The holiday season is just around the corner and therefore, it is quite obvious that you are getting yourself busy with decorating with Christmas lights in order to amp up the festive sprit around your house. However, winter is upon us and this raises the question – Is it safe to leave outdoor Christmas lights plugged in while it rains? Let’s try to find an answer to this age-old question. Shall we?
Safety Ratings and Certifications
You simply can’t purchase Christmas lights without checking their certifications and safety ratings and then hope that they will somehow withstand the onslaught of rain. Nope, the real world does not work that way. You need to check for labels like – weatherproof or water-resistant since there is no other way to confirm that these lights will able to save themselves from heavy downpour. Make sure that those lights have got certified by reputed organizations from Intertek (ETL) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) because these agencies are known for their rigorous safety testing.
Also look for features like protective coatings and insulation as these features are going to keep the main electrical components from coming in contact with rainwater.
Common Issues with Outdoor Lights in Rain
01. Use GFCI Outlets
Just having these labels is not enough sometimes. Sometimes waterproof Christmas lights can start acting up when they are exposed to rain. Rainwater can cause a short circuit in the electrical components, and when that happens, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) get triggered and automatically shut down the power supply. This is a nifty safety feature that helps avert potential electrical hazards, such as electric shocks or fires.
02. Protect Connections
If water starts pooling around the electrical connections, it can also lead to short circuits. If water somehow manages to get into the plugs and connectors, it can cause electrical faults and eventually increase the risk of corrosion in the process. So, you need to make sure that these plugs and connectors are well protected from coming into contact with water. You can use either plastic enclosures or gasketed covers to keep the water at bay. To seal the connections properly, you can use dielectric grease.
03. Stop Overloading Circuits
Try to avoid overloading the circuits. Limit the number of LED lights connected to these circuits. Under no circumstances should you exceed the number of light strings that can be connected to these circuits at a given time as recommended by the manufacturer. You can find all the information related to this on the packaging; also, don’t forget to check the user manual as well. This can help you greatly decrease the chances of electrical fires from overloading circuits.
What to Do If Lights Get Wet
Things can go south any point of time while installing Christmas lights outdoor and therefore, we need to prepare ourselves for it. If the outdoor Christmas lights do get wet somehow, you should stop panicking and rather do these –
01. Unplug
Immediately turn off the lights and unplug them. However, be careful while removing wet lights from the power source. First disconnect those lights from the power source and then you can remove them.
02. Dry Thoroughly
Use a clean and dry cotton cloth to wipe the plugs and the connectors thoroughly. Once cleaned properly, you should keep them in a warm and dry place.
03. Inspect for Damage
If you come across any sign of corrosion or rust, you need to replace those components before plugging them again to the power source. If you spot any clean sign of damage in any light, you need to get them replaced as soon as possible.
IP Ratings
Not all Christmas lights can be used outdoors. Check the IP ratings of the lights before making the final decision as to whether to place them outdoor or indoor. IP, a short form of ‘Ingress Protection’, is a rating system developed to help common people identify the level of protection an electric component can offer against dirt or moisture.
The IP (Ingress Protection) ratings, outlined in the international standard EN 60529 (British BS EN 60529:1992, European IEC 60509:1989), establish the degree of protection offered by electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign objects (such as tools or dirt) and moisture. This includes protection against high pressure, solid foreign object, and high pressure water jets.
01. IP44
IP44 Christmas lights are usually available for cheap and they are a good option for you if you happen to live in a place where it does not rain that often. IP44 rated Christmas lights are well protected from water sprays even if they are coming from multiple directions. So that means, these lights can get wet but you should not push your luck too far.
02. IP55
IP55 rated Christmas lights can deal with wet and dry environments and that means, they can deal with both rain water and dust. These lights can also get themselves protected from high-pressure water jets. This means, you can place these IP55 rated Christmas lights outdoors without a second thought.
03. IP66
IP66 Christmas lights are designed to withstand extreme conditions and are built to last long. They can work really well against high-pressure water jets and dusts. If maintained properly, these lights can last up to 10 years or more which is impressive by any standard.
Conclusion
So, as you can understand you can leave the Christmas lights outdoor given you have selected the right IP rating and have taken the right precautions.
