Month: October 2014

Are all LEDs the same quality? Definitely NO!  In fact the quality varies greatly. To help understand quality lets talk a few terms: Bulbs, Lights, Light Sets (or stringers).

Bulb: A bulb is just that a bulb with no wire attached. Certain LED and incandescent bulbs are interchangeable with sockets capable of receiving either an incandescent or an LED bulb (of course both bulbs have to be the same size/style/base (such as C7 or C9).

A Light Set includes bulbs, sockets, and wire (or cord). It is a full set ready to plug in and use.

The term lights is used to mean either a bulb or light set or anything in-between.

Bulb quality: Manufacturing quality and the number of light-emitting diodes included in the bulb will both affect the quality of the bulb. An inferior bulb will often include one diode and a typical professional grade bulb for a C7 or C9 style bulb will often include 3 diodes. Obviously 3 diodes will be brighter than one. Poor manufacturing quality will limit the life span of the bulb or produce non-functioning bulbs.

Light Set Quality: The quality of a light set depends on (1) quality of the bulb (2) quality of the cord and (3) quality of the workmanship for connecting the sockets and wire. Often the third item is the most detrimental in low quality light strings. Once the electrical connections begin to break-down, the light string becomes worthless. I think we have all thrown away many cheap light strings where the internal electrical connections no longer work.

Replaceable or Retrofit Bulbs: Bulbs need to be replaceable on all Christmas light strings.  Unfortunately you can not always find a replacement bulb and some cheap sockets do not work well to remove or to insert a replacement bulb. On some cheap light strings the bulbs are not replaceable.

Retail, Pro, and Commercial Grade Lights: Generally Christmas bulbs and light strings can be categorized into three quality grades: Retail, Pro and Commercial. Professional installers avoid retail grade. So should you. Often to find Pro or Commercial grade materials you will need to purchase from a professional level store. These stores are the same places that professional installers use. In this market area (Salt Lake and Utah Counties) Sprinkler World is a key source for pro and commercial grade Christmas light part and materials.

Starting with the right bulbs, cord, and parts will help make your Christmas lights look professional and save you a great deal of difficulties along the way.

 

Traditional Christmas bulbs are incandescent style bulbs with filaments as invented by Thomas Edison. Although incandescent Christmas lights have been a standard since the early 1900’s; heat, breakage and burn-out of the filament are notable drawbacks of this traditional light source.

A superior new technology is supplanting Edison’s filament, the Light Emitting Diode or LED will last up to 10 years. Over time the LED is less expensive than the incandescent but LEDs are more expensive to purchase. The savings come from (1) longer life 92) high energy efficiency (3) less time spent replacing bulbs and (4) less glass breakage.

Life Expectancy — You can depend on LEDs lasting 5 to 7 years and professional grade LEDs will last up to 10 years. Life expectancy are increased when the bulbs are only used seasonally (such as Christmas lights).

Energy Efficiency — You will save up to 95% on energy with LEDs. In comparison to incandescent bulbs, they use almost no energy. Consequently, you can plug several light strands into one electrical outlet with a safety concern or blowing a circuit breaker. You can also eliminate extra electrical extension cords required by incandescent bulbs.

Replacing Bulbs — Have you noticed Christmas light displays with several burned-out bulbs? When I see these, I say to myself, “Wouldn’t have happened with LEDs.” Each time you pull out the ladder to change an outdoor Christmas bulb, remember that with LEDs you would not be out int he cold.

Filaments — It’s simple, filaments are going to burn out. LEDs have no filaments.

Breakage — Traditional incandescent glass bulbs break easily. I accidentally broke a bunch this week. The plastic housing on LEDs are far more durable!

Heat — Incandescent bulbs produce heat, as many of us know from touching a hot incandescent bulb. This is a safely hazard for fire and a potential for burning fingers. LEDs are cool to the touch. No risk or burns or fire!

Cost Efficient — LEDs are less expensive over the life of the bulbs. The energy savings along will off-set the higher initial cost of LEDs. The other savings are additional benefits!

Pure Color — Incandescent Christmas light filaments basically produce just one whitish color. The painted glass provides the tint or red, or blue, or green. And this color will change over time and the paint fades.  LEDs produce a pure red, or green, or blue, etc. The technology of LED produces an exact wavelength of color and consequently some LEDs do no depend on paint or enclosure color to produce their color. Other LEDs use a colored plastic housing to determine their color.

Chipped Paint — The color of incandescent Christmas bulbs is obtained by painting the glass housing of the bulb. Invariably, that paint will chip and flake off. When it does, you end with a shoddy appearing bulb resembling a a remnant from the depression era.

Which LEDs should you buy. Just like there are cheap incandescent Christmas lights, there are also cheap LEDs. Purchase from a professional supplier to ensure you get a high grade light.

 

 

Some have asked if we would please decorate their house with “Made in America” Christmas lights. Unfortunately, we can’t. Highlighting Utah can find no American Christmas bulb manufacturer. And that is true for both LED and incandescent bulbs.

We continually monitor the market, but currently our only choice is to purchase bulbs manufactured outside the United States. Major manufacturers are in Asia.

Yes, we have seen the companies that have America and USA in their name. But regardless of the implication, these companies are not manufacturing in the U.S.  The two most prominent companies that use America and USA in their names are actually marketing bulbs manufactured in China.

We will continue to monitor and be alert to a U.S. company manufacturing Christmas bulbs in the U.S. When such a company starts up, you will read about it here.

No, retail and commercial grade Christmas lights are not the same! There is a significant difference between a retail grade Christmas bulb and a commercial grade Christmas bulb.

Retail Christmas light products are manufactured for sale to the masses with lowest cost usually the major controlling element. Pro and Commercial grade products are manufactured for sale to professional installers who are looking for (1) long life so that repairs and replacements are not needed (2) quality appearance so as to WOW customers (3) utility so that the product can be adapted to meet various display and installation needs.

Pro and Commercial grade products (1) last longer (2) work better (3) are easily repaired or replaced when needed. The professional installer does not want to constantly make “house calls” to fix a problem. They want products that will install properly and then continue to work properly.

To help apply this to Christmas lights, think of the holiday seasons you have struggled with light strands. You plug the light strand in and . . . no lights. Or only some of the lights work. Think of the light strands you have thrown away.

Retail LED lights often have just one LED (Light Emitting Diode – the actual light source). Standard Pro and Commercial C7 LEDs have 3 diodes. The result – pro and commercial LEDs are typically brighter. Do you think retail incandescent Christmas bulbs have the same quality of filament as a professional grade incandescent bulb? The better quality filament in a professional grade incandescent bulb means the bulb will last longer.

Other quality difference between retail and professional grade Christmas lights are (1) lower quality paint means the paint will chip or flake sooner (2) glass housing is more likely to loosen from the base, allowing moisture into the filament (3) lower quality metal in the base means corrosion will begin sooner (4) electrical connections corrode and weaken from time and outside environment.

Of course professional grade bulbs cost more. The higher quality increases manufacturing costs. Your typical retail box store doesn’t carry professional grade Christmas bulbs and materials in order to complete at the lowest price. But in Christmas lights, lowest price in the short term is not the same as lowest price in the long term. Over time you will save money on your Christmas lights when you purchase professional grade materials and avoid cheap retail products. You will also save a ton of inconvenience!