by Arlene Miles

Created on: November 05, 2010

With the holiday season almost upon us, one begins to think of hanging decorative lighting outdoors to brighten spirit as well as the night-time sky. Remember, however, to exercise caution when selecting and installing holiday lights as accidents often occur due to ladders while fires from improper installations can occur later.

To minimize any problems and to make your installation as smooth as possible, here are some common-sense suggestions.

When purchasing outdoor Christmas lighting, look for lines labeled UL or ETL, which indicated the product has been tested by an independent laboratory recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). These products satisfy the minimum standards for product safety.

Be sure that lights selected are designated for outdoor use. Outdoor lighting is weatherproof and designed for temporary operation in harsh winter weather. Don’t purchase lights in opened packages or those indicated for indoor use. Consider purchasing strings with miniature, low-heat producing bulbs designated C-7 or C-9 as these require less amperage and are less likely to overload electrical outlets

The most convenient light strings have a male plug at one end and a female receptacle at the other, meaning they can be strung together from end to end, which makes them easier to route. In the case of mini-lights, short, 50-light strings are often a better bet than longer 100-, 150-, or 200-light strings because you can easily unplug and replace a defective string.

Before hanging, make sure the lights work by plugging them into an electrical outlet. Replace any defective bulbs or entire strings, if necessary. Dispose of strings that have frayed cords.

Using a long tape measure, determine the length of your house along the ground, as well as height and the height of any bushes or trees you intend to light. Also measure the lengths of the light strings to encircle doors or windows. Measuring before you begin work will give you the correct number of strings needed to do the job.

Locate a three-pronged 120-volt electrical outlet from which you can run heavy-duty extension cords as most likely your house will not have an outlet near the roof where lights are most commonly hung. The outlet should be protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to guard against electrocution. Use extension cords designated for outdoor use with three-prong plus. Select a cord with the shortest length that works for the installation. Keep the electrical

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