Coloured bulbs for decorative applications

[Psyclist]

At xmas we are asked to put a load of fairy light time cables up and through the trees in the car park at work.

Most of the bulbs had packed in when I took them down at the end of last xmas season, so I'll need to replace the bulbs ad wondered if now that incandescent lights are out of the equation, can you get coloured CFL bulbs that I could use?

They just have normal BC22 couples on the cable and I would need about 500 of them, preferably in different colours, although I guess white wouldn't look too bad.

I want to start looking now so that I can try and make sure I get them in time.

 

[Paul_C]

Colored GLS lamps are still easily obtainable, for example:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_In...Lamps_and_Tubes_Index/GLS_Coloured/index.html

 

[holmslaw]

..

 

[bernardgreen]

Agree.. I did for many years dress a fir tree in the garden with around 200 lamps. 12 volt 2.2 watt lamps and it looks really good according to neighbours and others who saw it.

Colour unless done well can be tacky.

GS 987 automobile lamps.

Running at slightly under 12 volts the colour is a warm white light.

 

[Paul_C]

Running at slightly under 12 volts the colour is a warm white light.

And will make the lamps last considerably longer.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

And when one of the lamps does eventually fail, and takes out the entire string, just think of the fun you'll have looking for it...

 

[ban-all-sheds]

At xmas we are asked to put a load of fairy light time cables up and through the trees in the car park at work.

Car park at work ... place of work ... employer and employee responsibilities under the EAWR ...

Hotel car park ... public liability issues ...

I'm not a qualified electrician,

 

[bernardgreen]

They were wired in parallel,

A 1Kw transformer from a motor control unit had its 56 volt secondary removed and two 12 volt secondaries were wound on it using 6 mm cable.

This provided a safe and reliable power source to supply the tree.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

OK - sorry - I assumed 200 x 12V in series, on a 240V supply.

 

[Paul_C]

I assumed 200 x 12V in series, on a 240V supply.

1.2V per lamp? They'd be a little too dim!

 

[bernardgreen]

I have been told about ten 24 volt strings of 40 lights wired up in series across the mains when there was not enough sockets for the ten transformers needed.

Will some people never start learning ?

 

[JohnW2]

...ten 24 volt strings of 40 lights ...

Do they really make 0.6V lamps/bulbs? I think the most I've seen in 240V strings is about 100 - i.e.about 2.4V each.

Kind Regards, John.

 

[davelx]

Coloured CFLs are available in Ryness!

http://www.ryness.co.uk/category/353-coloured-energy-saving-light-bulbs.aspx

 

[bernardgreen]

Do they really make 0.6V lamps/bulbs? I think the most I've seen in 240V strings is about 100 - i.e.about 2.4V each.

Often there are two or more series chains in a string. So 4 chains of ten lamps at 2.4 volt would make up a 40 lamp string at 24 volts. The give away is having 3 wires instead of two.

 

[JohnW2]

Often there are two or more series chains in a string. So 4 chains of ten lamps at 2.4 volt would make up a 40 lamp string at 24 volts. The give away is having 3 wires instead of two.

You mean two or more 'chains' (lamps in series) in parallel, I presume? That'a a bit more complicate than 'a string'

Kind Regards, John.