Indoor Lights Outside

[EmmienLightFan]

In the UK it is very hard to find incandesants to go outside. All the LEDs have transformers as well.

 

I have an RGB display with a couple of 220v lights, but they can't be dimmed (Apart from one).

I want some normal lights (They go better with some songs) so am considering using a 220v to 110v site transformer (The ones for power tools and building sites) and buying lights from the US, but...

 

Would it be safe to use indoor incans outdoors? Or would they all go wrong? Could it start a fire or be so dangerous that there is no point doing it?

[Not A Scrooge]

Personally, I would never use indoor lights in an outdoor environment, no matter what the weather is like in your area.  Indoor lighting has different ratings on the type of cord used and is generally more susceptible to heat and cold temps.  Of course you could upgrade to RGB nodes?  Good luck.

[Orville]

Personally, I would never use indoor lights in an outdoor environment, no matter what the weather is like in your area.  Indoor lighting has different ratings on the type of cord used and is generally more susceptible to heat and cold temps.  Of course you could upgrade to RGB nodes?  Good luck.

Uhm, don't we use C7 night light bulbs as well as some standard base lamp bulbs outdoors in our blow molds?    Can't say I've ever seen a clear C7 bulb or a standard lamp bulb ever noted for "outdoor use" unless it's covered{porch light for example}, but even our blow molds sometimes still have parts of the bulb socket exposed to the elements.  

 

So I'd say I wouldn't use a fixture like an indoor table lamp outdoors, but I'd think as long as the bulbs were protected, sockets protected and the correct type outdoor rated wiring,  then I can see no harm in using incandescent bulbs outside.  

 

Again, we do this all the time in our blow molds or even other props we may create for our displays.  Or at least I've been doing it for years in my blow molds and never had any problems.

[robongar]

Being from the UK ( not there now) I know we're you are coming from with your lights.

I've sung this song before, I've used inside lights outside, after spraying the joints and sockets with "car engine ignition sealer". You can get it from "Halfords".

If you are going to use a transformer and get lights from North America, other than using RGB. Why not get 110 volt LED's.

I'm sure you could look around and get them direct from Asia. Look out for the strings, where the bulbs are moulded into the socket. You can't replace the bulbs. But, they don't fall out either.

However, if you plan to use 110v lights with a transformer and plan to use a controller. That also would have to be 110v.