Electric lights from USA

BabysCoffee

I bought a set of outdoor lights in the USA recently. I brought home a USA convertor travel plug and thought I could use them with it.

However, when I plug in they trip the electric board and blow a bulb. (I've blown 3 at this point).

Any ideas what is going on???

Are these lights usable in Ireland? Could an electrician rewire for me?

Stoner

Picture ? It maybe the name and model .

BabysCoffee

How do I put a pic up from my phone?

VincePP

You have a cheap "travel adapter" you need a voltage adapter. Maplins or other specialist store will have it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0009K6M44/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_107_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=51bWvDde9AL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL100_SR100,100_&refRID=YZ879APBP2VBAXBMW0MQ

brightspark

VincePP wrote: »

You have a cheap "travel adapter" you need a voltage adapter. Maplins or other specialist store will have it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0009K6M44/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_107_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=51bWvDde9AL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL100_SR100%2C100_&refRID=YZ879APBP2VBAXBMW0MQ

That adapter is only rated at 50VA

It might be too small. That is why we need to know more details.

aujopimur

Use 220v bulbs.

brightspark

aujopimur wrote: »

Use 220v bulbs.

What makes you so sure the "bulbs" are 110v, there might be a step down transformer involved!

matt-dublin

brightspark wrote: »

What makes you so sure the "bulbs" are 110v, there might be a step down transformer involved!

Cheaper to adjust the bulb than install extra components

brightspark

matt-dublin wrote: »

Cheaper to adjust the bulb than install extra components

Maybe, but there is nothing in the original post about what voltage the current lamps are.

TheChizler

More info needed OP. What kind of bulbs are they? Is there a transformer? Does the set say anything about the range of acceptable input voltages?

BabysCoffee

http://m.acehardware.com//product/index.jsp?productId=95140426

Here's a link

Stoner

Stoner wrote:

Picture ? It maybe the name and model .

Nothing special there . It might be better to just get 10 new bulbs. The plug top could change to a 13amp plug fused at 3 amps.
It's 11W x 10 , 110 watts not a huge transformer. (If I read it correctly) But as soon as your existing 110W lamps start to go you might find it hard get replacement lamps.
I didn't see the lamp connection type either , do you know what the lamps/bulbs are so we can see if there is a 220Vac equivalent.

BabysCoffee

This is the bulb

salmocab

are they tripping the mcb or the rcd do you know? (generally the rcd is twice the size and has a reset button)

TheChizler

Solution as above: replace all the bulbs or get a transformer to reduce the voltage. But as mentioned you're going to have to replace the bulbs eventually regardless so might be the easier option.

Just to explain what's happening OP, US mains voltage is 120 V but here its 230 V, nearly double. If you double the voltage across the lamps you quadruple the power they're trying to dissipate, so your 40 W lamps become 160 W lamps in Ireland. They're obviously not designed for this so they essentially explode.

If the MCB is tripping they're drawing more current than your sockets are supposed to supply, if it's the RCD something else is happening and I wouldn't use them until you get someone to look at them.

BabysCoffee

Thank you all. What bulbs should I replace them with?

BabysCoffee

Salmocab: think it is the mcb that is being tripped

BabysCoffee

Salmocab: think it is the mcb that is being tripped

salmocab

as chizler says if its the mcb its likely an over current trip replace them with right bulbs and change the plug top whilst your at it.

BabysCoffee

salmocab wrote: »

as chizler says if its the mob its likely an over current trip replacing them with right bulbs and change the plug top whilst your at it.

Do you think I could manage to change the plug top myself using a YouTube tutorial or is it a job for a professional?

And am I looking to replace bulbs for a much smaller one like 10 watts?

salmocab

BabysCoffee wrote: »

Do you think I could manage to change the plug top myself using a YouTube tutorial or is it a job for a professional?

And am I looking to replace bulbs for a much smaller one like 10 watts?

well its an easy thing to do but with it being american it probably has different color cores to what we use, someone here can probably tell you what color is what. You could probably change them for a similar size wattage but you may have trouble getting lamps that are suitable for outdoors as I assume they will be hanging from a gutter or something and will probably be blown around by the wind so will need to be rugged. Bring them into an electrical wholesaler and ask the lads at the counter.

Stoner

That's a good idea. They look like standard ES screw lamps so I'd say you will be fine getting them.

There's a sticky with on the front page for suppliers.