v 1A.

 

[Stoday]

You'd better have a pair of sunglasses at the ready when you switch on.

You might find those lights a bit bright.



Oh — if you use a mains extension lead and plug the transformer into the extension socket, you won't have any volt drop problem.

 

[IJWS15]

The lights will not blind us.

If I use a 240 v extension the transformer and socket would be outside. Extending the low voltage side by a few metres will allow the transformer to be inside.

 

[electronicsuk]

The lights will not blind us.

Sense of humour transplant, stat! (unless you were being sarcastic, in which case, disregard)

If I use a 240 v extension the transformer and socket would be outside. Extending the low voltage side by a few metres will allow the transformer to be inside.

I agree that extending the LV cable will be your best option. An extra couple of metres is not likely to be a problem, and if the supplied cable is as thin as you say then I expect speaker flex or bell wire would be an ideal substitute.

 

[ColJack]

cable volt drops are in mV/A/M.

so since the tx is rated at 1A, this works out to mV/M so it's only a few millivolts dropped per meter..

 

[IJWS15]

Thanks for that gents

Will get some wire and see how they go.

They are colour changing cylinders so more for mood than to see by!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Do you realise that once you deviate from a pre-assembled lighting set (i.e. by cutting/replacing/extending any part of its cabling) it becomes notifiable?