Club Arnage

I'm hopeful that there are some fairly competant electicians here at CA.

Question is...what is the downside of daisy chaining Xmas tree fairy lights together - what would happen (I note it says on the box not to do this) - do they just stop working or blow up or what? I'd like to run more lights around our fence, but ran out of multiple extension cables last year.

Any enlightenment much appreciated!

You should know that under new UK legislation which Nanny introduced on 1 Jan only competent electricians are allowed to do anything beyond change a fuse.

You will need to employ a gang of IEE members to deal with your fairy lights.



No, wait!!! This is en France!! They don't give a sh*t over there!!!

Toad, we are getting a new set of lights made up, custom built by a sparky, but he isnt coming with us.
I shall ask him later tonight.

Big H, over to you?

Well, my heart skipped a beat...

Firstly,
Toadster, one of our crew is a fully paid up sparks, but you know what these guys are like, time is money. Or in the case of LM weekend, time is beer. I'm sure if you wander across and ask him nicely, and maybe cross his palm with Stella, he'll help you out.
Just don't let him near your testicles.
Secondly,
'daisy chaining fairy lights'!!!! - lordy, are we talking conga dancing rings of buggery here? And I thought it was just a campsite...
H

H me hearty - You wouldn't be in that band of merry men from Yorkshire Power that wired a drop wire from a live street light a couple of years ago on MB?  This allowing Team Crapaud to wire our Sky Digital for the footie/rugby/Le Mans live coverage in 2003?

If it is you, you unplugged a Greman caravan cos he wouldn't let us spur off him?  My word we had a jolly time watching England stuff New Zealand on home turff.  Half eight in the morning, just having me first beer watching the prematch drival, turn round for me second beer and blam!!  20 guys from the Yorkshire Power Camp plus !!  Bloody good laugh!!

Planman

Hmmmm!!

I seem to remember a while back someone mentioning running power of the french national grid with the aid of a pair of marigolds and some large crocodile clamps can't seem to find the post now.

I believe Stu may have dabbled in this area!!!

dont think it was stu but could have been

speaking of which he has been very quiet of late

Not as quiet as Ian!!!!!!  And I thought he had more time on his hands now!!  ;)

I think you may find that Ian is lurking although I may be wrong???

Hmmmm

Ian!!  Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are!!  :D

Just for the record - no Yorkshiremen in our team, and no experience of using French national grid in this way.

Last year we were on a splitter from the bog power point kindly offered by GAB I recall...

Hey Chris,
                 I would recommend you stay away from the Electric Grid. One blue flash and no more Chris
Canada Phil

Don't worry you wont catch me f**k*ng with any french electrics especially not the grid, with or without low flyers.

Last year we were on a splitter from the bog power point kindly offered by GAB I recall...

Toadie,

Can you find your cable???
(http://server2.uploadit.org/files/GAB2005-LM20040007C.JPG)

wonder if that complies to IEE wiring regs????????? :o

GAB - it's the yellow one which I discovered on Monday morning after the race had progressively slipped down into the septic tank over the week. I've stored it in one of our fridges over the winter - slight sanitary concern over the first meal at BM in June!!

Can you spot the red hot one powering the washing machine and air con for one of the Winebagos?

Toad,

...that narrows it down, I see at least 3 yellow cables

...one of the red ones is mine, which was split off to to at least 5 other neighborhoods. Not sure but I think by the weekend even the bogs were running off my lead.

Now I understand what that glow in the night sky over at MB was, must have been this power point glowing in the dark :)

Meanwhile - back to the original question - which is - can I daisy chain them together or will this result in electrocution/explosion? - or just dim bulbs? - thanks to any Sparkies who can advise. (Robbo - did you have a chance to mention this to your guy?)

Mr. T,
Fairy Light bulbs are normally wired in parallel (if one bulb blows, the whole lot don't go out).

As long as the total cable length is suitable for taking the total bulb current load (I assume you'll have about 50 x 40W bulbs!) Then the cable 'shouldn't' fuse into a molten sparking mess.

50 bulbs @ 40W = 2000W = 2kW @ 240V = 8.5A (say 10A)
Use a purpose made cable and weatherproof bulb holders available from electrical wholesalers.

If you black out MB and end up in the hospital, don't quote me ;)

However, if you're going to daisy chain some cheapo Christmas lights, note that each string of lights will have it's cable sized to handle the load of ONLY the lights on that string.

Cheepo Christams Lights, moi?

Ahhh...yes I have thousands of them. I'm the normally the man queuing outside B&Q on Boxing Day to get them at half price!

So not a good idea then...

probably not

Okay then, mind you with all that water in the paddling pool and the 240 volt fountain pumps, I'm amazed that I haven't electricuted any members of my team in the last few years!

Maybe we'll get some proper ones made up!

Anyone interested in 15 000 cheap fairly lights - over to ebay...

Hi Mr Toad,
                 I say plug 'em in. But stand well back.
Canada Phil

Remember to wear the shades 8) 8) 8) when you plug 'em in...

Tell me before you plug them in Toadie, wanna get my camera, could be a worthwhile shot.

I'll stand by with the fire Extinguisher non water based of course

It could be a way of newbies finding their way to the track!

"Just drive off the ferry and look for the glow over Maison Blanche and the beer mountain team!!" ;)

Thanks all - I'll let you know prior to our inaugral lighting up ceremony (Thu 10.00pm, dress = casual, but bring flame proof vest and fire extinguisher).

I wouldn't want to get a power hungry reputation though, otherwise the "Gods of Power" (Smokie, GAB, Pope & other movers & shakers) would always be unplugging me first from the bog block sockets!!

I thought it was a bit of a ritaul last year sending someone down each time the power went out - kind of like a power committee to agree who's cable was hottest...

If your on MB search me out as I can offer my services as a xmas light professional. I always have my light fixing tools with me and can supply examples of my work if required.

Cheers

Stu

Infact heres some I have done.

And another

And one more

We're not worthy Stu!!! Please don't forget to pop by and instpect my new disco lights this year... ;D

This is how to do wiring !

Excellent, and all running of a single double splitter!!  ;D

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/bullocks/wiring2.jpg)

Steve, that looks like the back of Smokies stereo/pc set up last year.

Stu the picture you did not show were the 16 fire engines that turned up after the inagural turn on.  ;D

Be careful not to be dismiss with the airport considering all planes landing during this week  :D

Good point Gilles. Perhaps one day a plane will try and land on MB campsite with all those lights!!

Hmmm...like the helicopter last year eh?  :)

Smokie - I faced a court marshal for deriliction of duty back in Blightly last year from my team after the infamous MB "chopper" disaster! ie letting the team marquee escape from my control and shoot up 5m vertically in the air...

The verdict (depite my personal general drunkeness and incompetance) was a mistral rather than the chopper hit us. We saw one of them on Houx a few years back - I had just never realised how powerful they were...be warned, buy extra guy ropes if the sun shines!! :o

I had just never realised how powerful they were...be warned, buy extra guy ropes if the sun shines!! :o

..or just send up a few of your fireworks, that ought to chase your chopper friend away Toadie ;)

I remember in the early eighties sitting in the south bank grandstand at Brands Hatch and having a Harrier come and hover over us. The noise and i don't think the trade stands behind were to impressed as they blew away.

Here's my favouite grandstand picture - Silverstone 2001 and BM's own Mr Disco is handling crowd control!!

so has anyone got a pic of their infamous fairy lights hard at work? I need some creative inspiration!

This was us on Houx Annexe in 2003  ???

(http://www.jecolthurstfamily.com/images/Contests/2001%20Dec/Zazzi%20-%20Outdoor%20Xmas%20lights%20over%20ivy%20017_NR-Xmas%201999(650).jpg)

And this was driving around at Sebring!!!

Steve. That fairy light display looks familiar. Was it you lot that was projecting the Madonna gig on to the side of a marquee? If it was I congratulate you on the amount of decibels you were kicking out.

Hi JP,
        Where's my photo credit then ???
Canada Phil

Most humble apologies Phil!!!   :-[

The picture of La Bamba was taken by Canada Phil (with my camera), probably because I couldn't point the camera the right way by that stage!!  :P

(http://smile.smilies.nl/368.gif) (http://smile.smilies.nl/350.gif)