You can cut Christmas lights to length, but it depends on the type of lights you’re using or how they are wired. Christmas light strings usually match the length needed to cover driveways and rooflines. When you can do this, there won’t be the need for wrapping up the ‘extra length’ or hiding those extra pieces. It’s no secret that this is a common challenge faced by those who plan to install Christmas lights on their own!
Here is how to do it without trying to reinvent then wheel –
You won’t need to order them again or make a special purchase, avoiding those extra sets of plugs.
What To Do?
Cut the medium base cords of your C7, C9 and E26 and start clipping them all in with the help of wire cutters. If you can plan it well, you can also utilize the same strands with their extra pieces for yet another project.
Find Out from The Game Of “Series” And “Parallel”
You need to ask this to yourself –
- What kind of wiring and lighting are you using?
- Are they used in series or in parallel?
It may be extremely tough to cut those custom mini lights with small wiring. It is relatively easier to trim those parallel wired cords, but you need to cut and terminate them accordingly.
There are cords like 20, 18, 16, or 14 AWG and they can, as well, be custom-fitted. These cords are commonly used for E12, E17, and E26 sockets.
The First Step
Choosing the right bulb for your project is the first step. The type of cord you would use will depend on this choice. Choose from a variety of shapes and sizes. There are also many options available for patio lighting that you might want to check out before making a final decision.
C9 and C7 bulbs have been popular choices for Christmas lighting and remain preferred options to jazz up the atmosphere of parties and patios. These bulbs, available in various colors and shapes, are bigger and brighter, and thus making an ideal choice for parties.
The Second Step
Now it’s time to choose the cord based on your bulb size. Hopefully, this will make things easier for you.
Now, the million-dollar question is – How do you choose the right cords?
Take the following into consideration:
- Socket size matching the requirements of the bulb – E26, E12 or E17.
- Number of sockets
- Distance between the selected sockets: With larger spaces, you will need cords that can easily cover a wider area.
- Complete cord length – depends on the quantities of sockets used and the distance between them
- Cord color – green, white, brown and black
- Insulation thickness
What’s More?
After selecting the best cords and bulb according to each other, it is time to invest your efforts in picking the best plug.
Gilbert plugs can be one of the preferred choices for C7 and C9 18 AWG wiring. They are relatively easy to install.
Male plugs of 15-amp rate are the suitable choices for the E26 patio cords on a commercial level. This is important if you have to work with the spools. Make use of the terminal screws after stripping and installing the wires you have chosen.
Finding Effective Solutions For Cords’ End
The shortened cords can be easily finished with the help of:
- Female plug installation
- Electric tape wrap-up
- Liquid electrical tapes
Do the needful by utilizing the “end” of the cords. The portions of the wire that have been cut and eliminated shall be counted in as the leftovers used for another smaller project with the help of factory installed plugs in them.
Points To Consider
- For parallel wiring, which is a common setup for the Christmas LED strings, the strands can be cut properly according to the length desired.
- You must cap the wire’s exposed ends seeking assistance from good wire connectors. This will help avoiding electrical mishaps or short circuits to a great extent.
- Incandescent Christmas strings are commonly used for series wiring. Cutting the strands may look intimidating and complex, but once you get the hang of it, everything will start to fall into place.
- Quality and efficacy of strings may be affected when one tries to cut the individual wires. Hence, it is always a good idea to cut the complete sections and avoid the mess.
Safety Tips – Not To Be Ignored!
Make sure that you have unplugged all lights before cutting them to avoid a potential fire hazard. The “ends” must be carefully insulated with the help of tools such as the wire cutters, heat shrinking tubing and electrical tapes.
Don’t hesitate talking to a professional and seeking help if you are not sure about the process. You may also carefully read the guidelines provided by the manufacturers.
Final takeaway!
Soldering and cutting those stunning lights can be problematic and will turn out to be immensely complex for those who don’t get the right technique. Proper steps must be followed to ensure safety.
