Pond Light Wiring

[PaulWoz]

Hi

I received an underwater pond light as a gift (Alpine 50W) that did not include
a transformer. I'd like to hook it up to my old transformer (12V-120W max)
made by Beckett. Anyway, my transformer uses 2 screws to connect while the
Alpine light has a prong type connection. My question: can I safely cut off
the prongs, bare the wires and attach to the transformer?. My lack of things
electrical is apparent-sorry.

Thanks in advance.
Paul

[RichToyBox]

No problem. The method of connection is made different by different
manufacturers to make it simple or cheap. But there are two wires, one is
the hot and the other a ground. For a light it doesn't matter which is
which. Electricity runs out one and back on the other. For AC this
reverses 50 or 60 times per second depending on where you are.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html
"PaulWoz" > wrote in message
...
> Hi
>
> I received an underwater pond light as a gift (Alpine 50W) that did not
include
> a transformer. I'd like to hook it up to my old transformer (12V-120W
max)
> made by Beckett. Anyway, my transformer uses 2 screws to connect while
the
> Alpine light has a prong type connection. My question: can I safely cut
off
> the prongs, bare the wires and attach to the transformer?. My lack of
things
> electrical is apparent-sorry.
>
> Thanks in advance.
> Paul

[[email protected]]

RichToyBox wrote:
> No problem. The method of connection is made different by different
> manufacturers to make it simple or cheap. But there are two wires,
one is
> the hot and the other a ground. For a light it doesn't matter which
is
> which. Electricity runs out one and back on the other. For AC this
> reverses 50 or 60 times per second depending on where you are.
> --
Schnippage ...

The above is not exactly correct... well everything up to the
explanation of how AC works is exactly correct ... you will have no
problem just cutting the progs off and using bare wires.

As far as AC goes the Hot lead (Black usually sometimes red) is Always
Hot, the polarity (pos/neg) is what reverses (or alternates) 50 or 60
times per second. For direct current there is a positive and a negative
lead.. No big deal but I just felt like getting a bit pedantic this
morning...