The Do’s and
Don’ts of Outdoor Holiday Lighting
After you are done rocking around the Christmas tree and hanging your
stockings by the chimney with care, it’s time to tackle the excitingly magical
yet frustratingly time-consuming tradition of setting up your outdoor
holiday lights. Outdoor lighting
can add charm to the exterior of your home or business. Yet,
before climbing that ladder, you and Uncle Fred should read over this advice to
make your Christmas lighting installation
easier. The following list of do’s and don’ts will help you to avoid some common
issues when arranging mini light
and other Christmas Lights typically
used.
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| LED Strip Lights-RGBW Waterproof |
DO remember safety first.
First,
respect your ladder. While it will get you closer to the eaves of your house
and onto you roof, it is also a precarious and delicate tool. Plant your ladder
on the most level ground you can find and lock it in place. You should also
consider grabbing someone sturdy to be your light-hanging buddy and brace the
ladder while you climb. Second, use surge protectors and heavy
duty extension cords to protect you and your circuits from power
fluctuations or spikes in your lighting bonanza.
Third, make sure the
lights you are planning to
use are rated for outdoor use and damp locations for
when the weather turns rough. Nothing is more disheartening than spending time
and effort putting up LED lights
that quickly short out or don’t work outdoors.
DON’T throw away your extra LED bulbs and fuses
You are going to want those later. These extra little packages of replacement bulbs and fuses are not just for a possible breakdown of your lights straight out of the box. They are also for next year when bulb #37 decides to quit. More specifically, a 50-light string from 5 years ago may draw different amperage than the 100-light string you bought yesterday. You cannot use just any spare bulb or fuse lying around. Adding a bulb or fuse with the wrong milliamp rating could cause an overload of power and pop all the fuses, blowing out the string completely.
You are going to want those later. These extra little packages of replacement bulbs and fuses are not just for a possible breakdown of your lights straight out of the box. They are also for next year when bulb #37 decides to quit. More specifically, a 50-light string from 5 years ago may draw different amperage than the 100-light string you bought yesterday. You cannot use just any spare bulb or fuse lying around. Adding a bulb or fuse with the wrong milliamp rating could cause an overload of power and pop all the fuses, blowing out the string completely.
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| LED Strip Lights |
DO buy extra bulbs and light
strings
No light string lasts forever, so when your favorite teal lights bite the dust you should have a string of that same color in reserve. In addition to having a string of extra bulbs and fuses, this tip is handy to follow in the case of LED light strings. It doesn’t matter if the LEDs came from the same manufacturer, there may be a slight color variation in the LED diodes from year to year. It is more noticeable in warm, pure, and cool white light strings. Therefore, we recommend you purchase your LED reserve strings at the same time you get the originals to maintain the color consistency.
No light string lasts forever, so when your favorite teal lights bite the dust you should have a string of that same color in reserve. In addition to having a string of extra bulbs and fuses, this tip is handy to follow in the case of LED light strings. It doesn’t matter if the LEDs came from the same manufacturer, there may be a slight color variation in the LED diodes from year to year. It is more noticeable in warm, pure, and cool white light strings. Therefore, we recommend you purchase your LED reserve strings at the same time you get the originals to maintain the color consistency.
DON’T use more lights than
your circuit breaker can handle
The standard each circuit breaker can handle is about 15 amps of current. Light strings only draw a few milliamps individually, but when you begin adding those strings together you could draw some serious power. More importantly, the more lights you connect end-to-end, the further the power has to travel. Eventually, you will experience a voltage drop resulting in dim or unlit bulbs towards the end of line. The number of strings you are able to safely and properly connect is greatly increased with the use of LED mini lights or C7 and C9 strings because they require significantly less power to function. However, you should always read the instructions on the maximum number of connections possible for your lights.
The standard each circuit breaker can handle is about 15 amps of current. Light strings only draw a few milliamps individually, but when you begin adding those strings together you could draw some serious power. More importantly, the more lights you connect end-to-end, the further the power has to travel. Eventually, you will experience a voltage drop resulting in dim or unlit bulbs towards the end of line. The number of strings you are able to safely and properly connect is greatly increased with the use of LED mini lights or C7 and C9 strings because they require significantly less power to function. However, you should always read the instructions on the maximum number of connections possible for your lights.
DO replace a burnt out bulb
as soon as possible
DO be creative
There is a light string for
every situation. Tree wrapping and net lightsare
useful for covering large areas like bushes and tree trunks. Icicle lights lend the effect of snow suspended in air,
while berry lights offer unusual and whimsical lighting. Battery-operated lights are ideal in hard-to-reach places
or try the ultra thin wire, InvisiLite LEDs
for extra magic in you garland or wreath. During the holiday season, we like to
think you can never have too many lights. Add lights to your stair railings,
your fireplace mantel or windows. Put lights in vases or drape
them on walls and ceilings for a unique look. Whether they are strung along
fences or simply wrapped around your Christmas tree, your imagination (and
several surge protectors) is the only limit to a truly glittering lighting
display.
If you don’t want to fuss with
mini lights this season, try reading our article, The Perfect Rope Light, as an alternative to traditional
lights. You may also visit our
website and browse the extensive Christmas décor section. Your
questions on purchasing mini lights, suggestions for budget-friendly Christmas themes, or comments on how to
tell if your friend is ready to be upgraded to “ladder-holding” status, can be
directed to area below. We have even more Christmas lighting images and advice
on our Facebook,Twitter, Google Plus, LinkedIn, or Pinterest.
Here at Okorder.com, the staff
remains on call, striving to prevent holiday lighting hoaxes, Season’s
Greetings setbacks, and Christmas catastrophes.
For Any LED Lights, Pls check our website:http://www.okorder.com
There is a light string for every situation. Tree wrapping and net lightsare useful for covering large areas like bushes and tree trunks. Icicle lights lend the effect of snow suspended in air, while berry lights offer unusual and whimsical lighting. Battery-operated lights are ideal in hard-to-reach places or try the ultra thin wire, InvisiLite LEDs for extra magic in you garland or wreath. During the holiday season, we like to think you can never have too many lights. Add lights to your stair railings, your fireplace mantel or windows. Put lights in vases or drape them on walls and ceilings for a unique look. Whether they are strung along fences or simply wrapped around your Christmas tree, your imagination (and several surge protectors) is the only limit to a truly glittering lighting display.
