24v ac christmas lights

[josey]

Hi, somehow mysteriously the "bell wire" for some of our christmas lights has been cut in two. They are powered by a 240v/24v plug in transformer, the output of which is 24v a.c @ 1A. I am intending to solder the wires back together and cover with some heat shrinking, am i right in thinking it doesn't matter which wire goes where !( i.e not positive to positive neg to neg etc because it is a.c.,)

i have had a look in the control box and it does incorporate 4 diodes, to polaritize the circuit , does this sound right ? there is no markings on the wire so i don't know which way round it went anyway, and i have twisted the wires together in both combinations and both work ok.

 

[andy]

the diaodes change AC to DC. however, the low voltage lamps arent affected by polarity so it should be fine either way. if they were LED's then they would only work 1 way

 

[kendor]

The bridge rectifier in the transformer does suggest that LEDs or a perhaps a chaser unit of some sort is connected otherwise the manufacturer wouldn't go to the bother of converting to DC i suggest you work out the polarity before connecting as there may be electronic devices somewhere that could be destroyed if connected reverse polarity.

 

[josey]

got them working now thanks

 

[breezer]

you said

got them working now thanks

but you first said

i have twisted the wires together in both combinations and both work ok.

you never said they were not working

 

[kendor]

ah must be the output wiring and incandescent lamps then so no probs