Festoon lights

Davie7 · Post by **Davie7** » Sat Apr 17, 2021 10:45 am

Hi, I have an old (15 years old) set of Commercial External Festoon Lights (43 bayonet cooker hood bulbs) without a transformer. Can anyone point me in the direction of where to get a wireable transformer for them? I'm not even sure they work, but I'm loathed to just throw them out without trying them.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sat Apr 17, 2021 10:53 am

how many volts are the bulbs??
all the one chain ??
43 in series at mains would be 5.5v

Davie7 · Post by **Davie7** » Sat Apr 17, 2021 11:07 am

Thanks for the post Big-all. They are all in one chain. The bulbs in there at present are 15w. The plastic coloured covers give a 25w max rating

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sat Apr 17, 2021 11:20 am

its the voltage you need
if they are say 3v then may be 110v [3x43= 129v] so would run cool on 2.6v
what does the cable look like at the wire end ??
does it have any markings on it along its length ??

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat Apr 17, 2021 11:30 am

You need to look at a lamp and see what voltage it is, then pick a few more at random to make sure they are the same voltage.
Without knowing the voltage we can't help you. (My guess is they are 240v)

Davie7 · Post by **Davie7** » Sat Apr 17, 2021 11:42 am

Ok so all the bulbs say Sylvania 15w 250v on the side. Ive attached an image of one plus an image of the wiring at the end of the lead

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat Apr 17, 2021 11:48 am

In that case you just need to plug, and plug them in. (They are 240v which is the UK mains, so no transformer required.) Do change the plug fuse to a 5 Amp one.

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat Apr 17, 2021 11:54 am

Oh, do give them support (I have some and I put a cable tie around the cable and another cable tie through that to form a loop and hook this loop over a nail/screw). They do look good at night.

Also they are NOT cooker hood lamps, they look like it, but they are just ordinairy "Pygmy lamps" (Which are cheaper)

Post a picture when they are up and lit.

Davie7 · Post by **Davie7** » Sat Apr 17, 2021 12:10 pm

I'll go get a plug and use a 5a fuse. I'll let you know how I get on

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat Apr 17, 2021 2:42 pm

Please do. It's too early now so you can't see mine, but I will post a pic later.

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat Apr 17, 2021 9:25 pm

Now it is later, so................

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