The Electrical Safety Foundation International recommends connecting no more than three strings of incandescent lights together. If you’re using LEDs, most UL-labeled lights will tell you on the package how many strings of lights you can safely string together. Don’t put cords through doors and windows. Don’t run your extension cords through window or door cracks. The cord could become pinched, which can fray the insulation around the wires and lead to a nasty shock.
Never use staples, tacks or nails to hang lights
Sharp objects can easily pierce the strands and create a potential electrical shock. It’s best to use plastic holders or simply wrap the lights around the fence, porch or tree. Turn off lights overnight. Though beautiful and festive, you should turn off your lights for a few hours each day.
Be careful decorating living creatures
Never string up a human or animal with the lights that you plug in, even if it’s just for a photo — they could get an electric shock or burns if the lights are too hot. Most places that sell Christmas lights also sell strands of battery-powered lights. These don’t get hot and won’t potentially electrocute the wearer. Plus, they come in fun shapes. We’ve seen strands shaped like snowflakes, candy canes and gumdrops.
Light your car safely
When decorating your vehicle for Christmas parades, make sure to use a power inverter to produce enough power for lights that have a voltage of more than 12V. Most Christmas lights are 110V AC (alternating-current) and your vehicle can typically only power 12V DC (direct current). The Potek 2,000W Power Inverter Three or the Ampeak 1,200W Power Inverter are good choices.
Also, be sure to firmly secure the lights to your vehicle so that they don’t drag on the ground and shatter. Strong magnets that you can buy from craft stores work well. Just be sure not to drag the magnet across your car’s finish when pulling it off. Always pull up to avoid scratches. Don’t forget to only use your car holiday lights when it’s dry outside, too. 110V AC lights can give you a deadly shock if they get wet.
Never use indoor lights outdoors
When you go looking for lamps (that technical term for bulbs) and lighting fixtures, look for a UL listing or rating. UL (formerly Underwriters Laboratory) is a testing and certification agency that certifies lamps and fixtures among many other industrial and commercially available products. A UL listing or similar certification is required by law for many products.
There are several grades of UL ratings that help indicate the proper setting and use of an electrical component. When used according to the appropriate UL rating, electrical products should be safe to use and operate. However, using an electrical component in a way that is outside of its UL rating can cause the component to fail. It may also create a fire or other safety hazard.
UL Listed For Dry Locations
The most basic UL certification is “UL Listed for Dry Locations”. Often this is listed on packaging simply as “UL Listed”. These items are safe to use indoors. However, they should not be exposed to any type of moisture. This is the ideal listing for dry areas of the home such as living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, and any other area that is not exposed to the elements and is not normally subject to excessive humidity or condensation.
A lamp or fixture that is UL Listed for Dry Locations should never be used in a damp or wet location. Using a lamp or fixture listed for dry locations outdoors could cause a lamp to fail. When exposed to the elements, these lamps and fixtures are not built to be watertight or even water resistant. The introduction of water can cause the lamp to malfunction. The most benign malfunction would be for the lamp to simply stop working. However, there is a greater danger.
A lamp or fixture listed for dry locations that is used outdoors can become a fire hazard. When exposed to the elements, water can get into the fixture and ultimately into the lamp, causing leakage current. Leakage current occurs because water conducts electricity. When water comes in contact with electrical components, the current runs from the exposed electrical components through the water. The current running through the water can create heat or cause arcing, which can ignite combustible materials. This kind of electrical fire is a common cause of house fires.
UL Listed for Damp Locations
Items that are UL Listed for Damp Locations are made to stand up to slightly more moisture than dry listed items. In the case of lamps and fixtures, this means that they are somewhat more watertight, though not completely. For this reason, a UL certified lamp or fixture that is suitable for damp conditions still cannot be used where it is exposed to the elements.
The main function of lamps and fixtures listed for damp locations is for areas that don’t receive direct contact from water but are still subject to significant condensation. Indoors examples of this kind of use include bathrooms, indoor pools, and utility rooms. All of these areas commonly have enough moisture in the air to cause water to condense and bead up on electrical components.
Outdoor examples of “damp locations” include any outdoor area that is completely protected from the elements. This may be a covered porch or patio. The area needs to be so well covered that even in a storm it will not come in direct contact with water or any precipitation. For an area that will get even a little rain during a storm, a higher UL listing is necessary. Items UL listed for damp locations can withstand a small amount of moisture safely. They are built to keep water out and avoid the danger of electrical fires when used properly.
UL Listed for Wet Locations
This UL listing is the only listing that indicates a lamp or fixture is completely safe for outdoor use. If you have an area that will receive any amount of direct moisture, this listing is absolutely necessary. This includes any area where water will drip, splash, or flow against the electrical components.
The nice thing about this listing is that it really can be used almost anywhere outdoors. Examples of outdoor uses include open decks, porches, and patios, as well as every type of decorative outdoor lighting. Wash lights for the facade of your home, bullet lights that highlight special features, and path lighting along a walkway all need this listing without exception.
Outdoor Lights and Temperature
Besides the UL listings for safety around water, another concern is the temperature that the light will be used in. Typically, indoor lights will be exposed to a limited temperature range. The light will not be used in very cold or very hot temperatures. However, an outdoor lamp or fixture will be exposed to a much broader range of temperatures.
Outdoor lights that will be used in extremely cold conditions may require special consideration. In the winter, even here in New Jersey, temperatures can easily drop below freezing. This can cause problems with fluorescent lights especially. That includes the popular spiral CFL bulbs. While CFL bulbs are a great way to save on electricity, they can start up slowly or flicker in extreme cold. These issues can start when the temperature drops below freezing, 32 degrees Fahrenheit. There are many newer bulbs that are built to withstand cold, but make sure you check the packaging to be sure.
LEDs are great in the cold. In fact, cold weather makes LEDs more efficient and brighter. On the other hand, heat is the enemy of LED lamps. LED lamps can generate heat in their base and require airflow to stay cool. Many outdoor wet listed fixtures are tightly enclosed to withstand water. That can be a problem for LEDs. Especially in the hot New Jersey summers, overheating can cause an LED to be less efficient and burn out faster. The professionals at Mikulka Electric are happy to discuss your options. We can make sure that the fixtures you are using will not adversely affect your LED bulbs.
Contact us
Mikulka Electricians are always professional and efficient. Insured and trained to do the job right the first time. Experts in the field of electrics with over 25 years’ experience. Prepared with up-front pricing and a lifetime guarantee. We observe all personal protective equipment and COVID 19 requirements to keep our staff and your family safe. Our team of experts will respond immediately to your call for help. Call Mikulka Electric, Inc. for a wide range of electrical services, including indoor and outdoor lighting, electrical heating, electrical repairs, and back-up generators. We service the Central New Jersey area. Address 275 RT. 79 Morganville, NJ 07751 https://mikulka-electric.com/contact-us/
Phone 855-645-8552 or 855-MIKULKA