You’ve never met an inflatable Santa you can’t light
When it comes to your Christmas light display, dream big. Learning how to power outdoor Christmas lights means that no light can’t twinkle, no tree that can’t shine. And no rooftop Rudolph that doesn’t deserve a shiny red nose.
Even if there’s not a power outlet nearby, you have options for how to power outdoor Christmas lights. Check out these four tips to fire up your holiday lights safely—with or without a nearby electrical outlet.
Before you power up your light display, you have to cook up a plan. Start by drawing out your ideal display and calculating your budget. Jot down every lawn inflatable, string of lights, and rooftop accessory you’re dreaming about. If design isn’t your thing, you can always ask a Christmas lighting professional near you to make and install the design for you. Once you know what you want, you can better plan your Christmas light power sources.
The good news is that you don’t have to limit your outdoor holiday decorations to the areas immediately around an outlet. Find an option that gets the power where you want it to be.
The easiest solution is to plug your decorations into the nearest outdoor outlet. To prevent electrical shock and protect your home's electrical system, use an outlet with a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) when hanging outdoor Christmas lights. You’ll recognize these outlets easily because they have test and reset buttons. GFCI monitors the electrical current and turns off power to the device if the outlet gets wet or the circuit is overloaded.
Extension cords are a staple in any Christmas light enthusiast’s toolkit. Discreetly run them from an outlet to the item in need of lighting. They can often be placed behind bushes or pillars, or along walls. Make sure to only use heavy-duty extension cords that are rated for outdoor use.
Just remember—safety first. Make sure your extension cords aren’t stretched across walkways where they could trip the mail carrier or get in the way of a snow shovel. Be careful not to let them sit in a low spot that could become a puddle when it rains or the snow melts.
No outlet? No problem. To light remote spots of your yard, like an evergreen that would be adorable wrapped in lights, consider solar-powered lights. These strings of lights don’t require a nearby outlet to add cheer to your yard. Instead, place the solar collector in a sunny spot and let nature handle the rest.
Power stakes add outlets where you want them. There are different options, so look for one that suits your needs. Simply plug the power stake into an outlet and then plunge the pointy end into the ground where you need the power. You can even find power stakes with timers, so you don’t have to run out every evening to flip the switch.
Some units include a solar collector, so you don’t need an outlet to power it at all. Place the power stake in a sunny spot in the yard. The lights automatically turn on when the panels stop collecting sunlight for the day. That means you get Christmas lights when and where you want them with no impact on your energy bill.
Another way to power lights without an outlet is to choose battery-powered Christmas lights, which are another solid option for hard-to-reach locations. If they go in a remote location, make sure to put them somewhere you can easily switch them on and off to extend the life of your lights. Battery-powered LEDs are long-lasting, but you can't repair them. That means you'll need to toss them when the string burns out.
You can also find battery-powered lights that have automatic timers.
Rechargeable Christmas lights allow you to put Christmas cheer where you want without stretching extension cords across the lawn. When the lights dim, simply plug them into a USB charger, just like you do with your phone, to power them up again. The downside is that you’ll have to take the lights down to charge them.
Light socket adapters add a power outlet where you already have electricity for an outdoor light. Just screw the adapter into the light fixture where you’d usually put in the light bulb. Then screw your light bulb into the adapter. When you flip the switch to turn on your outdoor lights, the Christmas lights will also turn on.
When it comes to choosing Christmas lights, your two main options are incandescent and LED. Incandescent lights are the more affordable option, and give off that warm, traditional light we all know and love.
But if longevity is what you’re after, choose LED Lights. They may be more expensive, but they’ll keep your holiday light display looking merry and bright from the day after Halloween to as close to Valentine’s Day as you can get. LED lights are often considered the best Christmas light choice because they’re long-lasting, cool-to-the-touch, and use about 10% of the energy incandescent lights use.
Finally, be sure to secure your outdoor Christmas light cords, cables, and accessories. Use plastic Christmas light clips to connect lights and extension cords to gutters. Use duct tape to secure extension cords so they don’t droop or become a trip hazard. Magnetic holiday lights make Christmas light installation easy. This final step will help prevent accidents and injuries during the festive season.
If you don’t have any outdoor outlets that can power your festive display of Christmas lights, don’t worry, there are other ways to light up your yard. Consider using the following non-outlet powering methods:
Indoor outlet: If possible, you can connect your outdoor Christmas lights to an indoor outlet using an extension cord.
Rechargeable batteries: Another great option is to hang battery-powered Christmas lights that don’t require electricity. Most varieties come with a remote that allows you to operate this type of lights from afar.
Solar-powered lights: If you live in an area that receives significant sunlight, even during the winter, consider using solar-powered lights that fuel themselves.
Yes, you should purchase and use an extension cord rated for outdoor use to power Christmas lights. Extension cords intended for indoor use do not have the same protective properties as outdoor versions, so they can’t withstand the exposure to the outdoor elements. Be sure to plug your Christmas lights into outdoor extension cords only.
Yes, you can plug outdoor lights into an extension cord, but it must be one rated for outdoor use. This method will allow you to hang Christmas lights outside your house or yard by connecting it to an outdoor power source. Be sure to purchase and use an outdoor-only extension cord.
Yes, the National Electrical Code (NEC) requires that outdoor Christmas lights be plugged into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet to prevent hazardous electrical shocks or an electrical fire. It’s a code violation to plug outdoor Christmas lights into a non-GFCI outlet, so be sure to follow these guidelines for a safe and successful installation.
