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[Markjay]

Our Christmas tree lights needed renewing, lots of dead bulbs (of a type you can get), one faulty AC adaptor etc.... so after New Year’s day the wife bought a couple of new sets for next Christmas.

The old sets had massive AC adaptors, which is normal. The actual wires around the tree carry much lower voltage than the mains 230V as this is more than enough for the tiny bulbs, and obviously safer.

But the new lights have no AC Adaptor, just Mains plug going straight on the wire... it seems that there are 100 bulbs per set connected in serial connection, so each bulb gets 2.3 Volts.

Now I am sure that this is all according to the latest safety standards etc etc, but I have an uneasy feeling about having (potentially) 230V wires going all around the tree, with the kids hanging decorations... am I right to be concerned, or am i over-reacting?

Your advice will be appreciated.  

[Ken T]

Theoretically the wires don't have 230V on them. The bit that comes out of the plug will, but it will drop across all the bulbs, so after 50 bulbs you only have 115V. However, if one bulb fails, the remaining bulbs are effectively pieces of wire, so if you stick your fingers in the broken bulb socket, you will get 230V across them. THis sounds worrying, but these things are made to be well insulated, so provided the cables are in good nick, no bare wires where they go into sockets, and you don't play around with them, they are perfectly safe. As well, if you don't switch the lights on while decorating the tree, then there is no chance of a shock.

Ken

[Markjay]

Theoretically the wires don't have 230V on them. The bit that comes out of the plug will, but it will drop across all the bulbs, so after 50 bulbs you only have 115V. However, if one bulb fails, the remaining bulbs are effectively pieces of wire, so if you stick your fingers in the broken bulb socket, you will get 230V across them. THis sounds worrying, but these things are made to be well insulated, so provided the cables are in good nick, no bare wires where they go into sockets, and you don't play around with them, they are perfectly safe. As well, if you don't switch the lights on while decorating the tree, then there is no chance of a shock.

Ken

Thanks for that....

You mention the wires being 'in good nick', one worry i have is that over the years, being wrapped around the tree, and being bundled up in storage, the wire will become exposed...

As for the kids, the tree is in the living room and I can't supervise it at all times... we have our own, as well as friends' kids, someone is bound to touch the tree...

[STMO123]

I, personally, would always prefer to buy a low voltage appliance. The transformers used to cause problems by overheating (esp mobile phone chargers) but modern ones, although they still get warm, are much better designed. As with all appliances, they should be switched off/ disconnected from the mains when not in use for any period of time or overnight.

I cannot say whether these particular lights are safe or not, but I do know that I'm not allowed to use the ones that dont have transformers in school.

[Ken T]

flexible cable lasts a hell of a long time really. What to do is before you fit them onto the tree for that Xmas, look over the cable, check for any sharp bends, bits where bare wire is poking through, or any damage where you can see bare metal. You will soon see if there are cracks in the insulation. If none, then it will be OK for this season, and there should be no chance of anyone getting a shock thro touching. If you discover damage or consider them unsafe CUT OFF THE PLUG, so no-one else can use them again. They don't cost a lot, so if you are still worried, sling them every 3 or 4 years and buy a new set. Way back in my youth, we used to leave the tree decorated, lights and all, and just put it up in the loft after Xmas. Those lights weren't touched for a good 6-7years.

Ken

[Ken T]

Thing about electrics is : if you use them the way they were designed to be used, then there is rarely a problem. The low voltage directive bit just adds extra parts, which means more to wear out, or a cheap and badly designed Chinese transformer about to catch fire.

Also a good idea to teach your kids not to touch things that are switched on, as they may be hot, or potentially dangerous. I hammered into my kids about always put on a seatbelt in a car in their early days. Its now an automatic reaction for them.

Ken

[STMO123]

Thing about electrics is : if you use them the way they were designed to be used, then there is rarely a problem. The low voltage directive bit just adds extra parts, which means more to wear out, or a cheap and badly designed Chinese transformer about to catch fire.

Also a good idea to teach your kids not to touch things that are switched on, as they may be hot, or potentially dangerous. I hammered into my kids about always put on a seatbelt in a car in their early days. Its now an automatic reaction for them.

Ken

Shouldn't hammer your kids, Ken  

[Ken T]

I also discourage smoking by banning all ashtrays from the house.

Ken

[Markjay]

...I cannot say whether these particular lights are safe or not, but I do know that I'm not allowed to use the ones that dont have transformers in school.

This is interesting... I wonder if it is just another paranoid like me that set-up this rule needlessly, or is there a sound reason behind this...?

[Kevin Wood]

The thing that worries me about direct-from-mains fairy lights is that it's very easy to break a bulb, and then you have two little bits of wire sticking out with 240v across them.

In addition, the lamp holders are safe enough while there's a bulb in them but if someone pulls a bulb out while it's on it's rather easy to get a shock off them. Inspect them to ensure the cables aren't working loose too.

Best to use an RCD on the circuit if there isn't one covering the whole house. If it does come to the worst they will save someone in most circumstances. They have me.


Kevin

[haj]

You could have them tested every year,fore you use them,if you know someone,or you have a electrical shop nearby,that does portable appliance testing.

[shyboy]

I have received many accidental shocks over the years from various appliances and used to have a cavalier 'It'll never harm me' sort of approach, until my younger son trained as an electrician and really drove home the safety message to me.
The point is that 240v can and does kill, and one never knows whether the next shock will pass relatively harmlessly through the fingers, or find its way across and through the chest and heart etc.
That's one lottery I no longer buy tickets for.
And of course, RCD's everywhere are vital. Play safe every time!!