Christmas Lights Guide - Part Two

5. What's the difference between illuminated Christmas lights and wireframe sculptures?

Illuminated sculptures can come in several different forms. Often, they will be fully colored, three-dimensional effigies made of weatherproof plastic or compressed foam, and will often be lit from the inside or accented with mini or C-7 lights on the outside. The hollow plastic figures lit from within are also called blow-molds, from the method used to manufacture them. There are also two-dimensional frameworks which use plastic to form what looks like the outline of a drawing, lined with small strings of light.

Wireframe sculptures are a very specific kind of illuminated sculpture and can be considered a cross between the two just described. They're usually three-dimensional and, as the name suggests, are typically a minimalist framework resembling an animal (or just about anything, for that matter) with mini-lights wrapped around the wires to create a heavenly glow.

6. What's the difference between standard mini-lights and commercial-grade Xmas lights?

Commercial lights look similar to mini-lights, but have a thicker wire and are generally more durable, making it possible to connect 6 strings of lights as opposed to 3. They can also be kept outside for longer periods of time in more extreme weather conditions.

7. What are LED lights?

LED or Light Emitting Diode lights use solid state chips to convert electricity to light, rather than filaments which can break and burn out.

Rather than a glass bulb, LED's are encased in an epoxy which does not break as easily as glass. Because of the way they're constructed, LED lights require less electricity, produce less heat, and can last up to 23 years! Also, since the color of the light is determined by the amount of electric current, the colors are brighter and purer than the painted glass of the incandescent bulbs.

8. What is meant by the term lead cord?

The lead cord is the length from the plug to the center of the first bulb. Typically, lead cords measure about 2 feet, but can come in lengths as small as 6 inches and as long as 12 feet.

9. How is the distance between bulbs measured?

Distance is measured from center to center of each bulb. Typically, the distance between bulbs would average out to about 5 inches.

Manufacturing Christmas lights is a very intricate and involved process and must be done by hand. Hence, there is always bound to be some variation from year to year, and even from strand to strand, for the same brand. Plus, it is very difficult for manufacturers to match the pigments painted onto the bulbs from year to year, so color matching is often imprecise, particularly with the amber bulbs.

It is important to begin by emphasizing that, in America, electrical outlets give off 120-volts of power. Since voltage is measured by multiplying wattage by amps, you must consider both of these things before buying your set of lights.

For example, if you're planning on using C-9 lights , which are typically 7 watts-per-bulb and 0.6 amps, you would not be able to use more than a string of 25, as 25 bulbs would equal 175 watts. Multiply that by 0.6 and you've got 105 volts, making it impossible to light another full string from that outlet.