Christmas tree lights

[MikeyH]

I hope one of you knowledgeable people on here will be able to help me. Found out that the tree light transformer/controller has packed up by swapping with another one. We need to buy a new one, wife has dressed the tree, took her 3 days to do, she is not best pleased so hoping to just buy a new one and swap. The problem is that the old one is rated as sec/output 30v, 0.6A, Max:18VA and I haven't a clue what it means. On Amazon they all seem to be rated as 31V and 5 or 6 watts. Please help me save Christmas and stop my wife being really unhappy.

[pvr]

Ok, the old formula of p=v*I comes in here.

So 6 watts at 31 volt means 6/31 amp is the max it can deliver.

Your old transformer delivers 30*0.6 = 18 watt. (Assuming dc output here)

Need to know if the transformer is ac or dc output though, does it say that on the output?

[Pondrew]

Mikey;
I have several spare trannies but have looked and they are all 24 volt, so no good for you.

At 30v your 0.6 amp tranny is rated at 18 watts (that's the VA), so a 5 or 6 watt is not going to be big enough.

30 volts is unusual, even for lights; they are usually 12v or 24v.

You may need to pop to B&Q and buy some new lights!

Edit: Paul beat me to it!

[Pondrew]

Ok, the old formula of p=v*R comes in here.

Couldn't resist (resist; get it?)

[pvr]

Ok, the old formula of p=v*R comes in here.

Couldn't resist (resist; get it?)

Groan

[Nictrix]

Its November!

[davep10000]

Something like this would do nicely, but you would have to adapt its output plug to your lights wire.
https://cpc.farnell.com/ideal-power/15d ... r%20supply
Otherwise, an old laptop 'brick' are often 30 volts, if you have an old one somewhere.

PS Even if your lights are AC (which I doubt it unless they are the old filament bulbs, not LED), then this will still work ok.

Just noticed one I linked to is out of stock, so this would do, and its cheaper!
https://cpc.farnell.com/ideal-power/15d ... r%20supply

[pvr]

High chance they are still the old type as you know what they are like in the West Country

Wait until he tries to twist each bulb and finds the lose one

[MikeyH]

Thank you all for your advice and shedding some light on the problem, they are led bulbs, we have others that are newer and are 31V.

[Pondrew]

ts November!

November is the new December!
Had the same in our house; daughter insisted on xmas trees (we have two full size and multiple little ones ) going up on Saturday. Apparently that is fine as "it's exactly a month until xmas".

[darich]

Ok, the old formula of p=v*R comes in here.

Couldn't resist (resist; get it?)

Groan

Rather ironic that PVR didn't get the formula right

[Pondrew]

Rather ironic that PVR didn't get the formula right

He did! I or R can be used in Ohm's law.

PVR are his initials. His name is Paul Van Rental

[pvr]

Virtual Reality if you don't mind

[MikeyH]

Ok, the old formula of p=v*I comes in here.

So 6 watts at 31 volt means 6/31 amp is the max it can deliver.

Your old transformer delivers 30*0.6 = 18 watt. (Assuming dc output here)

Need to know if the transformer is ac or dc output though, does it say that on the output?

It doesn't say DC but pretty sure it is as the wires are very thin coming out. We used another one from another set and it worked fine but worried it will overheat if not correct. So, to be the same as 30v, 0.6A, Max:18VA as is now what is the output I need to look for please PVR?

[Pondrew]

18 watts at 30V.

It will say if they are DC, but may be a symbol. single line with dotted line under is DC, one wavy line is AC.