Hoping Bob N or someone else can help here. I have a Dept 56 Krispy Kreme with niche lights and a revolving sign on top. it has a jack that plugs into a regular household current A.c outlet. Of course I tried to run the leads from the jack off of a transformer to no avail. Can this structure be lit using transformer a.c. current of abouat 14 volts. thanks, Mike S.
Probably not. If there were a transformer inside reducing the line voltage to 14, you could bypass it; but I bet the motor and lights are meant to run directly from 120 volts.
If it has a “jack” on the back it is probably powered by a small DC transformer that plugs into a 120 v source.
From my experience, all the Dept. 56 and other brands of ceramic buildings, that use a “Jack” have a “Wallwart” type transformer. The buildings that I have seen that use straight 120V/AC power, have the line cord hard wired.
One reason it may not be working is that the Wallwart that likely powers it, not only “Transforms” the power from 120V to 12-14V, but it also may be “Rectifying” it from AC to DC, so it still may not work properly, especially the motor for the revolving sign, is very likely a DC only motor.
Doug
Since a jack can’t plug into anything, I took Mike’s words, " it has a jack that plugs into a regular household current A.c outlet", to mean no wall-wart. It might have a DC motor; but a synchronous motor, like those used for clocks and microwave-oven turntables would be a very reasonable and cheap design for rotating a sign. I think we need a better description from Mike.
Okay,sorry but I did say what mean. this structure has no wallwart. It has a regular household type cord with a plug for an outlet on one end and on the other there is a fixture very much like a christmas bulb and socket. From the bottom of this fixture is a slightly thinner cord that has a socket that accepts the two prong plug in the unit. Hope that helps. I guess the neon- like signs in the shop and the motor run from the jack and the bulb does the interior lighting. Mike S.
Okay, it seems like everything is running directly off 120 volts AC, which leaves little hope for running it from a 14-volt accessory supply.
well, thanks Bob, I guess I will just stick a bright train bulb in a fixture and place it in the structure. Won’t have a spinning sign but I can live with that. thanks again.
msacco,
What are we missing here?
Why can’t you just plug the cord into a wall outlet. extension cord, or power strip and place the structure on your layout with the sign spinning?
Rich
We have over 15 D 56 bldgs. on our layout and simply run the power chords into a power strip under the table and into a wall outlet. Seemed like the easiest and smartest idea.
Yes, I can plug it in but I wanted to add to my control panel off/on switch that controls my general lighting on the layout. thanks again, mike s.