You are prepared to illuminate the neighborhood with your dazzling wonderland now that you have decorated the halls. Excuse me! A little electrical wizardry is required before you can turn your yard into a magical celebration paradise. We’ll get down to the nitty-gritty of christmas lighting installation, which is to say, the voltage and wattage.
To begin, electrical force is represented by voltage. The force acting on electrons as they flow across a wire is a good analogy. Although 120 volts is the standard for most houses, it’s important to verify just in case. To keep your holiday lights from tripping any fuses, make sure they are compatible with your home’s voltage.
The next factor to consider is wattage. Similar to how much gas a car uses on a road trip, this is the power that your lights utilize. You must be aware of the wattage that your string lights use. A blackout, not a winter wonderland, will result from going over your circuit’s capacity.
When you string lights together, things start to heat up! You need to be careful not to exceed the maximum wattage that each light string contains. When things are overloaded, they can get hotter as Grandma’s Christmas cocoa in no time. Although most compact lights have a 210 watt maximum, LEDs are like the little engine that might because they are more efficient and less hot to the touch.
An important piece of advice: extension cords are not a toy. If they aren’t waterproof, resist the urge to connect a bunch of heavy-duty cords. When connecting your screens, it’s better to err on the side of caution.
Do you recall Aunt Sally’s warning regarding excess? Equally applicable here. Limit yourself to three sets of lights per electrical socket. Otherwise, you risk living precariously, anticipating the worst-case scenario when your breaker trips.
Is Clark Griswold someone you relate to? Do not feel alone. Every watt used by Christmas lights is more than justified by the joy and beauty they bring. Your holiday glow will be flawless as long as you watch those restrictions. The time has come; shine those lights brightly and without fear!