Admittedly, I have fortunately not yet been a witness or even a victim of a house fire caused by an unattended Christmas pyramid! But the matter is not without danger! Friends and acquaintances have often asked me to send charred wooden parts of their - oh so valuable! - Replace Christmas decorations. I not only thought about how to restore the things entrusted to me to their old/new splendor, but also whether and how I can increase security:
Tea lights increase the distance between the candle flames and the impeller
In order to be able to purchase the small pyramid with the lantern children, which was made by the people of the GDR, you certainly had to know a saleswoman in the arts and crafts store, because there was a shortage of goods. Just because of the memories of the difficult procurement (and the low price!), this piece is worth preserving! Unfortunately, not only did the drive blades have to be replaced, but two of the grommets for the pyramid lights were burned to such an extent that the base plate in this area was also damaged. Instead of reworking the candle nozzles true to the original, I decided to make a “break in style” and use tealight nozzles for two reasons:
- The candle flame no longer comes as dangerously close to the wings as with newly inserted pyramid candles.
- The recesses in the base plate required for assembly also left out the fire spots.
Sticker with a warning reminds you to be careful
As a precaution, I stick a warning notice under the floor, but I am fully aware that this will only be effective if it is discovered, heeded and taken seriously. - Maybe it would be better to avoid candles altogether and use an electric motor as a drive?
Absolutely safe: LED candles and electric drive
I ask myself this question again as I pull out my own “Christmas decorations.” I have already used safe LED candles wherever possible. In order to convert the pyramid, an electric drive would also be needed! Of course it shouldn't be more expensive than the pyramid itself and everything should be finished before Christmas! There is no motor in my craft box that is small, slow and quiet enough to be easily hidden in an inconspicuous base. Yes, the motor should be as flat as this tiny PC fan, but unfortunately it runs much too fast! Nevertheless, I connect the 12V fan to a 9V power supply and am pleased with how quiet it runs. When handling, the air flow hits the pyramid wings and they start moving - initially a little sluggishly.
Cool wind for the Christmas pyramid
Now I can't be stopped: a few hours in the hobby cellar have once again flown by. A spacer ring with air inlet holes, a "double bottom" for the fan and air outlet holes were made and now have to prove themselves in the first test! Before I connect the power supply, my wife can briefly admire the inner workings. To reach the socket on the baseboard channel, I crawl under the table too hastily and lift it with my head. The pyramid has survived the jolt well and immediately begins to rotate at a reasonable speed. The weak, propelling airflow is - just like my small gash on my head - barely noticeable.
to be hidden. Yes, the motor should be as flat as this tiny PC fan, but unfortunately it runs much too fast! Nevertheless, I connect the 12V fan to a 9V power supply and am pleased with how quiet it runs. When handling, the air flow hits the pyramid wings and they start moving - initially a little sluggishly.