I have a number of string fairy lights that I want to attach to maims power via a transformer and controller. Can this be done? If so how? Do not want to just throw these faulty lights into the bin!
Transform from Solar/Battery to Mains Power
- Thread starter Alfie
- Start date
There are a few variations in string wiring and voltage.
You'd also have to work out how to limit the current as that's effectively done by the step up converter in the solar sets.
You'd also have to work out how to limit the current as that's effectively done by the step up converter in the solar sets.
Mark_M
Annoying Elf
Most of the lights in here are solar lights running on mains.
In this video I only have 4 lights not running on this computer power supply (they are AC or 31vDC).
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dos39scqpbw
I use a computer power supply for the 5v and 3.3v output on these lights.
I started switching to voltage regulators on each string in 2018.
But what I have here is solar lights that do not have reverse polarity.
Have you measured 12v for these lights?
I know a few of my solar lights had a buck boost converter but most of that style was 3v to the lights (all in parallel).
If you know if the battery at fault, replacing the battery with a mains adaptor is easy. Otherwise just get a replacement NiMH battery found in the garden lighting section.
This big spiral tree in the middle was Arlec Solar rope light. The Solar panel took 4 AAA NiMH batteries and had a buck boost converter up to 70v DC. I ended up using the original board and just fed 5v to it.
In this video I only have 4 lights not running on this computer power supply (they are AC or 31vDC).
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dos39scqpbw
I use a computer power supply for the 5v and 3.3v output on these lights.
I started switching to voltage regulators on each string in 2018.
But what I have here is solar lights that do not have reverse polarity.
Have you measured 12v for these lights?
I know a few of my solar lights had a buck boost converter but most of that style was 3v to the lights (all in parallel).
If you know if the battery at fault, replacing the battery with a mains adaptor is easy. Otherwise just get a replacement NiMH battery found in the garden lighting section.
This big spiral tree in the middle was Arlec Solar rope light. The Solar panel took 4 AAA NiMH batteries and had a buck boost converter up to 70v DC. I ended up using the original board and just fed 5v to it.
Notenoughlights
400,000+ twinkly lights
A lot of the solar lights I have pulled panels from and converted over to "mains" (31V through a standard plug pack that most sets of lights come with) have had 3 batteries in the solar panel, and measure around 16-21V when testing with the lights attached to the solar panel still and around 40-60V when disconnected. The lights at this stage are very very dull compared to a set of lights connected to one of the typical power supplies mentioned earlier. When these lights were connected to the same power supply they became equally as bright as the other set. It seems that they manufacture the strings identically and just slap a boost converter and solar panel on the string rather than a mains power supply. It wouldn't surprise me if they worked on a standard power supply, however you will need to test the closed and open circuit voltage to see what it's outputting.
- Thread starter
- #9
Some of the control boxes have three AA Batteries but others only have one battery. Taking a closer look at the info on these units and the batteries they are 1.2v not 12v as previously indicated. Is it still possible to perform the change to mains (240v) power?
Notenoughlights
400,000+ twinkly lights
I would advise you to never connect any set of lights directly to 240v mains unless 1; you know what you are doing and 2; the light set is rated for 240v direct mains connection.
The ones with 3 batteries are most likely the ones you will find that work fine on the standard power supplies that christmas lights come with, the ones with single batteries may be only 5v rated.
The ones with 3 batteries are most likely the ones you will find that work fine on the standard power supplies that christmas lights come with, the ones with single batteries may be only 5v rated.
- Thread starter
- #11
Notenoughlights
400,000+ twinkly lights
You will want to measure the voltage at the output on the solar panel unit with the lights in a "steady on" setting, using a multimeter on the AC Volts setting and if you do not get a reading, try the DC volts setting afterwards. I suspect these will be the 2 wire type that was mentioned above as they are very common now. Let us know what you find.