Fitting a switch to fairy lights?

jenben · Dec 29, 2011

My daughter has a cabin bed with space underneath to play but it is very dark. So I thought I'd put some fairy lights under there to make it cosy for her to play. However, the plug socket is behind a wardrobe, so they would be impossible for her to switch on and off. So I was wondering if I could put a switch into the wire between the first light and the plug that she could use to turn them on and off, the sort of rocker switch like on a bedside lamp wire.

The box says they are low voltage traditional fairy lights, 200 clear bulbs that are suitable for outdoor or indoor use.
The plug is a transformer and the spec says:
Rated input 24VAC 50Hz
Rated output 36W
Bulb type 2.4V 0.18W 0.075A
Plug to first bulb 6m (which I could do with shortening if I do put in a switch)
Overall length of light set 25.9m

I'd be really grateful of any advice whether it's NO - don't do it, or YES - go ahead and use this type of switch...

Thanks!

Specialist · Dec 29, 2011

A 5 amp Rocker switch would be fine for what you want.

Just re-read your post, is'nt a string of 200 Fairy lights a bit excessive for a childs bed ? Also you said about the Transformer being plugged into a socket that's not accessible to turn of. I would'nt be leaving a plug in transformer like that powered 24 / 7 to be honest.

Think you'll find also that the rated input is 240v not 24.