Series and Parallel Circuits with Christmas lights? Help!!!?

Question

Can someone help or describe how to make a series and parellel circuit in a simple way with christmas lights. What type of battery?




Thanks

Answer 1

http://www.thebestlinks.com/images/1/11/Series_and_parallel_circuits.png

that web picture is the simpliest I have seen it
hope it helps :)

Answer 2

There are two sorts of Christmas tree lights.
- The tiny ones, which are connected in series. Count the lights in the string, divide that into 120, and that will give you the voltage on each light. (A voltage of 2.4 volts is common.) Modern lights have a mechanism for shorting out the bulb (in order to keep the rest of the string working) if the filament fails; such bulbs should be replaced promptly, as the other bulbs will be subjected to a higher voltage and will tend to fail early.
- The larger ones, described by bulb size as C-7 1/2 or C-9. These are connected in parallel, and operate on 120 volts.

For experimental purposes with batteries, you want to use the little lights. Calculate the voltage required as described above, and use as much battery power as is needed to get the proper voltage (or somewhat less). Remember that carbon or alkaline cells put out 1.5 volts per cell, while nickel-cadmium (rechargeable) batteries do 1.2 volts per cell. Also note that in a series arrangement, you will need more batteries.

Answer 3

series goes like this

+ve battery--O--O--O--O--O--O----- -ve battery
where the Os are the bulbs.
THe voltage will be the number of bulbs x rated voltage for one bulb. If one goes out, all go out!


Parallel works like this

+ve battery -----------------------------------------------
....................$ $ $ $ $ $
-ve battery------------------------------------------------

where the $ are bulbs.

The voltage is just the rated voltage of one bulb. But make sure it can supply the required current. Use a car battery for 12V bulbset. or a suitable power supply.

Hope this helps.