How many C-9's can I run on one channel?

[Tom Clapper]

I bought some C-cicle lights and they have two seperate plugs. One for the mini icicle lights and one for the C-9 bulbs. There are 20 C-9's on each string, and I think I will have 3-5 sets across the gutters. One on the lower level and one on the upper level. If I put all the C-9's on one channel I could have anywhere from 140-200 C9's. Will a single channel handle that many or do I need to split them up. I also thought about making the lower set come on with the lower icicles...so would one channel handle approx 80-100 C-9's and 500 minis. They are all Incandesants. Thanks.

[shfr26]

To be safe, get a killa watt meter. I have a few areas I use c-7 about 30 or so and it is about 1.3 amps. Max is 15 amps per bank, 8 amps per channel. I do not think you can use 140-200 on one channel, no where near that many.

[DownTown]

If your bulbs are 7 watts, then in theory you could run 514 in a single 30 amp controller. No more than 137 on a single channel.

If they are 9 watts, then only 400. No more than 106 on a single channel.

I'd run no more than 90% of those values, just for safety's sake.

D.T.

[jstorms]

If you pull too much power on a single circuit you could trip your breaker. Also, you have to pay attention to those stickers on your lights and on your extension cords.

It is very possible to over draw and melt wires and start fires.

Many people will put together a spreadsheet to calculate how many lights they have on each channel and how much power they will draw. Note that the stickers are like gas mileage and sometimes it varies. You'll want to keep a Kil-a-watt meter in your toolbox.

There are lots of sites that can help:
http://www.christmaslightsetc.com/pages/how-much-power.htm

[Guest guest]

For planning purposes, you need this:

http://www.quartzhillchristmas.com/12.html

A kill-a-watt will give you real time info, but you won't need to worry if properly planned in advance.

[LORi P]

Tom Clapper wrote:

I bought some C-cicle lights and they have two seperate plugs. One for the mini icicle lights and one for the C-9 bulbs. There are 20 C-9's on each string, and I think I will have 3-5 sets across the gutters. One on the lower level and one on the upper level. If I put all the C-9's on one channel I could have anywhere from 140-200 C9's. Will a single channel handle that many or do I need to split them up. I also thought about making the lower set come on with the lower icicles...so would one channel handle approx 80-100 C-9's and 500 minis. They are all Incandesants. Thanks.

Not to get off topic, but what are C-cicle lights?

[Tom Clapper]

C-cicle lights are just a string of 20 C-9's and 100 count mini icicles together in one set. They do have seperate male and female plugs on them so you can control them seperatly. You could do them same thing by running a set of C-9's, and a seperate set of Icicles but I just happened to find these on ebay. I bought 10 sets of them for about $35.00 including shipping so it was cheaper than replacing my old icicles.