10 Things You Should Know About LED Christmas Lights
Updated: Dec. 15, 2020You're probably thinking about what to give those on your holiday gift lists. But have you thought about upgrading your home's holiday light display? Here are 10 things you should know about LED Christmas lights.
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The Cost Factor
While LED Christmas lights will cost you more money upfront, you’ll save money in the long run, since LED lights use 75% less energy than incandescent lights. LEDs cost more to produce because components are often assembled by hand.
And since they need conducting material to dissipate heat and to get a natural white glow, they are often coated with yellow phosphor.
Do you know these things about LED Christmas lights:
Cool to the Touch
If you have children or pets and are concerned about safety around holiday decorations, LEDs are a good choice because they produce next to no heat. And that means they’re always cool to the touch.
The Weather Factor
When temperatures drop below freezing, incandescent lights can actually burst! But LED Christmas lights work just fine in cold temperatures — in fact, they actually get more efficient as the thermometer drops.
They’re Durable
LED Christmas lights get high marks when it comes to durability. In tests, LED bulbs didn’t burn out after more than 4,000 hours, while standard light-string bulbs burned out at a rate of one to two per strand in less than half that time.
More Lights, Fewer Outlets
Typically, you can connect eight to ten times more mini LED light strings together end-to-end while only using one electrical outlet. With traditional Christmas mini-lights, you can only connect four to five sets end-to-end. LED mini-light strings allow you to connect 40 to 50 together, depending on the light count.
You Can Replace Single Bulbs
Just like classic incandescent Christmas lights, LED Christmas lights can fail, either one light at a time or an entire string. And single replacement bulbs are available for many types of LED string light bulbs.
Blue LED Christmas Lights Can Make You Sick
The blue light from LED Christmas lights (along with electronics such as tablets, smartphones and laptops) can mess with your circadian rhythm and result in loss of sleep, which in turn can lead to obesity, diabetes and depression?
In the short-term, some people feel nauseous and get headaches when exposed to blue LED Christmas lights — so you might not want to do an all-blue Christmas tree!
Big Bulbs vs. Small Bulbs
While mini-lights have been the most popular Christmas light decorations for the past ten years or so, those “old-fashioned” big colored bulbs are making a comeback. The best part? Those big bulbs are available as LEDs.
Decorating Done Right
When decorating with LED Christmas lights outside, it’s best to string trees in the evening with the light strands plugged in so you can see the effect as you go. When decorating evergreen trees, use bigger bulbs. Smaller bulbs look best on deciduous trees.
Warm White or Cool White?
LED Christmas lights are available with warm white light or cool white light. Warm white LED lights give off a soft glow that is comparable with traditional lights and are a good choice for using indoors on Christmas trees.
And cool white LED lights can be used to achieve a more snow-white tone and are often used outdoors.
