Unsafe Christmas decorations? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: chicken
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2016, 04:03:04 pm
content: I sure hope this LED Christmas tree passed its EMI tests.via the German magazine "Der Spiegel" that asked its readers to send in Christmas decorations at their workplacehttp://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/weihnachtsdekoration-am-arbeitsplatz-fotostrecke-143570.html

author: Towger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2016, 04:05:05 pm
content: Does it plug in to the cigarette lighter socket?

author: chicken
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 19, 2016, 04:07:57 pm
content: I'm pretty sure that the white cable leads to a "UL listed" wall wart.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 06:42:40 am
content: I'm always a bit nervous around those 240v Christmas lights that plug directly into a mains socket. No plug packs, no fuses, nothing, just wire and light bulbs.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 07:14:44 am
content: Quote from: chicken on December 19, 2016, 04:03:04 pmCool, link sent to pilot daughter.

author: Paul Moir
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 07:36:10 am
content: I don't see the problem: I'm sure Santa has TCAS.

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 08:13:10 am
content: It's a plug and play ILS, she who crashes the car when parking could do with one of those on the dashboard.

author: station240
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 08:16:46 am
content: Could just be powered off a USB powerbank or AA batteries.

author: rollatorwieltje
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 20, 2016, 08:39:37 am
content: Almost caused a fire once with one of those shitty mains LED light strings. It had a small box that controlled the blinking patterns. The mains wire had no strain relief at all, at some point it broke and shorted out, but not enough to actually trip the fuse or RCD. It went full PhotonicInduction. Good thing I was actually there, otherwise it would have set the house on fire.No more cheap garbage mains stuff for me since then.

author: KhronX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2016, 10:51:58 am
content: When i read the title of this thread, i instantly thought "The entirety of bigclivedotcom's Youtube channel"

author: karoru
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2016, 03:01:46 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on December 20, 2016, 06:42:40 amDo you also feel nervous about your toaster? It's even worse as it has exposed mains-connected heating filament:) Only anti-electrocution solution is this grounded mesh that can be defeated by a badly positioned kitchen fork or simply connecting the appliance to unearthed socket.People from electronics era are for some reason scared about any device that connects to mains directly despite it was the most common way to do anything since the beginning of electricity.

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2016, 03:43:08 pm
content: I'm sure disasters involving light strings aren't very common, but correct practice is not to leave them plugged in unattended. Cut Christmas trees are capable of amazing pyrotechnics.

author: Towger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2016, 05:34:57 pm
content: I am amazed with the stuff I was allowed to do as a child. Shortening the length of fairy lights and plugging them into the mains.... Aged 6 or 7.... Flame throwers out of quater inch copper pipe, cotton wool and methylated spirits... Gathering the dud caps from nail guns off the ground on building sites....I got my one and only real electric shock off those lights. One way of been taught to respect electricity at a young age.