Someone should know the answer and....

[MeMe]

theres a prize for the first correct reply !

The dragon has just returned from New York, New York (so good they named it twice) with the biggest box of outside Christmas lights you've ever seen, however, what the daft cow didn't take into account is the voltage difference.

Therefore, what do I need to purchase to get the bloody things to work ? My initial thought was to buy an American plug adaptor as one does when one goes abroad, however, this doesn't account for the voltage. Does it ? Heeeeeeeeeelp

[Cookee]

One of those yellow builders transformers will do it - you need 110 volts! - You'll need a big plug and somewhere to hide it as well!

[Rogue Wave]

You need what's called an Auto or Step down transformer. The Yellow things they use on Building sites would be more than adequate,Go to TV repair shop and ask if they have something (not Comet or Currys, but matey with soldering iron). maplins could also sort you out or should I say Short you out

I have a tranny you can borrow for the season, I understand that Captain Mainwearing and Pikey (DM and Jono) are coming down this weekend I can give it to them and you could pick it up from Abersoch

[chrisallse]

Easy...connect the live wire to the mains the negative to your nuts and let your wife switch them on for calling her a dragon and a daft cow..

[Rogue Wave]

The other option is to upgrade the bulbs providing the lights do not have any electronic circuitry

[Cookee]

Oh yeah - what have I won?

[DJL]

Have alook at www.maplin.co.uk and search for "US Mains TypeAuto-Transformers"

[Pete7]

Just plug it in, stand back and watch the display, afterall the missus wanted Chritmas lights and she will get what she wanted.

Pete

[jwalker]

Send her back for another set and connect them together. (The lights, that is.) Or, presuming the USA set is particularly desirable.... by a set in Woolworths, cut them in half and connect them in series with the USA set. This will leave you with a pile of spare bulbs for next year.

[MeMe]

1st Prize.....Cookee. PM me a postal address and I'll pop it in the post !

2nd Prize....The Wave'.....nowt for you, you've enough already.

3rd Prize.....Chrisallse......oooo mrs, sounds lovely !

The yellow box thing Cookee mentined are £50 so that defeats the benefit of getting 1000 lights for $9.99 but thanks anyway !

Wave, thanks for the offer but this weekend is the "turning on ceremony" but thanks anyway. Further, your advice on bulbs is a good one and as suggested by a spark I spoke with.

Chris' oooo, kinky

PJL, thanks spoke to Malpins, they could help at £29.99 so see above comments.

Pete7 - probubaly the best idea, turn the buggers on and watch for the flames. That at least would stop the outlaws coming to mine over xmas and devouring all my food and beer.

In conclussion,


Christmas Lights

1000 of, new in the box, never used, one careful owner £9.99 plus P&P.

[chrisallse]

you should have got two set then you could have connected them in series and everybody for miles around would benefit from the glow

[MeMe]

Bit the bullet and got the dragon to buy a transformer whilst in the states....$40.00. Thanks for all your help. Graeme.

[Graham H]

are you organising tours im sure we could get a coach full

[Ian]

The 'dragon' after the big switch on.

[MeMe]

Ian you captured "the dragon" in one of her better moods !

Lights.....Another $40.00 wasted. The bastards still didn't work so in the end I just cut the efin U.S plug off, stuck on a U.K plug and rammed it in the socket.....Fu**ing things worked didn't they !

Well, theres a moral in that story somewhere. 1. Don't think that doing things on the cheap is better and 2. Don't trust the bloody Yanks as after all everything is made in China.

[The Jackeens]

3) Go shoppin in Manchester Meme!

Missus