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Author Topic: RE source LED Christmas lights for beginners  (Read 2378 times)

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Norm

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RE source LED Christmas lights for beginners
« on: November 28, 2006, 01:38:03 PM »
   Well that's good, only trouble they're 110 volt,

These 50 lights only use 1 watt...so a 60 watt

inverter would even be overkill.

 Okay ....if I had a 4.5 amp/hr 12 volt nicad

battery pack (30 nicads in series/parallel) would

that operate the inverter for 8 hrs. or would

I need a larger capacity battery ....or maybe

smaller battery?

        I'm just not very clear on how long

batteries last in real world applications

(or even in theory)

  Oh yeah...for the RE part...I have these salvaged

  solar cells from some old solar lights that

will charge 12 volt nicad pac in about 8 hrs.

ideally.

          Thanks in advance for any help.

               ( :>) Norm.

« Last Edit: November 28, 2006, 01:38:03 PM by (unknown) »
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ghurd

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Re: RE source LED Christmas lights for beginners
« Reply #1 on: November 28, 2006, 07:52:40 AM »
One of those little one piece inverters with no wires?

No 2 of those inverters are the same.

Many seem to draw about 350ma no load.

So it should handle 8 hours. 8h X .35A = 2.8 amp-hours.


My luck with the little 'no wire' inverters has been

not too good for use past an hour or 2 at a time,

even with very low power circuits.


G-

« Last Edit: November 28, 2006, 07:52:40 AM by ghurd »
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Bruce S

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Re: RE source LED Christmas lights for beginners
« Reply #2 on: November 28, 2006, 11:47:19 AM »
Hey Norm;


 If it similar to the ones I just bought, then have a close look at the plug side. I looked at mine and it seems like they are converting the AC to DC and letting it go to the LEDs.

If they are salvage, you should be able to open up the plug side and measure the output voltage to wire up some NiCds to match the output.


I typically wire my packs for 14.4volt this gives me the added power and the NiCd count comes out even at 12 so I can nicely stack them ;-)

Bypass the inverter and go direct.


Have Fun :--)

Bruce S

« Last Edit: November 28, 2006, 11:47:19 AM by Bruce S »
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Norm

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Re: RE source LED Christmas lights for beginners
« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2006, 09:40:41 PM »
  OooH No I can't mess with the LEDs like that

This is our first set of Christmas lights that

are LEDs guess I better leave it alone then...

about another week will be our 50th anniversary

and I wouldn't want it to be our last ! LOL

         ( :>) Norm

 But I suspect that is what they do...
« Last Edit: November 28, 2006, 09:40:41 PM by Norm »
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Bruce S

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Re: RE source LED Christmas lights for beginners
« Reply #4 on: November 29, 2006, 07:34:18 AM »
Norm;

  Here's a picture of mine up on the house BEFORE it snows. First time in 10 years but hey I can learn too:-)

Hope you don't mind the blurry got a bit windy has the cold front begins to move in also I resized it as small as possible while still looking good, so it cropped some off.

And it was really dark so the flash took .... notice how the LEDS show up as pin-points:--)

Bruce




« Last Edit: November 29, 2006, 07:34:18 AM by Bruce S »
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Soapman

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Re: RE source LED Christmas lights for beginners
« Reply #5 on: November 29, 2006, 10:16:45 PM »
These LEDs are great. At present, I have 1640 multi-coloured LEDs on my house. All hooked to one circuit.  I tried plugging them into my 400w inverter and it worked great. The cooling fan didn't even come on. I have 60 watts worth of solar panels but their not up yet. If I get then up soon I should be able to run the lights off RE only.If I've done the math right. ( and I very rarely do ) My friend has 300 normal lights up. After blowing some fuses he discovered he couldn't use the microwave while the lights were on. So he had to split them into two groups of 150. then run extension cords from the garage.  I've tried to tell him to get LEDs but some people never learn. oh well, his hydro bill not mine. ;)
« Last Edit: November 29, 2006, 10:16:45 PM by Soapman »
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ghurd

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Re: RE source LED Christmas lights for beginners
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2006, 07:58:08 AM »
Are they one series circuit?  Or fed from a transformer?

G-
« Last Edit: November 30, 2006, 07:58:08 AM by ghurd »
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Bruce S

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Re: RE source LED Christmas lights for beginners
« Reply #7 on: November 30, 2006, 08:43:48 AM »
Ahh Soapman;

  Your previous diary of all those LEDs was my inspiration:--)

 Pic would be cool to see!!


Bruce S

« Last Edit: November 30, 2006, 08:43:48 AM by Bruce S »
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zap

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Re: RE source LED Christmas lights for beginners
« Reply #8 on: November 30, 2006, 11:05:10 AM »
A little PSP work and the Bruce S family has a possible Christmas card for next year...



« Last Edit: November 30, 2006, 11:05:10 AM by zap »
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Bruce S

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Re: RE source LED Christmas lights for beginners
« Reply #9 on: November 30, 2006, 04:12:24 PM »
Pretty Pretty .

Hadn't thought of that , thanks

I'm set for this year:--)

Merry Christmas ALL!!


Bruce S

« Last Edit: November 30, 2006, 04:12:24 PM by Bruce S »
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Norm

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Re: RE source LED Christmas lights for beginners
« Reply #10 on: November 30, 2006, 10:01:35 PM »
    I'll be lucky if I can get em in the

front picture windows...inside....starting to get some nasty cold wet weather out there....but it was about 65 today...probably be the last of that

for awhile....but been pretty windy lately....

bare limbs leaves all down couple weeks now.

  About ready to get my CD Hula hoop windmill up

would be fun to see how many Christmas LED lights

it could light !  

Maybe before Christmas.

            ( :>) Norm.
« Last Edit: November 30, 2006, 10:01:35 PM by Norm »
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Soapman

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Re: RE source LED Christmas lights for beginners
« Reply #11 on: December 01, 2006, 09:06:32 AM »
You asked for some pics, so here they are. Hope I can do this right.







« Last Edit: December 01, 2006, 09:06:32 AM by Soapman »
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Bruce S

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Re: RE source LED Christmas lights for beginners
« Reply #12 on: December 01, 2006, 01:23:24 PM »
Soapman;

I am impressed!

Are they all LEDS? if so WOW!!

If not, I wouldn't want your light bill:-(


Bruce S

« Last Edit: December 01, 2006, 01:23:24 PM by Bruce S »
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Soapman

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Re: RE source LED Christmas lights for beginners
« Reply #13 on: December 01, 2006, 06:16:20 PM »
There is two snowmen in the yard and a Chistmastree projected on the side of the house that are regular bulbs. They total 85 watts. Everything else that's on the house  and two trees are all LEDs.
« Last Edit: December 01, 2006, 06:16:20 PM by Soapman »
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