ᐅ Smart ideas that make everyday life easier incorporated into the home

Enough power outlets for the Christmas season are really a must! Unfortunately, we forgot one. Oops: it’s not directly by the window but next to the bathroom door, just around the corner.
Now we have routed the cable under the carpet to the outlet. It works, so Wall-E is safe, but it’s still annoying.

The outdoor lighting will be a lit tree for the first time. I’m looking forward to it. The LEDs are already in the drawer.

T21150 schrieb:
Sometimes I feel a bit like Chevy Chase in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."
I'm so glad I didn't install any power outlets on the roof of the house. If I had and it got discovered, I'd probably have to put a 65,535-bulb blinking light chain on the roof repeatedly! Hopefully, no one ever invents something like that with LEDs...

But to achieve that, you’d have to connect a lot of power strips together to make it just like in the movie.

Koempy schrieb:
But to do that, you’d have to chain together a whole bunch of power strips so it’s exactly like in the movie

It’s nice to see people here with a sense of humor. I like that.

I’ve been watching this movie once a year since 1993. And every time, just like the first, I always laugh out loud at how the guy installs his "electrical setup"... and then later that icicle hanging from the neighbor’s B&O system. Simply brilliant.

When I finish the lawn next year, I’ll also connect all the garden lighting points (so far, only the cables are buried). My idea is—while I’m at it—to install, next to some discreet low-power lamps (I think I planned about 14), an IP-67 outdoor ground-level socket right next to each one. My wife doesn’t know about this plan yet (or rather, I told her I wouldn’t do it ). I bet 1000,- and an ice cream for everyone: it won’t be enough... haha.

T21150 schrieb:

I’ve watched this movie every year since 1993. And I always laugh just as hard as the first time, especially at how the man installs his "electrical wiring"... and then later that icicle in the neighbor’s B&O system. Simply brilliant.

“Begging? But we have our pension!”

By the way, watch the movie in the original language; Eddie does have a terrible accent, but the lines are (even) better. The quote above isn’t actually in the original; Aunt Betty recites the oath, which is why Eddie stands up.

This slapstick is a yearly must-have.

Regards, Bauexperte

That's right. That's why we have it on DVD in our cabinet.

So far, our power cable is just buried in the garden. As for the outdoor sockets... I need to interview my husband about that. I think it's a good idea!

EveundGerd schrieb:
That's right. That's why it’s still sitting on a DVD in our cabinet.

So far, our power cable in the garden is just buried underground. About the outdoor sockets... I’ll have to ask my husband about that. I like the idea!

Hi,

I have the Chevy somewhere on the HDD. But now it’s coming up constantly again... *Happy*.

The cables – I have several circuits – are already coming out of the ground at the appropriate spots.

Since I didn’t want to just run the cable directly into the lamps and back out again, I’m planning to install an IP67 junction box for each lamp. Since I’ll have to dig a hole anyway, I can make it a bit bigger and install an IP67 ground-level socket next to it. Whether it will be 14, we’ll see. But definitely at least 7. I just realized that at about 75% (there’s a marker), I had to switch from 5-core to 3-core cable, because back then I ran out of the 5-core outdoor cable and only had 3-core on the roll, and wasn’t in the mood that day to buy more. From that point on, only lighting is possible and sensible anyway. Saves time and the purchase of more 240V-operated LED decorative lights and blinkers... *grin*.

Most of the lamps in the garden will be ambient lighting. After all, I don’t want football stadium lighting here. The neighbors would appreciate that. Only the line running parallel to the terrace will have stronger illumination, as well as the separate line to the detached outdoor terrace. On the left and right sides here – with an otherwise unobstructed view for about 100 km (60 miles) on a clear day – there are two beeches that will be lit as tree lighting. Sounds expensive, but it’s not nowadays with LED technology. Of course, this is an outdoor installation, so I will again be accompanied by the master electrician I fully trust. It not only needs to be installed perfectly. I also have to make sure to never overload a circuit (at a planned 2-3 watts per lamp), which won’t be a major concern at first.

Best regards,
Thorsten