Christmas Decorations

[Barsel]

I do like to put up strings of lights and other decorations that light up, but the majority run on batteries and I get fed up of keep having to charge them. Is it possible to take off the battery box and fix them onto a plug?

[Buenchico]

>>> Is it possible to take off the battery box and fix them onto a plug?

If you do it directly at least one of the following will happen:
(i) the lights will explode ; and/or
(ii) the lights will burst into flames ; and/or
(iii) you'll blow the fuse (or trip the circuit breaker) on the mains circuit which you've inserted the plug into.

To do it properly, you'd have to use a regulated power supply, similar to the ones which you can buy to power battery-operated portable CD players (etc) from the mains. You'd need to ensure that the power supply could deliver the correct voltage and sufficient current. You'd also have to remove the battery connector from the lights, and the output plug from the lights, so that you could connect the two together (while ensuring that you'd got the polarity correct).

It's not difficult. (It can't be; I've done it!). However it would be easy for someonewho's unfamiliar with doing such things to make a mistake, possibly resulting in something overheating and catching fire. Proceed with caution!

[murraymints]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_8_5?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=mains+fairy+lights&sprefix=mains%2Caps%2C253&;crid=160489BDVE96O

plenty here

[Barsel]

Thanks for your answers Chris and minty. I wasn't planning on doing it myself, but one of my neighbours used to be an electrician so I wanted to ask here and then hopefully get the things he will need and then ask him if he could do it for me.Could you tell me please Chris, what he would need?
Had a look at those lights on Amazon, but I really don't want to be buying anymore as I have plenty, plus, some of them are quite expensive I thought.

[Buenchico]

Find out what voltage is required. If you're using one of these (or similar)
https://cdn.manomano.fr/20-x-9v-duracell-plus-alkaline-batteries-15v-pp3-smoke-alarm-10-x-2pkbat109-L-998074-2879501_1.jpg
then it's 9 volts.

If, more likely, it's some of these
http://www.bestdealsupply.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/DAAB.jpeg
(or any other type of cylindrical battery) then it's 1.5V per battery. (So if you're using 2 cylindrical batteries it's 3 volts. If you're using 4 of them it's 6 volts. Rechargeable batteries actually deliver slightly lower voltages but that's not relevant here).

Determining the current required could be trickier but an illuminated wreath, using LED bulbs, might need 4 watts of power, so (with a 6V power supply) you'd need to be able to supply two thirds of an amp of current. (4 divided by 6). Something like this could handle that
https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/regulated-6v-1000ma-dc-power-supply-l66bq
(but they're available far more cheaply elsewhere. Maplin stuff is good but ruddy expensive!)

You'd need to get your electrician friend to work out the total current required and then to decide whether to use one very powerful power adapter (which could be very expensive) or several low-powered ones separately for each set of lights (which might actually work out a lot cheaper).

Then all he'd need is a way of connecting the cables together, such as using the inexpensive connector blocks which he probably keeps in his toolbox anyway.

[zebo]

We used to have two lots of mini trees lit off the mains, OH decided to join them together to run off one plug, needless to say it ruined one set! I've found that the batteries have lasted quite well this year on lights.

[Barsel]

The batteries I use are all rechargeables. The link to Maplins looks similar to an old mobile phone charger.Thanks again for your help Chris. I will show my neighbour your replies and if he can do it for me, I'll ask him to get what he needs and give him the money as I wouldn't want to get the wrong thing.
There is a place near here called toolstation so I expect he can get the things from there.
https://www.toolstation.com/