Christmas Lights | Festive | Fairy Lights
Christmas lights are one of the easiest ways to create a festive atmosphere in and around any home. It's also a practical way to decorate your Christmas tree and windows with net Christmas lights.
Sadly, hundreds of people a year are hurt by fairy lights. Injuries include people falling while setting them up, children swallowing the light bulbs, and people getting shocks and burns from faulty lights. Incidents of house fires increase during the festive season, often caused by poor quality Christmas lights.
Have your Christmas lights seen better days? Then you may want to consider replacing them.
Consider replacing them from mains powered fairy lights to a fibre optic Christmas tree, or just change the lights to low voltage Christmas lights. Fibre optic lit Christmas tree lights are more economical and energy efficient than conventional types of Christmas lights.
Fibre optic lit Christmas tree
Has clear fibres at the centre of the artificial pine needles. The fibres transmit light. These trees replace traditionally lit live trees and artificial trees both for ease of use and for safety reasons. Fibre optic lit Christmas tree lights are more economical and energy efficient than conventional types of Christmas lights.
Fibre Optic Lit trees
The lights are powered from a transformer that generate heat when in use. Whether the transformer is in the base of the tree, or in-line with the plug and the unit. Where the transformer is in-line with plug, ensure that no combustible materials are stored on and around it.
LED Lights
(Light-emitting diodes) are now being opted for lighting Christmas trees as they are very energy efficient and long lasting.
Pre-lit trees can be bought with LED lights attached to the branches. And like fibre optic-lit trees the lights are powered from a LED driver/transformer that generate heat when in use.
Just like Fibre Optic lit trees where the driver/transformer is in-line with plug, ensure that no combustible materials are stored on and around it.
- NEVER cover the transformer by tucking it behind soft furnishes (curtains).
- NEVER pile presents close around the tree that they touch the transformer.
Low Voltage Christmas tree Lights
Low voltage Christmas lights operate at (typically) 12-24 volts. These lights are often described as “extra low voltage” on packaging.Just like fibre optic lit trees the lights are powered from a transformer. The transformer generates heat when in use. Ensure that no combustible materials are stored on and around it.
Pre-Buying Christmas Lights Check List
- Look for safety marks e.g. BS EN number
- Look for European standard (CE)
- Buy from a reputable retailer
- Avoid buying second-hand unless you have them professionally checked first
- Christmas lights operate at either mains voltage (230 volts) or extra-low voltage (typically 12-24 volts).
Setting-up
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions
- Do not use the lights outdoors unless specifically made for such use
- Don't run the cable under carpets or where it can be damaged
- Avoid cables becoming a tripping hazard
- Keep lights clear of decorations and other flammable materials
- Use a stable stepladder when hanging the lights, and get someone to foot it for you
- Don't leave the lights on when the room is empty.
- Switch off when you go to bed and when you go out of the house
- Don't allow children to play with the lights.
- Use an RCD (residual current device) for added protection against shock
Storage
- Take your time while dismantling and packing the lights
- Keep them in their original packaging
- Keep them safely stored away out of reach of children
- Avoid damp or excessively hot conditions.