LED fairy lights

[muddyjames]

I was wondering if they would be ok to put in a confined space? They dont heat up like normal bulbs do. Do they ned moving air around the cable or the such like?

Would like to say what it is for but I cant as it is for something I have designed and in the processes of testing but would like peoples thoughts on led xmas lights as that seems an easy route to go for getting 80 led bulbs on a wire ready wired and the right time of year to buy them! :lol:

cheers

james

[Saffy]

if there is a mains drop down transformer/adapter/wall wart involved it probably best not to box that bit especially cheapy ones.

[T30CDB]

if there is a mains drop down transformer/adapter/wall wart involved it probably best not to box that bit especially cheapy ones.

I'd vouch for that. After 5 hours at night the transformer gets really warm. Best to leave it where air can circulate round it

[muddyjames]

oh yeah, the transformer bit will be uncovered definately. It will just be the bulb section in a confined space.

[auf_wiedersehen_pet]

Would like to say what it is for but I cant as it is for something I have designed and in the processes of testing

 :twisted: :twisted:
TEASE
 :twisted: :twisted:

Photos please!

[T30CDB]

The wiring should be ok covered so long as the actual bulb is stiking out and not in contact with anything flammable

[muddyjames]

Imagine a set of lights in a plastic pot about 2inches across and high by 8inches long with a lid on but the transformer is not in the box. That is similar to what i want them to do.

[Smego]

The LED's don't get hot so don't worry about it.

[Saffy]

they can indeed get hot if over driven just like any other electrical component.

[muddyjames]

but turned on for the same time as tree lights is ok. I dont plan to have them on 24/7!

[Smego]

they can indeed get hot if over driven just like any other electrical component.

but not the ones sold as LED fairy lights...... ](*,)

[Saffy]

they can indeed get hot if over driven just like any other electrical component.

but not the ones sold as LED fairy lights...... ](*,)

maybe you misunderstand what is meant by "over driven".... clue...its nothing to do with how long they been on for. ](*,)  
cheers

[Smego]

I have a degree in electronic engineering...

the designers of LED fairy lights are hardly likely to power the diodes to a level to get them hot, which would be likely to make them fail (safely) anyway.

[Saffy]

I have a degree in electronic engineering...

the designers of LED fairy lights are hardly likely to power the diodes to a level to get them hot, which would be likely to make them fail (safely) anyway.

What you say is quite so for the out of box design (usually*) and if somone said "I am putting these LED fairy lights bought from tesco on my tinsel-tree will they get hot" then I wouldn't have had much concern. But as the application here is being used in maybe an innovative way my comment is a valid concern if there happens to be future non-standard ideas brewing about modifying further then just shoving them into a tube as them come. Maybe too many to fit into the tube so a small adjust is made with snips :), maybe someone reading thread get idea their Crimbo fairylight LED would look cool inside their truck so cut the 12volt adapter off and attach to vehicle supply - works great until the engine is started and voltage rises ~3 volts, that's enough to burn little fingers before LED fails (probably not good for eyes either!). I didn't want to take things for granted to make comment 'LED do not get hot, so don't worry" -  rather prefer to add some doubt so someone would proceed with an element of caution which is always a healthy frame of mind when working with anything electrical do you not agree?

*There are always an abundance of cheap market stall fairylamps with dubious safety certification, I had a set of 'white' LED last year which got so hot and bright that most of them went nova within about an hour, the rest of them I salvaged to make interior cluster lamps for the truck. In that case the wall wart was almost double spec voltage.

[muddyjames]

dont fear my friends. I wont be chopping any fairy lights to make them shorter or turn them into a 24v set for my lorry!  :D I am just not sure if my cunningness needs or can have a patent on them. I am worried as everyone who has seen my idea has said wow cool can they have one. I am also worried that it is dead easy to copy and some company with alot more money than me could produce them faster than me and my idea wont even get taken off the ground by me and some company will take over the idea and make a possible fortune.

[Range Rover Blues]

I have a degree in electronic engineering...

the designers of LED fairy lights are hardly likely to power the diodes to a level to get them hot, which would be likely to make them fail (safely) anyway.

I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  Are you familiar with the term "designed obselescence"?  If a manufacturer can gaurantee a way to make a product fail then they will, otherwise how will they sell you another one next year? other than pray you loose it.


I've had LED fairy lights that run hot and others that don't.  Ultra bright LEDS are designed to run hot, whilst far far more efficient than filament bulbs, LEDs stiill product heat as a bi-product of lighting up. Standard  red are the coolest, white and blue some of the worst.


But I doubt you could start a fire with one, you'd be doing well to melt a wire.