

Do not let your holiday light display turn into a tragedy. Property damage, injury and fatality caused by Christmas lightings are preventable. If you want to do a more extravagant Christmas light display, call a reputable local licensed electrician to assess the health of your wiring and the max capacity for your circuits. Generally, a 15-amp circuit can handle 1800 watts (15 amps x 120 volts).Įlectrical failures or malfunctions are factors in one quarter of Christmas tree fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Then, find the watts required for each string of lights by looking at the tag on the cord. What area of your home does each circuit include? Take into consideration all of the appliances and lighting connected to that circuit. First, estimate how many amps are already placed on the circuit. Most residential electrical circuits have a max capacity of 15 to 20 amps, and you should only ever place 80% of the max load on the circuit.

Don’t Overload Your CircuitsĬalculate the load you will be adding to your circuit when you plan your lighting display. See below for instructions to set a Christmas light timer to make your holiday light display safer. We’ve compiled tips to help you ensure a safer holiday season. Sadly, Christmas tree fires cause fatalities more often than other types of fires, with the National Fire Protection Association reporting 6 civilian deaths, 16 civilian injuries, and $14.8 million in direct property damage each year. caused by Christmas trees, with 44% of them due to Christmas lights. However, you should plan carefully to ensure your lighting display is safe for you and your family.Įvery year, there are an average of 200 home fires in the U.S. Your Christmas light display is an amazing way to bring the joy of the holidays to your home and to share this special season with your neighbors.
