Wiring Multiple Bulbs Together

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Hi, I'm hoping someone can reassure me that what I'm about to do will be fine!

I am linking 10 bulbs together to create an indoor lighting feature. I am using 10 x 25watt SES bulbs. I am using a power cord with a max rating of 240v 8amps and a plug with a 3amp fuse.

I am linking the bulbs as follows -

Live wire in to one terminal of lampholder 1. Live wire out of same terminal in lampholder 1 to terminal in lampholder 2. Live wire out of same terminal in lampholder 2 in to lampholder 3 . . . and so on until all 10 are connected. Neutral wire to be connected the same way to the other terminal in each lampholder.

Assuming this is ok so far, is the following correct?

The current over one bulb is 25w/230v = 0.1 amps therefore the current over the whole circuit is 250w/230v = 1.08 amps. My power cord with its Max 8 amp rating is sufficient and coupled with a 3amp plug fuse, the end product will be safe as well as decorative?

Many thanks in advance. I should point out that I am not an electrician if you hadn't guessed.

 
Just make sure that the L goes to the terminal that contacts the centre of the lamp, and the N goes to the terminal that contacts the outer screw thread of the lamp.

Some light fittings are not marked and it may not be obvious.

 
You may find it difficult to get the sheath of BOTH flexes into one lamp holder, as they are only really designed to accept one cable.

Some fixed lampholders are capable of taking 2 cores to each terminal BUT these are usually designed for solid core and not stranded as is the case with almost all flexes

Just saying

 
Hi, I'm hoping someone can reassure me that what I'm about to do will be fine!

I am linking 10 bulbs together to create an indoor lighting feature. I am using 10 x 25watt SES bulbs. I am using a power cord with a max rating of 240v 8amps and a plug with a 3amp fuse.

I am linking the bulbs as follows -

Live wire in to one terminal of lampholder 1. Live wire out of same terminal in lampholder 1 to terminal in lampholder 2. Live wire out of same terminal in lampholder 2 in to lampholder 3 . . . and so on until all 10 are connected. Neutral wire to be connected the same way to the other terminal in each lampholder.

Assuming this is ok so far, is the following correct?

The current over one bulb is 25w/230v = 0.1 amps therefore the current over the whole circuit is 250w/230v = 1.08 amps. My power cord with its Max 8 amp rating is sufficient and coupled with a 3amp plug fuse, the end product will be safe as well as decorative?

Many thanks in advance. I should point out that I am not an electrician if you hadn't guessed.

Just as a side thought....

you say you are using 25w SES have you considered using LED's ??

(250watts total)

Something between 2w to 6w per lamp would probably give you similar light to what you would have with your 25w.. 

(thats assuming you have white lamps of course!!)

There is a wide range of LED lighting nowerdays..

Places such as some of our forum sponsors have decent websites you can browse..

http://www.lightrabbit.co.uk/bulbs-led/e14-led-bulbs.html

Consider...

10x 25watt lamps with use 1unit of electricity every 4 hours they are on..

25x10x4=1000watts or 1kwh if on for an hour!

10x 5watt lamps will use 1 unit of electricity every 20 hours they are on..

5x10x20=1000watts.

How often and for how long you are using your lighting feature may have some running cost savings?

10x 2watts lamps would give you 50hrs per unit!!!!

:coffee

 
Don't really understand why manufacturers are allowed to produce fittings which consume 250w. its seems mad, great for the electricity companies but bad for the customers.

The LED equivalent would be 25w like specs says but people are still queuing up at kerching's favourite shed to load up on spotlights. :(

Got a job next week to put up 3 250w fittings....

 
I couldn't figure out why it wouldn't work, but once I replaced the Daffodil bulbs with actual lamps it worked a treat.

some great advice here- will definitely look into LEDs too.

 
LED's are the best. They even recently found that LED's are better growlights than those powerful and high consuming hps & cfl lights. Soon they'll be all over the market. I hope.

 
I good quality branded led is good.

Any old led is hit and miss.

You have to be certain that what you are using is correct for the environment it is in as getting it wrong will prove costly.

What are you growing "tomatoes"???
yeah course he is growing tomatoes in the loft :innocent :slap :slap :slap :coat

 
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