Christmas lights are an important part of the holiday season. They help us celebrate and remember the true meaning of Christmas, while also being a great way to brighten up our homes and landscapes with their vibrant colors.
How They Work
Christmas light strings consist of an array of bulbs arranged in a strand, each bulb attached to a wire. These wires are typically a copper, aluminum or brass alloy.
Each bulb in the string contains an incandescent electric lamp. The lights are then plugged into an electrical outlet.
The lights then run through a copper wire, which helps to protect the wiring from damage, ensuring that it lasts as long as possible.
How Christmas Lights Work
One of the most important inventions in the history of Christmas lights was the bubble light. Initially developed in the U.K., the technology was imported to America and patented by NOMA in 1946. The plastic casings of these “bubble” Christmas lights contained a liquid that had a very low boiling point, which allowed it to heat to the point where it would begin to bubble.
Eventually, these bulbs were encased in a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin, which made them waterproof and fireproof. The PVC was then formed to cover the copper wiring.
When powered by electricity, the resulting lights were very bright and could be seen up to 10 miles away. These innovations led to the development of outdoor light displays that were more elaborate than what we see today.
By 1919, General Electric had made a number of innovations to Christmas lights that we still use today. They had strayed from the traditional round globe bulbs, introducing flame-shaped bulbs containing MAZDA tungsten filament. These new bulbs were not only more powerful and long-lasting, but they were also cheaper.
Another important innovation was a light that turned on and off using a simple switch. This was also introduced in the 1920s, but it took until the 1950’s for it to be widely adopted by the public.
How to Decorate With Christmas Lights
The first thing you should do if you’re going to decorate with lights is make sure that they are UL or ETL certified. These certifications ensure that the Christmas lights you’re purchasing have passed safety tests conducted by an independent testing lab.
This will help to prevent injuries and damage from faulty plugs, broken bulbs or power lines. You should also make sure that the plugs you’re using have a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) that will detect dangerous ground faults and turn off the power to the Christmas lights before they cause a shock or fire.
You should also take care when placing lights around your house or other structures, as they can easily fall and break if they’re not hung correctly. If you have children, make sure that they are not touching the lights.
It’s also a good idea to avoid putting decorations on fireplaces, as they are susceptible to fire and can cause burns. It’s also best to unplug the lights before you leave the house, as this will reduce the risk of a fire.
