String of bats

[tealman353]

I have a string of bats that light up using christmas lights. They are all technically the same circuit. How could I separate the individual bats electrically?
Details: There are six bats on the string.
They plug in as one circuit to the wall.
The string as a whole operates on 120volts AC 60Hz.
There are 85 lights on the string total.
Each bat consists of 17 lights.
I am running these lights with the Olsen 595.
I wish to make each bat an individual channel.
I have seen people use a "Happy Holidays" sign for this purpose, so I was wondering how they separated each individual letter of the sign electrically.

I have posted this same post in the "Power/Electric" area in hope of getting an answer to this question soon.

Tim Ambrose: Inventor/Scientist

[Ratmandu]

If you look at the wires going to the bats, you will probably see just 1 going in, and 1 coming out. If you snip those wires, you can attach some more cable to it, and just stick a 2 prong plug on the end. And there you go.

Although, I don't know if that will take the voltage too well.

[ErnieHorning]

I can’t come up with a combination that gives a normal bulb voltage. These aren’t LED one’s are they?

Before you snip and apply 120 volts, you should measure the voltage on a single bulb to make sure that 17 times that equals 120 volts.

[FireGod]

Be careful here!

Are all 85 lights in series OR are there 5 groups that have 17 bulbs in series?

If you unplug one bulb do they all go out? If so, they are all in series.

If all 85 bulbs are in series, one bat can only be powered with 24 VAC.
(120VAC/85)*17=24VAC

If the 17 bulb group is supplied with 120VAC (unplugging one bulb turn off the 17 bulb group) then you can indeed just make each bat a 120VAC circuit.

I suspect that all 85 bulbs are in series and you will need a 120VAC to 24VAC transformer to make it work. Mouser P/N for a 500mA 24VAC transformer is: 412-224054

You should check the amperage draw of the string before connecting anything.

[tealman353]

I am not sure of how to measure the voltage on a single bulb.
I have a multimeter and a variac and more, so I just need to know how now.

Tim Ambrose: Inventor/Scientist

[tealman353]

I just tried unplugging one bulb and two bats went out (a total of 34 lights were affected) and the other four stayed light.
I put the bulb back and unplugged a light from a bat that did not go out the first time, two different bats went out and four were left unaffected. (34 lights out, 68 lights on)

Also I just caught my mistake, there are 102 lights on the string in total not 85.
Sorry...

[BillAd]

Tim,

Sounds like one of the easiest solutions is to snip and wire a pair of bats, rather than individual ones.

Bill

[tealman353]

I would but there are not two wires going into each bat, there are three.
Try to stay with me...
2 wires run from the two-prong plug to the first bat (1 wire goes into the bat, 2 wires come out)
3 wires run from the first bat to the second bat (1 wire goes into the bat, 2 wires come out)
4 wires run from the second bat to the third bat (1 wire goes into the bat, 2 wires come out)
5 wires run from the third bat to the fourth bat (1 wire goes into the bat, 2 wires come out)
4 wires run from the fourth bat to the fifth bat (2 wires go into the bat, 1 wire comes out)
3 wires run from the fifth bat to the sixth bat (2 wires go into the bat, 1 wire comes out)
2 wires run from the sixth bat to the end plug.

Are you as confused as I am yet?
If there is still a way to wire a pair of bats per channel, tell me how. As said above, I have all the necessary equipment.

Tim Ambrose: Inventor/Scientist

[cmurray]

never mind

[FireGod]

So..................if you unplug one bulb and two bats go out then......
2 bats = 34 bulbs = 120 VAC
120VAC/34 bulbs = 3.53 VAC/bulb
17 bulbs * 3.53 volts/bulb = 60 volts

There will be a wire going into the first bat that goes through ALL the bulbs on the first bat and comes out the same bat. Find these two wires.

Connect them to your variac and test the circuit by monitoring the amperage and voltage while SLOWLY turning up the variac. You should be able light up one bat with 60 volts and less than 200mA.

If it works, use the variac for the power supply to your SSR instead of 120VAC and connect one bat to one circuit.

[Jeff Millard]

Nevermind

[FireGod]

He unplugs one bulb and 34 bulbs go out (two bats).

Edit:Replacing all the bulbs would be a different solution, I could see that working also.

[tealman353]

Guys, I think you may have overcomplicated things here. I just want to find a way to separate the whole string of bats into three independent channels.
I am not going to replace any of the bulbs, because this will defeat the purpose of buying it in the first place.
I want simply a way to cut the wires and attach them (in groups of two if necessary) to a two-prong plug.
I also would like to point out that I think a few of you have missed a few of my posts.
Please go back and read everything in the above post called "String of bats".

Tim Ambrose: Inventor/Scientist

[FireGod]

I have a string of bats that light up using christmas lights. They are all technically the same circuit. How could I separate the individual bats electrically?

I was under the impression you wanted six channels.

If you want three........there will be a wire going into the first bat that goes through ALL the bulbs on the first bat and comes out the same bat, the same wire goes into the second bat, goes through ALL the bulbs on the second bat and comes out the second bat. A ohm meter should help you find this circuit.

Find the end of these two wires and connect them to your variac and test them unless you are brave, then just plug them into the wall.