How to Wire Anything With Low Voltage Lights

You can wire anything from train sets to doll houses and more.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Screwdriver
• wire strippers
• soldering iron
• solder

1. 
   You have to have a power source.

   Remember all wiring needs a source. This can be a battery or a transformer. Use colors to avoid confusion. Any color will do but white is usually ground or negative. And Red is positive. This does not really matter since you are using low voltage wiring and are doing the wiring for your self. The main rule for color is you have to be consistent. The wire you use should be around twenty two gauge or eighteen gauge. Door bell wire or speaker wire is fine.

2. 
   The more lights the dimmer they get.

   The more lights you have the dimmer they will be. This problem can be solved by using a larger battery or more batteries.

3. 
   You have to check all of them.

   Lights and batteries can be placed or wired in parallel or series.
   Placing lights in series will cause all lights to go out when one burns out.

4. 
   wired in parallel

   It will take more wire to wire in parallel than in series but it is much easier to trouble shoot when the lights don't work. Only the bad bulb goes out.

5. 
   This will give you more power.

   Placing batteries in parallel will increase the amperage or power.

6. 
   Make sure the bulb is same voltage as batteries combined.

   Placing batteries in series will increase the voltage.

7. 
   This will turn them all on or off. Don't forget the fuse.

   You need to be able to turn them on and off so it is necessary to wire a switch or switches as needed for your design. You should also place a fuse holder and fuse on one side of the circuit.

8. 
   Let your imagination run wild!

   Before you know it you will understand the concept and will be wiring all kinds of layouts.

Tips & Warnings

• Always test your connections.
• don't leave lights unattended
• Take your time
• don't try to do too much at one time

[momose]

on 9/9/2009 Thank you, machinc, for putting the information about running the lights in parallel series to be able to replace only one at a time. I am sure some of the more mechanically-minded would know that part, but for the rest of us..... just thanks. *****

[davidomar]

on 8/21/2009 Whoa, this is definitely something I should learn if I want to play around with my electrical toys.... great man!