Fitting a chandelier in the UK rewired in the USA i.e. 125v

[shawborder]

I have purchased an old chandelier from the US and hoped to install it here in the UK. The lamp holders I believe are SES 'E12's. I think I can find the bulbs (240 volts) but will the wiring and lamp holders which are clearly new be ok given that they are rated 125 Volts. Help?

 

[tim west]

Are you sure the wiring is rated as that? Can you see any markings on the cable?

 

[breezer]

nope.

send it back.

often US stuff looks the same but it isnt, it doesnt comply to any current regs (it doesnt need to, for the US)

the wiring is probably too small, if the lamps are screw in they have imperial thread and we have metric

sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but good luck

 

[Taylortwocities]

Its unlikely to be earthed, either.

 

[shawborder]

Many thanks to all. Very sound advice but I will persevere. I'm obseesed with making it work..... so...... I've contacted a company who will supply me with uk e14 lamp holders and brackets etc and I'm going to rewire the whole thing. And yes I will make sure it's earthed. Cheers.

 

[stargazer]

I'm obseesed with making it work.....

In that case have you thought about using a suitably rated rotary dimmer switch?
Use a multimeter to set its output to around 90VAC to allow for tolerances, and it will run your American lights.
The trick is to design so that the dimmer, once set, cannot be ramped up to full UK voltage by unknowing hands.
I’m not sure how many regs you will breach with such an arrangement, and I might get flamed for suggesting it.
But what should concentrate your mind is that however you get your lights to work, if you bodge it, it's your life and those closest to you are putting at risk.

 

[Spark123]

I don't like the idea of using a dimmer switch in this configuration - too much to go wrong.
If you are re-wiring it with the correct equipment to british standards then that is the best way forwards.

 

[TicklyT]

I often run up against a similar situation at work.

Some of our sales teams insist on ordering equipment direct from a US supplier, and failing to specify it is for use in the UK.

The kit then turns up with a single insulated 'figure of 8' mains lead and a switch mode power supply rated at 80 - 200 Volts.

They then start getting very aeriated when I refuse to cut the moulded plug off the lead and fit a UK plug.

 

[plugwash]

If you don't I bet they will just use a travel adaptor which is IMO even worse

P.S. I'm pretty sure american flex is rated to something like 300V so it should be safe on our mains voltage. Certainly no more dangerous than old christmas lights which are wired with what ammounts to little more than bellwire.

P.P.S. I know someone who has an external hard drive that came with a mains lead with that american style figure of 8 flex that terminated in a 13A moulded british style plug that did not appear to have a fuse.

 

[Spark123]

Still need to transform it down if the switch mode psu is only rated to 200v

 

[plugwash]

true,theese switchers tend to go up to 240V though in my experiance.

 

[kensplace]

Personally I would not go the dimmer switch route, or any other route that uses a bodge, as if you drop dead at any point, and someone else moves into your house in the future, they could easily replace the dimmer switch with a normal switch, and burn the house down as they dont know that the bodge is in place....