Mains Christmas Light Regulations

I wonder, are there electical regulations applying to installing Christmas Tree lights outdoors. No problem with low voltage ones with a transformer, but the heavy duty connectable light strings run directly off the supply w ith the LED's in series, half in each polarity direction plus a diode. The se are often used close to earthed iron railings etc and easily accessible from the pavement.

Reply to
therustyone
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therustyone wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

Many of the outside light obsessives wouldn't be able to read regulations.

Reply to
DerbyBorn

is that becasue it's too dark to read?

Reply to
charles

charles wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@charleshope.demon.co.uk:

Most of those round my way are incapable of putting their rubbish in the correct bin, taking down the previous years lights, keeping their garden tidy or finding a job!

Reply to
DerbyBorn

s Tree lights outdoors. No problem with low voltage ones with a transforme r, but the heavy duty connectable light strings run directly off the supply with the LED's in series, half in each polarity direction plus a diode. T hese are often used close to earthed iron railings etc and easily accessibl e from the pavement.

There are regs that specifically apply to temporary outdoor installations. Last time I looked they allowed the old vampire type connectors (metal spik es inserted straight into the outer plastic to make contact with the conduc tors) but require very frequent inspections.

NT

Reply to
meow2222

Are you Emily Thornberry?

Bill

Reply to
Bill Wright

Bill Wright wrote in news:m57a39$r30$ snipped-for-privacy@speranza.aioe.org:

Very good! I suppose some might have to take the flags down to make space for the santa climbing up the side of the house decoration.

Reply to
DerbyBorn

I had some sympathy for her point of view. If you are going to claim flying an English or Union Flag is patriotic at least show some respect and hang it tidily or give it a wash. The USians may go over the top with theirs but usually it looks like a flag often on a staff and not a collection of tatty rags that look like a failed prison breakout attempt from an upper window. And later covering a van with flags desecrated by the name of a publicity seeking tabloid newspaper stuck in the middle could attract legal action over there. Pity it couldn't happen here.

PS. I thought the Medway Handy Man drove a Renault.

G.Harman

Reply to
damduck-egg

snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.co.uk wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

Well said G Harnan. The USians treat their flag in a more meaningful and respectful way - wheras the White Van Man was using it as a badge of some sort of protest.

Reply to
DerbyBorn

Oh har har :-)

Reply to
The Medway Handyman

There are regs that specifically apply to temporary outdoor installations. Last time I looked they allowed the old vampire type connectors (metal spikes inserted straight into the outer plastic to make contact with the conductors) but require very frequent inspections.

Last seen in about 1990.

Reply to
ARW

s Tree lights outdoors. No problem with low voltage ones with a transforme r, but the heavy duty connectable light strings run directly off the supply with the LED's in series, half in each polarity direction plus a diode. T hese are often used close to earthed iron railings etc and easily accessibl e from the pavement.

Thanks for all the replies, some more useful than others. I am not related to Emily Thornberry, don't drive a white van, support England nor put Chris tmas lights on the roof The problem really related to stringing lights on market stalls. Anyway I found a part P registered expert who thinks an in-line RCD would do to keep the lawyers away should the worst comes to the worst.

rusty

Reply to
therustyone

mas Tree lights outdoors. No problem with low voltage ones with a transfor mer, but the heavy duty connectable light strings run directly off the supp ly with the LED's in series, half in each polarity direction plus a diode. These are often used close to earthed iron railings etc and easily accessi ble from the pavement.

d to Emily Thornberry, don't drive a white van, support England nor put Chr istmas lights on the roof

I found a part P registered expert who thinks an in-line RCD would do to ke ep the lawyers away should the worst comes to the worst.

Part P has nowt to do with event electrics, you want someone who is familia r with BS7909

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Beware the tea urn.

Reply to
Adam Aglionby

Here you go

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Owain

Reply to
spuorgelgoog

If you are using power connections provided by the site operator of the market you may well find they have their own guidelines and rules to be followed. Sections 21 ,22 of

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is an example. A temporary affair set up in a farmers field may not be so formal.

G.Harman

Reply to
damduck-egg

stmas Tree lights outdoors. No problem with low voltage ones with a transf ormer, but the heavy duty connectable light strings run directly off the su pply with the LED's in series, half in each polarity direction plus a diode . These are often used close to earthed iron railings etc and easily acces sible from the pavement.

ted to Emily Thornberry, don't drive a white van, support England nor put C hristmas lights on the roof

y I found a part P registered expert who thinks an in-line RCD would do to keep the lawyers away should the worst comes to the worst.

iar with BS7909

Yes, it looks like BS7909 is the most relevant. The installation is under

6kW and "plug and play" plugged into a wall socket (in a rambling 60's buil ding of uncertain electrical provenance which I don't have any inclination to explore). So I just need an RCD plug top and appoint myself as "Senior Person Responsible" and off I go. What could go wrong there.

rusty.

Reply to
therustyone

I know James Eade very well - he's local to me and a damn fine chap and his main line of work is outdoor events, both power and audio. You can completely trust what's written in that guide.

Reply to
Tim Watts

You could still check the basic characteristics of the supply using a plug-in socket tester, although most will indicate a non-connected earth if the supply is TT.

Owain

Reply to
spuorgelgoog

I know what they mean but "loose lampholder" in the URL doesn't really inspire confidence . . . .

Reply to
fred

Plastic? How very modern. Last set of those I came across (and were still in use in the 00's) were flat rubber twin. I refused to have anything to do with them.

Reply to
Grimly Curmudgeon

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