Help identify Christmas light wiring

[mikey5791]

Hi,
Yesterday i went through storage and found this old christmas multi function lighting set
with a light controller box, but the neon light bulbs and wiring had been pulled off.

Now i wish to know how to use the output connection which has 3 wires, i noticed the first two output wires connected to third leg of transistor pcr406 while the 3rd output wire is connected to live or neutral. This is a 220v ac setup. How and which wires do i connect to the neon bulb? Hope someone can help point me to the correct way. Thank you.

[stj]

Re: Help identify Christmas light wiring

interesting!
they arent neon, they are 6v or 12v bulbs in series to total 240v
the "transistors" are probably triacs or scr's and are the 2 outputs - you have 2 sets of lights so it can flash between them.

what i find interesting is the pcb has space for 4 channels! - i wonder if they pulse or if you need different software??

[R_J]

Re: Help identify Christmas light wiring

The pcr406 is a 0.8Amp/400v scr, the load in this case will be a number of incandescent lamps whose voltage total the input (220vac) The controller is a 8 sequence controller, and with the addition of 2 more scr's should control 4 channels.
I have a blown 16 sequence Christmas light controller just like this but the chip on board is bad.

[mikey5791]

Re: Help identify Christmas light wiring

interesting!
they arent neon, they are 6v or 12v bulbs in series to total 240v
the "transistors" are probably triacs or scr's and are the 2 outputs - you have 2 sets of lights so it can flash between them.

what i find interesting is the pcb has space for 4 channels! - i wonder if they pulse or if you need different software??

Hi stj,

Say if i have a string of 20pcs 12v bulbs in series= total 240v, then i just connect one end to the output from first scr and another end to the common line. If i got an extra set of the same 20pcs bulbs, i need to connect one end to the output from the second scr and another end to the common line. Is the above correct as i do not wish to trip the house ac line. In addition, is there any part of the pcb that i can add a fuse or some diode to prevent over current or short circuit?

Appreciate all your response and helpful comment. This forum had been a very resourceful place to ask for these electrical querries.

[eccerr0r]

Re: Help identify Christmas light wiring

Eiew COB...

[stj]

Re: Help identify Christmas light wiring

Hi stj,

Say if i have a string of 20pcs 12v bulbs in series= total 240v, then i just connect one end to the output from first scr and another end to the common line. If i got an extra set of the same 20pcs bulbs, i need to connect one end to the output from the second scr and another end to the common line. Is the above correct as i do not wish to trip the house ac line. In addition, is there any part of the pcb that i can add a fuse or some diode to prevent over current or short circuit?

Appreciate all your response and helpful comment. This forum had been a very resourceful place to ask for these electrical querries.

that's correct, you can just use a couple of sets of standard x-mas lights wired as you guessed.
as for a fuse, inline with one of the incoming mains wires.

infact to make it safe, replace the mains cable with a flat one that has 2 layers of insulation - chop an old radio lead or something and that gives you the plug and cable in one move.