Hi guys...

I have a quick question that someone might be able to answer for me. However, I must mention that I DO NOT intend on attempting this myself, I just want to know if it is possible first, before I pay for an electricians help.

Essentially I'm looking to hang grouped light bulbs for an event I'm doing. They will just be exposed bulbs, hanging from basic cords. I'm picturing something like black (extension cord type) cables hanging down at different heights, that each have one bayonet fitting on the end (something like the image below). I'm looking to have aprox 40 hanging. They will not be hanging from an exsisting light fixture... they will be suspended from rafters - and need to be plugged in. I unfortunately don't have many power points available - there's only about 4 or 5 available up there.

My question is this... is it possible to somehow connect 10 of these cables together - so that they just have one male plug on the end, which can be plugged into just one power point? So essentially, it would be 10 cables that come together and become one cable - which is then plugged into the one socket. So I would only need 4 power points - rather than needing 40 power points?

Do you know what I mean?

This will be a temporary, one night only thing... so it's not something that would be used every day.

Also - how possible it to the have them dim-able if needed? I mean, I know that you need a dimmer on the actual power supply... right? However, this is not possible for this event - as I cannot change the existing power points. Is there an external fitting I can somehow attach to make them dim if needed?

I know this is a long winded message - but I'm hoping there is a somewhat quick and easy solution to my problem..

I you get a free sec, please let me know if you think it's at all possible to achieve what I'm after.

Many thanks, Chris.

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You can plug 10 amps in a 10 amp socket, and that is 2400 watts at 240 volts. For 2400 watts you can have 24 x 100 watt globes or 100 x 24 watt globes, or any combination where volts x amps = 2400 watts (e.g. 30 x 80 watt globes).

Ed

As Ed said, you can plug quite a few light bulbs into a single power point. So for your 40 bulbs at, say, 40W each you will only draw 1600W, which is 6.7A. A power point can easily deliver 10A.

Now if the lights came with mains plugs, you could just use distribution boards to achieve what you want and save the cost of an electrician.

Thank you so much guys!! Exactly the info I was looking for.

Very Much Appreciated!!!

Chris

Bare in mind what other items are going to be used on that particular power circuit

It's the same as plugging a single electric toaster or electric kettle into an outlet.

Ed