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Electrical

How to connect 36V festoon lights with a transformer plug to the outdoor electric box?

Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 3.33 PM

I have recently bought two strings (4.5m each) of connectable low voltage (36V) festoon lights (IP44 rated) for our garden pergola, with a 5m leading cable ended in a transformer plug. Now I'd like to connect them to the mains without having to run the cable through an open window in order to plug them in the power socket. I have an electric box fitted to the outside wall. There are actually two boxes next to each other - one black and one grey with a transparent front. From the latter a thick cable runs along the garden perimeter to a nearby water feature. I was told one of these boxes is an RCD, which had to be added as the indoor fuse board didn't feature required protection. What are my options here? Can a waterproof power socket be installed outdoors? Or can they be hard wired to the existing electric box somehow (such as by adding a transformer box)? If so, can a waterproof light switch (currently not present) be added to the cable to be able to switch on/off easily when outside? Another thing that troubles me is that the light bulbs can't be replaced meaning any complicated installation might turn out to be a waste of money in case of a malfunction when the product has to be discarded and replaced. Would it perhaps have been better to buy high voltage decorative lights instead, as those seemed to be cheaper and directly connectable? I really didn't know which voltage system would suit my purpose better? Any advice?

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2 Answers

Anonymous user

Hi Michal. In essence you can do all of the above but it is a matter of understanding the set up. The extra low voltage lights you have purchased are intrinsically safe for use outside, being 36V, and being IP44 also have the required ingress protection. They are most likely LED and these have a very long life, typically 10,000 hours and more, so replacing them is a long term issue. They don't require 30mA RCD protection either. The awkward part is the fact they have a moulded 36V adapter that plugs in to a socket. These are too bulky to allow the flap on the front of an outdoor socket to be closed when they are plugged in so the IP rating cannot be maintained. One option would be to replace the moulded adapter with a IP44 rated 36V power supply that can be hard wired on to a standard 13A plug that would allow the flap on an outside socket to be closed over it. It could also be hardwired in to a weatherproof fused connection unit on the outside wall. However, neither of these options give you a convenient way of switching them on or off. So, alternatively, using the appropriate connections and adaptable boxes would allow the introduction of a switch inside the house, or on the pergola post, to enable you to switch them on and off in a more convenient way. 230V versions don't require an adapter, but would require a 30mA RCD, and can be directly wired in to a suitable power supply and readily wired through switches. A third option is to incorporate remote control smart switches in to the set up where the lights are controlled from a keyfob or similar. The smart controllers are hidden inside weatherproof boxes. Easy to do but adds to the cost. Burying the wires out of sight on route to the pergola is also something that needs consideration but is easily achieved using cable suited for that or conduit/ ducts to enclose it. All very achievable. I hope this gives you some clarification. Good luck, Roy

Answered4 July 2020

JMA Electrical

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Caterham

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Answered4 July 2020