5 Electrical Questions about your Christmas Light Display

09 Dec 5 Electrical Questions about your Christmas Light Display

Kingsport, TN

Setting up an extraordinary Christmas light display requires planning and some basic guidelines to do so safely. Although stringing Christmas lights on your home can add holiday cheer, many homeowners have multiple questions about the best way to create their vision and protect their homes. Therefore, our Kingsport certified electricians at Thompson Electrical Service share on the blog today five electrical questions about your Christmas light display and what you can do to ensure you have a safe holiday season.

1. Should you cover outdoor light plugs?

In short, yes. Even though outdoor Christmas lights are designed to withstand most weather conditions, they sometimes need protection from the outdoor elements. Our Johnson City licensed electricians explain that when an outdoor electrical outlet gets wet, it could cause serious injuries to a person or property because the flow of electricity runs through the water. Therefore, it’s important to cover outdoor light plugs with an “in use” cover that keeps the receptacle dry.

2. What happens if I plug too many lights together?

Plugging in too many Christmas lights can overload your outlets. Thankfully, in newer homes, not much happens because the circuit breaker trips and prevents electricity from flowing through that circuit. Therefore, our Tri-Cities electrical experts recommend homeowners examine their circuit breakers to determine the maximum wattage allowed. Then, divide the number by the number of watts per strand to determine how many strands can connect safely. For example, if the maximum wattage is 210 watts and each strand uses 10 watts, you can safely connect 21 Christmas light strands without causing electrical problems.

3. Can I leave Christmas lights on all night?

When you have a gorgeous light display, you may want to keep it on all night. Aside from a high electric bill, leaving the lights on all night does not pose a safety issue. LED Christmas lights are safer than traditional lights because they produce less heat. However, our licensed electricians in Bristol recommend leaving your holiday lights on for four to six hours each evening but turning them off to save electricity during the day.

4. Can I plug Christmas lights into a power strip?

Although it can be tempting to plug multiple light strands into a single power strip, it’s ill-advised and could cause electrical issues. Also, plugging Christmas lights into a power strip that’s then connected to an extension cord that pulls electricity from the outlet is not safe. Therefore, our Kingsport electrical pros recommend that you plug Christmas decorations or light strands directly into an outlet when possible. In most cases, using a power strip or an extension cord is safe, but it’s not recommended to combine.

5. How do I stop Christmas light bulbs from blowing?

It can be frustrating to have half of your display set up, and the Christmas lights blow their fuses. Fortunately, there are a few easy steps to prevent this from happening. First, use several outlets when you want to install multiple strands together. For larger displays, our Johnson City electricians recommend adding GFCI outlets or dedicated circuits that can help protect your circuits. Next, limit the use of surge protectors and extension cords, as they can overload the outlet. Then, ensure your Christmas lights and electrical cords are meant for outdoor use because they have the durability and insulation needed to protect electrical components from environmental factors. Finally, although it can be tempting to connect as many strands as possible together, there is a limit that the manufacturer provides on the packaging. In some cases, the limit is five, but different brands may recommend connecting fewer strands.

Licensed Electricians in Bristol, Johnson City, and Kingsport, TN

Depending on the number of decorations on your property, you may need to run additional electrical resources to support a stunning display. However, no matter your electrical needs this holiday season, our Tri-Cities area licensed electricians at Thompson Electrical Service can help you stay safe. If you have questions about illuminating your property this Christmas season or need help installing electrical components, please call Thompson Electrical Service at (423) 343-5726 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.