Replying to both Erik and Julia in a single message. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Julia Thompson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2003 5:57 PM Subject: Re: [Humor] RE: Question Regarding Religion and Atheism
> Erik Reuter wrote: > > > > On Thu, Jun 26, 2003 at 05:35:51PM -0500, Robert Seeberger wrote: > > > > > Nah.....its for convenience. It is just a basic series parallel > > > circuit, so you would get 120V if you got > > > > Huh? "series parallel circuit"? Yes, also known as a combination circuit. > > > > I'm not sure we are talking about the same thing. Julia said hers were > > wired in parallel. I have my doubts about that, (not that Julia said it, but that it is strictly true). > In other words, if one bulb burns out (becomes an > > open circuit due to a broken filament), the other bulbs still are on. > > If it were wired in series, a burned out bulb takes the whole string > > down. Your house is wired in parallel. Does removing one lightbulb in your house make them all go out? No, of course not. That tells me that there is something more complex going on with these lights. > > > > The problem with wiring them in parallel is that you need a transformer > > and the main feed parallel wires have to be able to handle a lot more > > current. So the parallel ones are more expensive. Most people are > > familiar with the series ones, but I have seen ones labeled "parallel" > > for sale, and from Julia's description, hers must be in parallel, since > > she said they only all go out if a bulb is physically removed from the > > socket. Removing a single lamp would not take down every lamp in a parallel circuit. > > Exactly. You can have a whole bunch of them burned out, but as long as > something appropriate is in the socket (be it a bulb or the plug for the > Enterprise D designed to go into the socket) for *every* socket in the > run of 50, the lights still light. So if a bulb goes out, you can find > it to replace it fairly easily. :) Do the lamps plug in or screw in? If they plug in they likely have a built in shunt resistor to provide continuity. If they screw in they might also have a spring loaded switch built into the center tap, probobly added as a safety device. If removing one lamp kills the entire string, it is a series circuit. > > > > shocked in any case, not an iota safer than the standard series style > > > lights. > > > > If pulling the bulb out shorts the power supply then you would only > > get shocked if you managed to stick your finger in an UNSHORT the > > electrodes. UH........is there a reset button on this light string? One would be required if it worked the way you describe. (And that might possible be GFCI protection.) xponent Your Electrician Maru rob _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
