I'm being asked about electrical things, but I'm usless with that stuff so.....

If you had 2 sets of outdoor LED chrismas lights that are supposed to be solar powered - each rated at 3.6v (thats all I know)

and you have a battery charger for an Li-ion LED inspection lamp rated at 6v (which happens to have a 3.6v output on the battery it charges)

how would you wire it together to get mains powered christmas lights ?

-Robert

connect them in series and see what happens. make sure you get the polarity right or nowt will happen

I read it as the charger having a 3.6 V ouput therefore both sets of lights are wired in parallel.

All red wires or marked + connected togeterh. All black wires or marked - connected together.

[Edited on 17/12/08 by 02GF74]

sorry just to be clear:

the charger has a 6V output



so I was thinking connect them in series - is that right

I just want to check with someone whos better at this stuff than me before trying it

[Edited on 17/12/08 by mcerd1]

sure the charger will handle or even want to provide (seeing its a Lithium one) the current the LEDs require, might overheat? You could use one of those variable voltage adaptors that only cost a few pounds

[Edited on 17/12/08 by Mr Whippy]

mmm... no idea


whats the best plan ?

check the resistance of the LED's and do the old VIR calc against the rating on the charger ???

here's one sold in halfords

linky

Find out the Ampage probably mA and get and LED Driver to suit, that can then be wired into the mains no worries. Can also get IP65(Waterproof) ones.

ok, so where would I get one of them ?