Keep Your Holiday Lights Safe: Extension Cord Best Practices

Lights are an enduring symbol of the festive season. Whether it’s a thematic Christmas tree or the iconic Santa Claus, there’s no better way to capture the spirit of the occasion than to incorporate warm lighting into your space.  

Holiday lights symbolize enlightenment and new beginnings. Certain cultures also use lights to tap into divine energy and ward off evil spirits that could potentially spoil the festivities.  

Now, for each holiday light, an extension cord is paramount. And while you can get your hands on premium cords from a reputable electrical outlet, the secret to proper lighting lies in the safe deployment of these cables.  

In this blog, we’ll highlight the best practices while using extension cords for holiday lighting. 

 

 

1. Pick an Outdoor Extension Cord

Hanging Christmas lights outdoors is an excellent way to spread positive vibes through the neighborhood. However, that may also require placing extension cords in the patio, deck, or wherever you choose to display the lights.  

To ensure your holiday lights brave the chilly (and often wet) outdoor conditions, it’s imperative to choose an extension cord rated for the outdoors. Check the cable’s packaging for the initial SOOW. SOOW cables are resilient against sunlight, water, oil spillage, and other harsh weather elements.  

2. Match an Extension Cord With the Right Lighting Fixtures

Holiday lights consume less power than heavy-duty home appliances, such as refrigerators and lawnmowers. But that doesn’t mean you can connect them to any cable.  

When shopping for the best extension cord for your holiday lights, pick a cable with a similar or higher amperage and voltage as the lighting systems you intend to use it with. For instance, a 20 amp extension cord should only be plugged into lights that draw up to 20 amperes. This helps safeguard the cord and the connected lights from electrical malfunctions, such as short circuits and explosions.  

3. Check The Extension Cord’s Gauge Rating

Few homeowners can grasp the concept of amperage and voltage. Therefore, a more reliable way to determine a cable’s suitability for your Christmas lights is to check its gauge ratings.  

The gauge measures the diameter of extension cord conductors. The lower the rating, the more reliable the cable is. For instance, a 10 gauge extension cord handles current better than a 12-gauge or 14-gauge cable.  

 

4. Keep the Extension Cord Dry

The fact that an extension cord is labeled ‘SOOW’ or ‘all-weather’ doesn’t make it 100% resilient against the elements.  

To preserve the integrity of your holiday lights, keeping the extension cord dry at all times is important. Place the cable away from puddles, snow, or damp soil. 

5. Do Not Slip Cords Through Door or Window Openings

It’s tempting to run an outdoor extension cord through door or window openings in a bid to shorten the distance from an interior wall socket to the patio where your holiday lighting is on display.  

However, this could cause the cable’s insulation material to fray and expose the conductor wires, leading to shocks or electrocution. 

6. Do Not Overload an Extension Cord

This is a no-brainer. Plugging too many lights into an extension cord can create a nasty explosion and ruin your holiday.  

To avoid extension cord overload, ensure the cable’s voltage rating exceeds the cumulative voltage requirements of all the lighting fixtures you plan to plug into concurrently. 

7. Do Not Hang Your Holiday Lights Using Sharp Objects

Never hang holiday lights with nails or staples. These objects could pierce the strands and create an intended current pathway, leading to shocks.  

Instead, wrap the lights around trees or outdoor posts. If you must add any quirky decorations, use blunt plastic holders. 

8. Avoid Tripping Hazards

Electrical cables can pose severe tripping hazards if left strewn all over the place. So, it’s important to understand how to organize extension cords before using them for holiday lighting.  

First, elevate light strands off the ground and keep them from areas with high foot traffic. If you must use longer cables, tie them with a clip to prevent entanglements. 

 

9. Turn Holiday Lights Off Overnight