As people start decking their halls for the holiday, that means that many homeowners are putting Christmas lights up around the outside as well as the inside of their homes. One of the most common questions that is bound to come up this time of the year is how many Christmas lights can be strung together safely. The answer to that question isn’t always cut and dry. There are some factors that need to be considered. Burley Electrical Services is here to talk about Christmas lights and what you need to do to determine how many you can safely string together.

Difference Between LED & Incandescent Lights

A large determining factor in how many lights you can safely string together this Christmas season is whether or not your lights are LED or incandescent. While LED lights might cost you more money, they use far less power to light. In fact, they use 1/10th the amount of power that incandescent lights use. You can also plan on them lasting 10 times longer. You might save money upfront on incandescent lights, but you will definitely make up for it in the cost to power them.

How to Determine the Number of Strings You Can String Together

Here are some light safety tips that will help you determine how many strings of Christmas lights you can string together safely this holiday season.
– Determine the Maximum Load: No matter what kind of lights you choose for your house, you need to make sure you aren’t exceeding the maximum load for the circuit they are plugged into. If you have a 15 amp circuit, it can handle up to 1,400 watts. If you have a 20 amp circuit, it can handle up to 1,920 watts.
– Other Items on the Circuit: What you need to remember is that there are likely other items that are plugged into that circuit other than Christmas lights. Some homeowners have a designated circuit for holiday lights, which is ideal. If you don’t, you need to consider everything plugged into that circuit when deciding how many strings of lights you can use.
– Look on Lights: Luckily, the work has already been done for you and the information can be found on the string of lights. The UL has a tag on the lights or on the box that will indicate the number of lights that can be strung together. You should always heed the warnings that are found on these lights and ensure you aren’t trying to string more lights together than you should.

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If you have any electrical problems or concerns in your house, you can call on Burley Electrical Services to help you out. We can handle any electrical repairs or replacements that you might be in need of. We will make sure your home’s electrical system is able to safely provide your home with the power it needs. Call us today!