When you’re shopping for Christmas lights, you’ll see that there are three main types: incandescent, LED and CFL. Each has its own pros and cons, but if you have a pre-lit artificial Christmas tree, LEDs are the best choice. They’re brighter, more efficient and last longer than other types of lights.
If you’re buying new lights or replacing old ones with LEDs, here are some tips
- Use the recommended wattage for each string of lights. If you buy a string of 100 lights that is meant for indoor use and only uses 15 watts per string, then do not place the string outside on your house or gutter as this will cause them to burn out faster than normal.
- If you do not have enough room to plug in all of your strands, use an extension cord long enough so that you can plug them all into one outlet without having to plug them into another extension cord just for some extra length. You can find these at most hardware stores or online at Amazon.com and other websites like eBay.com or Alibaba.com etc…
- Use the proper gauge of wire for each length of string of lights. The number designations for gauge (American Wire Gauge) refer to the thickness of the wire. The smaller the number, the thicker the wire. Make sure your strands of lights are all the same length. If they’re too long or short, pack them up in the box they came in and take them back to the store for an exchange.
- If you’re going to use LED lights on your tree, make sure there are enough of them. It’s easy to overdo it when stringing up the tree and forget that you have a lot of empty space left over at the bottom. The best thing to do is start with one strand of lights and check its length against the bottom of the tree before adding more strands. If there’s still more than an inch between where the last strand stops and where it needs to be plugged in, then add another strand until it reaches that point. This will help ensure that all of your strands will reach their destination without having any excess hanging around.
- Consider hanging more strands per light source. Since each strand doesn’t need as many bulbs as a traditional strand, you can easily add more strands to each bulb — which will give you more bang for your buck.
- Read the packaging carefully. Most LED light sets come with instructions for how long you can expect them to last before burning out. If your set is made by a reputable manufacturer, they should last at least 50 hours before needing replacement or recharging.
- Charge your lights fully before hanging them on your tree. This will ensure they shine brightly all season long.
- Buy waterproof lights if necessary. If you live in an area prone to rain and snow during winter months, then consider investing in waterproof.