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Lamps => Modern => Topic started by: Mike on September 13, 2011, 05:18:17 PM

Title: How do you wire series?
Post by: Mike on September 13, 2011, 05:18:17 PM
Hi guys, i was wondering, how do you wire 2 or more incandescent lamps in series? And can it be done on a regular household current? This is just out of curiosity. A wiring diagram would be the most helpful, but any format of information is helpful. Thank you.
Title: Re: How do you wire series?
Post by: seansy59 on September 13, 2011, 07:13:46 PM
Electrical wiring is ALWAYS done in parallel. Series wiring would strain the appliances that are connected. Think about it. If EVERYTHING was wired in series, when you unplug the light, the rest of the circuit (fan, tv, pc) would all go out.
Title: Re: How do you wire series?
Post by: rjluna2 on September 13, 2011, 07:18:44 PM
Here I have 2 bulbs in series posted at Philips 4 Watts vs. 15 Watts (http://www.lighting-gallery.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-38934). :D
Title: Re: How do you wire series?
Post by: joe_347V on September 13, 2011, 10:23:49 PM
Here's a diagram for two lamps in series:

(http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss50/joseph_125ON/Meta/47376009.png)


And here's one with them wired in parallel:

(http://i560.photobucket.com/albums/ss50/joseph_125ON/Meta/ce4bba96.png)
Title: Re: How do you wire series?
Post by: Mike on September 14, 2011, 03:38:47 PM
How did the series streetlights work? Did they need a special transformer or something? Does series work on DC or AC?
Title: Re: How do you wire series?
Post by: Jace the Gull on September 16, 2011, 09:21:43 PM
You know Christmas lights are in series though (not the 120 volt screw in C7s but those LEDs, the miniature incandescents and stuff...
Title: Re: How do you wire series?
Post by: rjluna2 on September 17, 2011, 10:04:18 AM
How did the series streetlights work? Did they need a special transformer or something? Does series work on DC or AC?
As Colin (Saliormoon_01_uk) explained to us that some of the series streetlight circuits are used the Isolation transformer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isolation_transformer) to separate the load circuit in event any of these :incandescent: :MV: :hps: fails, the remaining :incandescent: :MV: :hps: continues to operates.
Title: Re: How do you wire series?
Post by: joe_347V on September 17, 2011, 01:43:43 PM
Here's (http://www.vintagestreetlights.com/history/series.html) a good read on how the old series incandescent systems worked.
Title: Re: How do you wire series?
Post by: Mike on September 17, 2011, 01:50:41 PM
Why did they use series then instead of parallel? Isn't parallel cheaper and better than series anyways?
Title: Re: How do you wire series?
Post by: Jace the Gull on September 17, 2011, 02:58:17 PM
Why did they use series then instead of parallel? Isn't parallel cheaper and better than series anyways?

Because of the length and voltage drop.....so using series also allowed them to use thinner wires...

So they used HIGH voltage and connected to series...HIGHER voltage travel farther...so imagine a long row of streetlights.......if with parallel there would be voltage drop farther from the transformer (the 120 volt one that is)

Title: Re: How do you wire series?
Post by: Mike on September 17, 2011, 05:54:27 PM
Is that why most car dealerships use 480 volts?
Title: Re: How do you wire series?
Post by: joe_347V on September 17, 2011, 08:07:33 PM
Is that why most car dealerships use 480 volts?

Yep, higher voltage means less current draw for the same wattage which saves on wiring costs. You'll also notice that freeway lighting is often 277/480v (347/600v in Ontario) for the same reason too.
Title: Re: How do you wire series?
Post by: Silverliner14B on September 17, 2011, 08:23:58 PM
Yes, because higher voltage allows lower current, so you need fewer circuits and sometimes thinner wire.
Title: Re: How do you wire series?
Post by: Jace the Gull on September 17, 2011, 08:59:31 PM
Voltage goes up, the amps goes down! Simply said...in most cases.....there may be some exceptions LOL!
Title: Re: How do you wire series?
Post by: CrazyLamp on February 04, 2012, 10:29:49 AM
it was a direct replacement for incadescent lamps in series circuits but it use the transfromer
and high voltage regulated at predefined current. now power companys are ripping up series streetlights because it hard to maintain  esspecialy when you have a break in the circuit.
let say you have 100 250 watts series  :MV: those ballast runs at 37.8 volts each
runing 6.6 amp. that why it take such high voltage. that what make me want one becase can
invert a low voltage mercury ballast in solar application.  double tranforming them at
120 volts then you got the CWA ballast there for; it would make the worse effeincy possble
in this application.