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  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Shenandoah Valley The Home Of Patsy Cline
  • 1,842 posts
Thread Ended
Posted by superbe on Monday, May 27, 2013 5:55 PM

My wife bought a string of battery powered LEDs for outside decorating and they have given up the ghost. I thought I'd see if I could power them from a power pack. 3 D cells are their source of power.

The string is 20 ft. long.

What has me stumped from trying to power them is the fact that there are 3 wires.

So what wires should be hooked up to the power pack??

Thanks foe any advice.

Bob

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Monday, May 27, 2013 6:43 PM

Three lead LED's. I just have no idea on how they are wired. Trace the wires. Generally, the center lead is the Cathode.

http://electronicsclub.info/leds.htm

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Monday, May 27, 2013 6:45 PM

How many LEDs is there in the string ? Are you sure they are LEDs and not bulbs ? How many wires coming out of the battery pack ? Are the batteries wired in series or parallel ?

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Shenandoah Valley The Home Of Patsy Cline
  • 1,842 posts
Posted by superbe on Monday, May 27, 2013 7:27 PM

Mark,

It appears that I jumped to a conclusion as to what I have before really examining the lights.

To answer your quetions I took a closer look at what I have and embarrassed to say that it looks like I have something entirely different than what I described.

While counting the bulbs, total of 50, I discovered that there are 4 wires coming out of the battery pack and the 4 go into and out of each socket until the 3rd. bulb from the end of the string and 4 go in but only 3 come out and the next to last socket has the 3 going in and 2 coming out to the last socket.

They are no doubt Christmas tree type bulbs.

I am going to end this thread and I want to thank you and Rich for responding.

Bob

 

 

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Lancaster, PA
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Posted by claymore1977 on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 7:15 AM

At the risk of angering the EndOfThread Gods, I'm curious if you got them working?

Multiple wires on Christmas Lights usually indicates 'zones' or 'groups' of lights.  Could be failure prevention, could be some sort of fancy flash patterns.  Just a thought.

Cheers!

Dave Loman

My site: The Rusty Spike

"It's a penny for your thoughts, but you have to put your 2 cents in.... hey, someone's making a penny!"

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 7:21 AM

Dave,

Your'e being put on report!!! LOL....

Cheers,

Frank

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 7:24 AM

So are you, Frankie, for tattling on Dave.   Laugh

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 7:28 AM

Rich,

OH,OH,,,,,I got caught againnnnnn.

Cheers,,,Richie,,

Frankie

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Shenandoah Valley The Home Of Patsy Cline
  • 1,842 posts
Posted by superbe on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 7:57 AM

Dave,

You go to the head of the class.

The lights can be set to on, timer, steady, or twinkle.

Have a good day.

Bob

 

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