Non-motoring > Outside Xmas tree lights Miscellaneous
Thread Author: legacylad Replies: 35

 Outside Xmas tree lights - legacylad
Mt better half is going to have all 3 daughters home this Xmas, and takes great delight in putting up decorations. On her front lawn, some 40ft from the house, stands a lone Hawthorn tree, which would look lovely lit up with twinkly white LEDs.
Fitting an external weatherproof power point is not within my remit, and someone in t'pub suggested solar powered lights to hang in the tree. Trailing wires out of windows is a no-no due to security issues.
Any suggestions please.
 Outside Xmas tree lights - Zero
Solar powered lights are a no-no at this time of the year, insufficient solar.
 Outside Xmas tree lights - rtj70
>> Mt better half is going to have all 3 daughters home this Xmas... On her front lawn,

You not share the lawn with here I assume?

Anyway, fitting the powerpoint will depend on where it could be located. Our house had one when we moved it. But it is fitted on the outside wall of the cellar near the steps so easy drill through.

More worrying is the thought of running 240v lights outside. Aren't outside Xmas lights meant to use a step-down transformer so can be powered safely from inside??
 Outside Xmas tree lights - RattleandSmoke
We used solar lights with AA batteries, then charge the batteries with a charger during the day time. Works brilliantly.
 Outside Xmas tree lights - RattleandSmoke
Fitting a power socket outside will will need to be installed a registered electrician who is a member of a self certified scheme or you will need to notify the council yourself and that can cost a lot of money.
 Outside Xmas tree lights - rtj70
>> Fitting a power socket outside will will need to be installed a registered electrician who is a
>> member of a self certified scheme or you will need to notify the council yourself and that
>> can cost a lot of money.

How do you (or the council) know a socket was fitted properly? Was mine for instance?
 Outside Xmas tree lights - Zero
Get a set of 12v lights, transformer inside, extend the output lead from the transformer to the lights outside. Bell wire should do it, and its thin enough to shut in windows.
 Outside Xmas tree lights - Runfer D'Hills
I actually genuinely saw a "Scotsman's" solution to a similar problem a few years back and it really worked.

Strips of Bacofoil in tree. Couple of LED head torches strapped round trunk facing up into tree. Disguised torches with a bit of tinsel. Sorted...

Cost, nowt. He had the torches already and nicked the Bacofoil from the kitchen drawer.

Aye...

:-)
 Outside Xmas tree lights - ....
>> Strips of Bacofoil in tree. Couple of LED head torches strapped round trunk facing up
>> into tree. Disguised torches with a bit of tinsel. Sorted...
>>
>> Cost, nowt. He had the torches already and nicked the Bacofoil from the kitchen drawer.
>>
>> Aye...
>>
>> :-)
>>
You lot are so lucky with your pretend winters :-)
 Outside Xmas tree lights - Runfer D'Hills
Don't be telling them that ! Half of 'em have been out and bought winter blooming tyres...

:-))
 Outside Xmas tree lights - ....
That's just a ruse to justify the leaf blower ;-)

How did the Garden extension come along ? Did you have any outside assistance ?
 Outside Xmas tree lights - legacylad
Sounds like a TopTip from Viz.
Bacofoil in tree. Ha.
 Outside Xmas tree lights - sherlock47
>>Get a set of 12v lights, transformer inside, extend the output lead from the transformer to the lights outside. Bell wire should do it, and its thin enough to shut in windows. <<

I am with Z on this - being doing that for years - but using a decent power supply, not some nasty inflammable integrated transformer/plug.

Bell wire will suffice, but if you want to make sure all the electrons get there at the right time I suggest that you use www.decware.com/newsite/speakercables.htm :)
 Outside Xmas tree lights - PeterS
>> Fitting a power socket outside will will need to be installed a registered electrician who
>> is a member of a self certified scheme or you will need to notify the
>> council yourself and that can cost a lot of money.
>>

Since you can buy an outdoor socket kit on Amazon I'm not sure that can be true? tinyurl.com/75dgop6 Now it's not the most elegant solution, and I wouldn't have one on my house, but its clearly aimed at the DIY'er... Presumably as it's not a permanent installation it doesn't require notifiying to the council either; even if it did I can guess how many actually do...
 Outside Xmas tree lights - rtj70
I am sure the parts used for ours were available from B&Q or similar. And the fact it's only visible on the steps down to the cellar at the back means aesthetics are secondary.

Ours might have been professionally installed. But who can say I didn't?
 Outside Xmas tree lights - CGNorwich
A permanent outside power socket does indeed need to be installed or certified by a qualified electrician. Had power put in my greenhouse last year. No one will of course know until you come to sell you house when you will need to prove wiring meets legal requirements.
 Outside Xmas tree lights - rtj70
We bought the house in May 2010.... my question stands. We had survey etc. But how would you really know?
 Outside Xmas tree lights - CGNorwich
If you sell your house you will be required to answer a question to the effect that has any electrical work been undertaken. If you answer yes you will be required to produce a certificate if relevant. Of course if the seller lies and the buyer's surveyor doesn't spot the new work no one will know.
 Outside Xmas tree lights - rtj70
Well we might not have done anything. And I do have a pile of paperwork from when buying. Some based on questions from our surveyor. But how far back might you have to prove? Not that I really care/worry about at the moment.
 Outside Xmas tree lights - CGNorwich
Regs came in 1st Jan 2005 so its any work since then.
 Outside Xmas tree lights - VxFan
Probably getting hard to get hold of now, but if you use black and red twin and earth instead of blue and brown (i.e. the stuff brought in since the reg change in 2005) then it doesn't tell so many tales as to when it was installed.
 Outside Xmas tree lights - rtj70
For all I know mine was in before 2005. We bought the house in 2010.
 Outside Xmas tree lights - RattleandSmoke
If a PIR was done (I mean a proper one not just a visual inspection) then it would have shown up any faults with the outside sockets. I assume it does have an RCD?

Those kits shouldn't be sold, but then you can buy consumer units from B&Q etc even though to DIY it it involves so much red tape it is cheaper just to pay a proper spark to it in a lot of cases.

I am sure B&Q aso sell boilers etc, again cannot be done DIY.

It is the same with downlight kits, they encourage idiots to install them without fire hoods with insulation sitting directly above the lamp fitting.
Last edited by: RattleandSmoke on Mon 21 Nov 11 at 01:00
 Outside Xmas tree lights - rtj70
>>I assume it does have an RCD?

Indeed. Not worried as whatever can be sorted. Compared to the cost of the house it's almost irrelevant. I was more curious.

B&Q do indeed sell boilers.
 Outside Xmas tree lights - Pat
We have this system fitted for outside pond pumps and lights and fitted it ourselves.

www.cmcaquatics.co.uk/pond-garden-electrical-supply/blagdon-powersafe-remote-control-c-36_154.html

Pat
 Outside Xmas tree lights - Dog
astore.amazon.co.uk/christmas.led.light-21
 Outside Xmas tree lights - spamcan61
>> Probably getting hard to get hold of now, but if you use black and red
>> twin and earth instead of blue and brown (i.e. the stuff brought in since the
>> reg change in 2005) then it doesn't tell so many tales as to when it
>> was installed.
>>
The thing is, the change to blue and brown happened before Part P came into effect anyway, so the presence of new cable colours doesn't mean the work was necessarily done after Part P came into force.
 Outside Xmas tree lights - spamcan61
>> If you sell your house you will be required to answer a question to the
>> effect that has any electrical work been undertaken. If you answer yes you will be
>> required to produce a certificate if relevant. Of course if the seller lies and the
>> buyer's surveyor doesn't spot the new work no one will know.
>>
You may be required to produce a certificate, if the work was within the scope of Part P at the time of the work. Not all solicitors/buyers bother chasing it up judging by friends' experience.

I still have a large stock of red & black 1.5 and 2.5 T&E :-)

In answer to the OP I think I'd try and rig something up with 12V lights and a fused car battery.

Last edited by: spamcan61 on Mon 21 Nov 11 at 09:39
 Outside Xmas tree lights - R.P.
I wouldn't worry about it, even if the surveyor spots it and it's brought up by the Solicitor you can simply pay a bond thing (technical term) to cover any non-approved work. Just remembered had some work done on my old place - outside power supply by an approved electrician with a proper Part P certificate, no-one saw it and the certificate is upstairs here !
 Outside Xmas tree lights - legacylad
Thanks for all your replies.A friend of mine is a power supply engineer/designer, so I shall ask him to make a site visit if he gets time. Z's advice seems the easiest solution so I am now on the case.
 Outside Xmas tree lights - Robin O'Reliant
Wait till Christmas Eve and set fire to the tree, it should glow nicely all night.
 Outside Xmas tree lights - legacylad
With 4 women in the house on Xmas Eve you think I'm going within a country mile!
 Outside Xmas tree lights - RattleandSmoke
I can't find our solar lights, so I may have to purchase some more. I quite like the of using car battery but don't know where I can put it.

 Outside Xmas tree lights - VxFan
>> I quite like the of using car battery but don't know where I can put it.

Under the fairies dress?
 Outside Xmas tree lights - swiss tony
The Tale of the Christmas Tree Fairy
THE TALE OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE FAIRY
By Tim brooks and Mick Fall, 1972.

I’ll tell you an old Christmas story,
as we sit round the log fire at night.
Why each Christmas tree has its fairy on top
and why Santa’s beard is so white.

It happened one winter in England,
on a dark Christmas Eve long ago
There was Santa out doing his rounds
and playing on t’ sledge in t’ snow.

He were taking all t’ presents t’ t’ houses
and then, when that job were done,
he went round once again with his fairies
putting Christmas Trees in every one.

Now just when he thought he might finish
an’ ‘t’ last house were comin' in sight.
He went to fetch more trees off t’ toboggan,
And he found he were just, four trees light.

This discovery quite upset Santa,
So he gave to his reindeer a shout (whoa up!)
And he sent for his Christmas Tree fairy
to chastise her for leaving them out.

"Eeee by gum, tha’s a daft little fairy.
Tha’s daft as a fairy could be.
When you loaded the sledge up this evening
Tha must‘ve missed off some o’ trees".

“Oh Sod it!” replied t’ little fairy.
Which was really quite un-fairy like,
“I’ll ‘ave fer t’ go back t’ factory.”
And with that she got on her bike.

“Hold on a minute,” cried Santa
“There’s a way that won’t let yer forget
Fetch one tree back fer each finger
On ‘t right ‘and – you’ll get it right yet”

Then off like a shot went our fairy.
Much faster than t’ light from ‘t sun
‘Cause Einstein hadn’t been invented
and she wasn’t to know it weren’t done.

Now if you could ‘ave watched ‘t little fairy
There was trouble to come, you could tell.
For when she were counting her fingers,
She added her thumb in as well.

Now Santa, he waited for hours
‘Till his patience were running quite dry
When at last he saw t’ fairy peddling
For all she was worth through t’ sky
.

But then, as the fairy got nearer,
Santa’s anger it grew more and more.
He could tell by the load she was bearing,
that she’d fetched him five trees, not four.

Then Santa got redder and redder,
started roaring with all of his might.
Till the glow from his nose outshone Rudolph’s
and his beard, it began to turn white.

“Why, tha’s stupid”, he yelled at the fairy,
“Tha’s four times as thick as I’d thought.
Now go and put t’ trees in t’ houses
And when tha’s finished - report.”

So straightway off went the fairy,
and as soon as she’d finished, t’ last place
She brought fifth tree back to Santa
And waved it in front of his face.

“Whatever shall I do with this one?”
Our innocent fairy enquired,
So Santa, he upped and he told her
‘Cause by now he were feeling quite tired.

The fairy, she looked up at Santa
And her face it went a mite red
But then, being the good little fairy she was
She upped and she did as he said.

So now, at the end of my story
You’ll see why to this very night,
each Christmas Tree has a fairy on top
And old Santa’s beard is quite white.

The moral, should ever you want one
is simple – when doing your sums
If you really must count on your fingers,
Don’t forget to remember your thumb
 Outside Xmas tree lights - legacylad
Thanks for all your advice. I had a very satisfactory result.
Bought 2 sets of 12v lights from Homebase 6 days before Xmas, half price, then a competent friend who designs power supply thingies added 15 metres of domestic alarm cable to each unit, one blue, one white, and they look terrific winking away in the hawthorn tree.
The 2 hour pruning job in the rain wasn't very pleasant, but well worth the effort.
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