Before the fun of holiday decorating begins, it is important to know how many Christmas light strings can be connected together safely. Being familiar with current standards and options in lighting helps to determine the maximum number of strings that can be connected together.

Understanding current standards helps to determine how many Christmas light strings can be linked together. UL, Underwriters Laboratories Inc., is the most relied upon source globally for determining safety standards of products. Any product purchased by Christmas Lights, Etc have been manufactured under UL standards. In the past, the standard was that only three strings could be linked together. In February 2008, the section UL 588, which specifically deals with seasonal and holiday decorative products, was revised. It now took into consideration new types of lights that use lower wattages. The standard states that if using a 22 gauge wire, the number of strands linked together can vary so long as the wattage does not exceed 210. If using a 20 gauge wire, strings can be added on up until the wattage reaches 420. As long as the wattage is considered, many strings can be linked together while maintaining safety standards.

LED lights are highly recommended because they use lower wattages, allowing more strings to be connected safely. You can typically connect 8 to 10 times more mini light strings together end to end while only using one plug outlet. Most traditional Christmas mini lights only allow you to connect 4 or 5 sets end to end but with many LED mini light strings you can connect 40 to 50+ together depending on the light count. This makes decorating far easier. Additionally, many LED light sets are rated to last tens of thousands of hours, which is well beyond a traditional set of incandescent mini lights that typically may last only a season or two.

Light up the Christmas tree and outdoor decorations having the confidence that all the lights will stay on. Being aware of the new UL 588 standard helps to ensure that light displays stay bright all season long. Calculating power for lights is one of the most important steps to ensure a successful light display. To ensure your light display shine bright all season, visit the pages below for help calculating your Christmas lights power consumption and wattage.