ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area 'tis the season?

It can't happen quickly or inexpensively yet, but someday LED lamps will be readily affordable. Until that time, we're stuck with Edison's invention.

I've convinced my wife that putting lights outside exxposed to the wet weather is an electrical and fire hazard.
Just call me Scrooge, but I'm not messing with those lights.

Ah yes, a familiar scenario.....

Most series strings here are 20 lamps of 12V each. Older types had the really tiny screw bases, but all the modern ones are just a "plastic-wedge" base with two fine wires from the bulb folded over. Ugh! I've spent more hours than I care to remember removing bulbs and carefully re-aligning those dang wires!

The worst shock I ever recall getting was from one of these series chains when I was about 13. A holder disintegrated and a wire broke leaving me holding 240V hand to hand. Ouch!


BJ,
I've seen a few LED chains appearing in stores here. They're usually quite expensive types linked to a "box of tricks" to give various flash and chasing patterns.

I remember building some interesting Christmas displays using LEDS and TTL ICs when I was a kid. In the 1970s you can bet that the December issue of the hobby electronics journals would contain some such ideas.



[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 12-03-2002).]

Thank God they are UL listed!

OK, I concede, the improved UL listing made them somewhat better.

But for $1.62 for a set of 100 at the big box they are disposable.

Sven, I'm a big fan of the c-7 and c-9 lights. They make for quite an impressive display. But, the energy conserver in me prefers the mini-lights over the big ones. Oh well, what are you going to do?

Redsy,
God do I know what you mean. LOL. My wife has learned to pull up a chair and watch the show. First she has to make sure the kids are upstairs with the TV on. Daddy says some bad words
Scott

[This message has been edited by Scotts (edited 12-03-2002).]

and the 2002 winner is.......

link

There are signs in Las Vegas that have captive 600-amp 208Y switchboards. I wonder what the Indiana guy uses?

How about those old light sets from Grandpa
that always need the missing double male cord ?

We get many requests for these bad cords and people just don't get it.

Bjarney,

Remember that movie "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"?

The funniest thing was watching Chevy Chase's wife go down in the basement and start wrestling with that monster blob of triple-taps and 6-way taps all plugged into each other that was barely dangling from one wall socket.

Betcha that's what's in this guy's house... propped up by a broomstick