As the holidays approach, homes across Florida are beginning to shimmer with the glow of Christmas lights, even before Thanksgiving comes and goes. While these twinkling decorations are a hallmark of the season, setting them up safely is paramount to ensure your celebrations remain merry and bright. Today, we want to walk you through the steps to connect your holiday lights with care and security, and inform you of what to look out for.
Holiday Lights – Know Your Limits
When it comes to holiday decorations, the adage ‘more is better’ can often lead to a spectacular display, but when electricity is involved, this approach requires a cautious balance. Your home’s electrical system is designed to handle a certain amount of load, and understanding this limit is the first step to a safe holiday light setup.
Each circuit in your home can support a finite number of appliances and lights. Typically, residential circuits are rated for either 15 or 20 amps. To find out what you’re working with, check the breaker switches in your electrical panel, which are usually clearly labeled. Once you know the amp rating, a simple calculation can prevent circuit overload – multiply the amps by the voltage (usually 120V in Florida homes) to get the total wattage your circuit can handle. For a safety margin, only use up to 80% of this number for continuous loads like holiday lights.
Now, consider the wattage of each string of lights you plan to use. This information is often found on the packaging or tags attached to the string. Add up the wattage of all the lights you intend to connect to ensure it doesn’t exceed the safe load of the circuit. Remember, other appliances and fixtures on the same circuit count towards this limit, so account for those as well.
For those who prefer a visual approach, sketching a simple diagram of your intended light display can help. Mark where each outlet is and plan how you’ll distribute the light strings across the available circuits. This visual map can be a handy reference during installation and helps avoid the temptation to add ‘one more string’ that could tip the balance.
Additionally, ensure all outdoor connections are weatherproof and consider using outdoor-rated extension cords and lights to prevent short circuits and other hazards.
Picking the Right Lights and Plugging Them In
LED lights have become increasingly popular – in some situations, mandated federally – thanks to their low energy usage and long life. Unlike incandescent bulbs, which generate light by heating a wire filament, LEDs produce light through a semiconductor, which is a more energy-efficient process. This means you can connect more LED light strings together from a single power source without nearing the circuit’s limit. For example, where you might only string together a handful of incandescent strands, with LEDs, you could potentially connect dozens.
However, the charm of incandescent lights still appeals to many. Their warm glow is reminiscent of traditional holiday decor. If you opt for these, be mindful that they consume more power, which limits the number you can string together. Regardless of your choice, always check the box or tag for the manufacturer’s recommendation on how many strands can be safely connected.
For most people and houses, a few strings of lights are nothing to worry about. Whenever you decide to go above and beyond, outside help may be warranted. Should you need assistance with any aspect of your holiday lighting or electrical system, our skilled electricians in Florida are ready to lend their expertise. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Promise Electric today to learn how we can help.
