Wiring china balls for film

[WodenDigital]

Hi all. Just need some clarification as its been a long time since I did electrical engineering.

I am building five independent china balls (lanterns) attached to flex and a dimmer on each. Plug>Dimmer>Lamp socket>100W bulb. As you may know it is common for films to utilise china lanterns on film sets as a way to get good soft light, cheap.

I have the appropriate size lantern for a 100W bulb as well as a standard bulb socket that will take 100W bulb.

Firstly, I happen to have 25m of 3G 1.00mm2 flex but I understand this is overkill for what I am doing, but does this affect anything? Should I just go and buy some 2G 0.5mm2?

I don't need to earth it do I? Generally lamps/lights are not earthed are they!?

Can I just swap out the 13A fuses I have in my standard plugs and replace them with 3A?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and expertise. Just being safety conscious.

 

[Chri5]

No problem with using the 3c flex. Earth won't be require if the fitting isn't metal.

Where are you getting 100w bulbs? They haven't been made for a year or two and es style 20w are the replacement standard.

As for plugs fuse it as low as possible.

 

[WodenDigital]

Thanks Chri5 for Your prompt reply, appreciated.

I didn't realise 100W weren't made anymore. I just bought a box of 10 from an Amazon shop. Is the reason just because of the low-energy alternatives?

Thanks

Tim

 

[EFLImpudence]

Is the reason just because of the low-energy alternatives?

Supposedly, because house lights are the only wasteful use of energy now.

 

[JohnD]

an enclosed 100W lamp will get hot, so I would suggest heat-resistant flex. When I used to service theatrical lanterns we used butyl rubber, and glass braid inside, but there are heat-resistant grades of black plastic now that are cheaper.

Any plastic parts inside, such as the lampholder, will degrade fast. You can still get porcelain and brass lampholders that are impervious to heat

 

[bernardgreen]

Also use metal lamp holders with ceramic inserts as anything else will have a short life before it fails due to the heat degrading the material.

Metal lamp holders must be EARTHED.

Edit ~~~Too slow

 

[Iggifer]

Is the reason just because of the low-energy alternatives?

Supposedly, because house lights are the only wasteful use of energy now.

They could be CFL/LED lamps but still that is a waste!

Just seen a site where 15 x 150w SON car park lights were replaced with 15 x 28W (I think) LED heads, looks amazing. A bit white but a much brighter & crisper than the old orange SON lamps. Dread to think how much it cost though

 

[matt1e]

No problem with using the 3c flex. Earth won't be require if the fitting isn't metal.

Where are you getting 100w bulbs? They haven't been made for a year or two and es style 20w are the replacement standard.

As for plugs fuse it as low as possible.

yes they are still made chris and you can still buy them (they sell them in my local nisa)
it's domestic properties that are targeted as usual
now if you have commercial/industrial property then you can buy a "rough service" light bulb

Hell why not even get a 200W one

read more

Matt

 

[EFLImpudence]

Well, thank God for the 'National Measurement Office'.

Where do they find or brainwash such lying idiots?

 

[matt1e]

Well, thank God for the 'National Measurement Office'.

Where do they find or brainwash such lying idiots?

Agreed, and it just has to be quoted

The National Measurement Office, the government agency responsible for enforcing the ban on traditional bulbs, has warned householders against buying rough-service bulbs.
An official guidance paper states: “Whilst all the major retail outlets market special purpose lamps very differently from those used for household illumination, there are a growing number of websites and other forms of distance marketing which do not make such a distinction.
“Consumers should ensure that they do not use special purpose/rough service lamps for household room illumination as they are declared by the manufacturer as unsuitable for this purpose. Consideration should be given to the terms and conditions of any household insurance policy if such lamps are used for illuminating your house.”

So there you have it
They might look the same
They might work the same
They might fit in the same lamp holders
They might be be available in the same wattages and voltages as the banned types
But they're not the same, they are actually made more robust so don't use them at home because you may invalidate your insurance
( well I can actually see that happening knowing insurance company's )

 

[WodenDigital]

Thanks for the information people, and the laughs hahah!!

One thing has thrown me slightly though. No-one seems to do the screw nuts to connect the neutral cables together, whilst I have the live going through the dimmer.

I have some connector block strips rated at 3A so I could just use cut blocks of that wrapped in insulation tape, right?

Thanks again for your help everyone and Happy Christmas.

 

[EFLImpudence]

There are switches which have a neutral park but a connector block will be fine.
No real need for tape.

 

[WodenDigital]

Thanks for your reply.

You've been very helpful.

Regards

Tim

 

[ericmark]

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