No matter where you are, the holidays are everyone’s favorite season of the year. Families gather to share gifts and decorate their homes using different Christmas lighting. During this time of the year, it is always important to ensure electrical safety is done to ensure the protection of your family and your home. An alternative way is to seek a professional electrician that caters to lighting installation services.
Emergency Electrician Beverly Grove is one of the trusted electrical companies in the area that provides you with a complete range of electrical services for homes and even commercial properties. Safety is always important, and we ensure that every job we do is properly done.
Here are helpful tips to ensure your safety during the holidays:
- Check each of the lightbulbs carefully. Check for any nicks in the cords that can cause a shock hazard if there are any cracked bulbs or frayed cords. If there is, throw them away and buy a new LED string of lights.
- Check all the extension cords for any abrasions. When you see this, do not tape it up; buying a new extension cord is safe. It is highly suggested to use an outdoor-rated cord. Indoor extension cords can heat up and cause an electrical fire.
- Make sure that the electrical products are UL listed to know where it is manufactured. A red UL listed label indicates that your holiday lights have been tested for rain, high humidity, and other outdoor situations. If you have a green UL Listed Label light, the holiday lights are suitable for indoor use only. Although a green UL listing is suitable for indoor, a red UL listed holiday light can be used for outdoor or indoor use.
- Don’t plug in too many lights. Too many stringed lights can cause the circuit to blow. Be sure to pay attention to the circuit rating, which you can find on the label. This will let you know how many stringed lights the circuit can handle.
- Opt for Energy-Efficient Holiday Lighting. If you want a new holiday light for this year, take advantage of the energy-efficient lighting. They are much safer than traditional holiday lighting since they produce virtually no heat. LED holiday lighting changes the chances of catching the holiday decoration or home on fire. LED holiday lights are also significant in using less energy than older holiday lights, which can cost less.
- Use Plastic Hooks. When installing holiday lights outside your home, avoid using metal staples or nails. Metal staples can pierce the installation, which makes it vulnerable to fire hazards. Plastic hooks, on the other hand, are the better option. It is easy to install and comes in various shapes and sizes.
- Look for Waterproof Christmas lights. Check to ensure that the lights are labeled as waterproof, especially if you live in a wet area.
- Use The Right Cord. Always use an extension cord that is made for outdoor use. Indoor use extension cords are not meant to be used in cold and wet environments.
- Keep them dry. Don’t let the cords sit on the ground. Ensure that the junction between your light cord and the extension cord stays out of any puddles, damp soil, snow, or ice.
- Host The lights. You can use an inexpensive cord protector such as a twist and seal heavy-duty cord protector or the extension cord safety seal. This is to keep the cords dry or plan the light display so that the connection is in the air instead of the ground.
How Many Can Holiday Lights Be Plugged Into A Circuit?
Decorating your home with your Christmas lights means you need all the available circuits you need to use to plugin these strings of lights. However, it is always important to consider your family and home’s safety. Overcrowding the circuit can potentially cause fire and other electrical issues.
You may wonder, how many Christmas lights can you plugin to a circuit? Unfortunately, there’s no particular number, but there’s a way to ensure you will not overcrowd the circuit. Some of the factors will depend on:
- The type of Christmas Lights that you are using (both size and whether they are LED)
- If anything else is also running off the circuit (such as lights and appliances of your home)
- The amperage of the circuit that you use.
Calculate how many Christmas lights you can put on a single circuit breaker by calculating the maximum wattage. To determine the number of lights you can put on a circuit, you have to calculate how many watts of bulbs the circuit can handle. Use equation such as like one below:
Watts = amps x volts
However, the absolute maxim is recommended for loading the circuits to no more than 80% capacity. This will prevent the possibility of wires overheating and causing fire danger.
But, if you have other lights or appliances on the circuit, subtract the wattage of those devices from the total. An example would be if the circuit you are using for Christmas lights also handles three 60-watt bulbs on the porch area and in front of the garage, you will need to subtract the 180 watts from the total 1440.
The type of Christmas lights you are also using matters. Different sizes and types have different wattages affecting the number of lights you can put on a single circuit. Another example is a string of small LED lights that only uses 12 watts. You would put 105 strings of these lights on a single circuit (1440/12-105).
If you plan on putting on a lot of Christmas lights and don’t feel like doing any calculations, another option is to run separate electrical circuits for your lights by using power strips. Knowing there’s nothing plugged into the circuit will help give you peace of mind and ensure your safety.
If you are facing any electrical problems or need electrical services, don’t hesitate to contact Emergency Electrician Beverly Grove. We are always available and ready to assist you with any of your electrical services and needs.