Welcome to our big Christmas lights test 2022. Here we present all the Christmas lights we have tested in detail. We have compiled detailed background information and added a summary of customer reviews on the web. With this, we would like to make your purchase decision easier and help you find the best Christmas lights for you.
You will also find answers to frequently asked questions in our guide. If available, we also offer interesting test videos. Furthermore, you will also find some important information on this page that you should definitely pay attention to if you want to buy a Christmas light.
Contents
- 1 Weekly newsletter with the best personal finance tips
- 2 Summary
- 3 The Best Christmas Light: Our Picks
- 4 Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying Christmas lights
- 5 Decision: What types of Christmas lights are there and which is the right one for you?
- 6 Buying criteria: These are the factors you can use to compare and evaluate Christmas lights
- 7 Interesting facts about Christmas lights
Summary
- Christmas lights are an old tradition that can be traced back to both church and social customs, but today they are mostly used to make one's home cosier and to decorate it in a chic way.
- In order to ensure the necessary safety, it is important to check the necessary quality seals, the integrity of the product and the correct installation during commissioning.
- The power consumption of decorative lighting can be relatively high, depending on how long it is used. To reduce the cost factor somewhat, LED lamps and timers should be used.
The Best Christmas Light: Our Picks
![[2] Fairy String Lights, 120LED 12M/40Ft 8 Modes USB Plug in Powered Lights Waterproof Outdoor/Indoor Copper String Lights with Remote Timer for Bedroom, Party, Wedding, Christmas (Warm White)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51SM2qYmriL._SL500_.jpg)
Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying Christmas lights
For whom are Christmas lights suitable?
For many of us, coloured lights are simply part of the decorations at Christmas time, and for several reasons. The tradition of decorating the house with fairy lights, candles and other luminous objects comes mainly from regions where it is quite dark at Christmas time. The many lights simply serve to make the surroundings brighter and thus more inviting and cosy. Another reason is the idea that Jesus came to earth at Christmas as saviour and light. So the lights also symbolise the faith and hope of many people. And whether for one reason or the other - or neither - the twinkling lights make the Christmas decoration complete. They also create a cosy atmosphere in which the holidays can be enjoyed together with the family.
(Image source: unsplash.com / Tim Mossholer)
Where can I hang my Christmas lights?
- If you want to install your lighting outside, make sure that it is suitable for this by manufacturer's definition and that it can also get wet.
- Always make sure that the cables are protected and that no one can fall over them.
- Christmas lights are not toys. So make sure that children and pets do not have access to them unsupervised.
How much do Christmas lights cost?
- Number of lights included
- Length or size of the object
- Quality of materials and workmanship
- Use in indoor or outdoor areas
- Private area or professional lighting in public areas
What are the alternatives to Christmas lights?
The disadvantage of using real candles is clearly the increased risk of fire.
At no other time of year is the risk of fire as high as during the pre-Christmas period and, according to statistics, the number of fires in Germany increases by a whole 40 percent. (Source: deutsche-familienversicherung.de) If you are thinking about putting real candles with open flames on your Advent wreath or Christmas tree, you should definitely consider a few safety factors:
- Never leave burning candles unattended - even for a short time - and only use them in stable candle holders.
- Candle flames should be at least 50 centimetres away from flammable objects. This includes books and upholstered furniture.
- Smoke detectors in the home can protect against the unnoticed spread of fire.
- If you are celebrating with children, you should make the danger posed by open fires very clear and teach them the correct behaviour in case of fire.
- Dry needles and twigs from Advent wreaths and Christmas trees burn like tinder. Leave them outside as long as possible to delay drying out. The drier the twigs are, the higher the fire risk.
Decision: What types of Christmas lights are there and which is the right one for you?
If you are thinking about buying new Christmas lights, you basically have two options to choose from:
- Indoor Christmas lights
- Outdoor Christmas lights
The basic difference between them is that outdoor lighting is also suitable for getting wet and should be able to cope with low temperatures without any problems. Indoor lights, on the other hand, are really only meant for indoor use.
In both variants, there are numerous colours, shapes and lighting modes, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. In the following section, we would like to make your decision easier.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of indoor Christmas lights?
For indoor use, you can not only choose between fairy lights and illuminated Christmas trees, but you also have the option of eye-catching window lights. The various models are available with 24-volt power supply or battery operation.
You should make sure that indoor lighting objects are only used indoors, as they can be damaged very quickly by moisture penetration outdoors and could even cause a short circuit with a fire hazard.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of outdoor Christmas lights?
With outdoor lighting, you can literally let your garden or the outside of your house shine in a completely different light. As with indoor lights, the variety of shapes, colours and lighting modes is almost endless and ranges from fairy lights and various figures to laser projectors to make glowing snowflakes dance through the air.
Outdoor lighting is characterised by the fact that it can withstand humidity and temperature fluctuations and can be exposed to the elements without hesitation. However, due to the more complex processing, products that meet the safety standards are somewhat more expensive.
When buying, you should look for a minimum standard of IP44 to ensure that the lighting is sufficiently safe. There are also outdoor Christmas lights that can be powered by batteries or even solar panels, so you don't have to rely on having a power supply available.
Buying criteria: These are the factors you can use to compare and evaluate Christmas lights
In the following, we will show you which aspects you can use to decide between the many possible Christmas lights. The criteria you can use to compare Christmas lights include:
In the following paragraphs, we will explain what is important in each of these criteria.
Power source
When buying, you should consider what power source you have available and how long you need the associated cable, or whether it is best to use batteries/rechargeable batteries or solar panels outdoors. A timer for the power supply can also be useful so that the lights can be switched on automatically every day for a certain period of time after being programmed once.
(Image source: unsplash.com / Kari Shea)
Energy consumption
Since every little light consumes electricity, it makes sense to use energy-efficient light sources such as LEDs. In addition, you should not leave the Christmas lights on all the time, but only switch them on when needed. Or, as already mentioned, you can also use a timer to automate the set lighting time.
Safety
Nowadays, fairy lights and other lighting articles are only operated with 24 volts and are very safe because of this fact alone. And LED light sources in particular are not only energy-saving but also produce very little heat, which further reduces the risk of fire. Nevertheless, there are some safety features you should look out for when buying.
| Requirement | Background information |
|---|---|
| GS/CE symbol | Stands for "tested safety" and must have German-language inscriptions, otherwise it is a fake |
| IP44 | Important for outdoor use. A triangle symbol with water drops also guarantees weather compatibility |
| Manufacturer's info | Exact details of the manufacturer for queries and problems with the product |
Before installing lighting, whether new or reused, it is of course important to check the product for possible safety defects.
Design
Last but not least, the design of your new festive decoration should be something to behold. There are virtually no limits to your imagination and there are also annually changing trends and novelties that you can find at various trade fairs, at your local interior design expert or simply online. Factors that influence the effect of your Christmas lighting, apart from the design of the fairy lights, poinsettia or snowman, are:
- Light colour
- Number of lights
- Spacing of the lights
Additional functions
You can choose lights with a wide variety of features. Not only do you have the choice of practical accessories such as timers and remote controls, but also visual and acoustic highlights such as variable lighting modes and even sound effects or entire pieces of music.
Interesting facts about Christmas lights
How do I install my Christmas lights?
When hanging or setting up lighting objects, it is of course important to consider the safety factors already mentioned, such as quality seals, flawless products without defects and whether the lights are suitable for the respective location. And here again is a checklist of what you should look out for when installing lighting:
- Protect the cables and place them so that no one falls over them.
- Make sure the decorations are securely fastened so that nothing can fall off and out of the reach of children and pets. Be careful not to damage any cables.
- Only use products outdoors that are specially labelled and allowed to get wet.
- Do not switch on the electricity until no one is working on the lights.
- Defective lighting must be disconnected from the mains and repaired or disposed of properly.
At what point can I festively decorate the house with my Christmas lights?
And until when is it appropriate to switch on the Christmas lights?
Christmas lights and decorations can be installed from November onwards, but the "official Christmas season" actually begins on the Sunday before the first Advent. From this day on, it is also appropriate to switch on your lights. Seasonally neutral lighting, such as fairy lights, can also be left up all year round without hesitation and can thus also beautify the garden on mild summer evenings.
However, decorations that are clearly recognisable as Christmas decorations should be taken down from 6 January onwards; "winter decorations" can of course be used for longer. In some regions, Candlemas on 2 February is also considered the official end of the Christmas season according to the church calendar, and decorations are not removed there until then.
What is allowed and what is forbidden?
Basically, anything you like is allowed, but there are of course a few legal guidelines that you should follow.
In particular, luminous objects outdoors must not disturb your neighbours with too bright a light.
Also, any traffic that may be present must not be impaired by glare. You must observe the night-time rest period between 10 pm and 6 am. Of course, your decorations should not be offensive or insulting.
How can I repair my defective Christmas lights?
Defective electrical items are basically a risk factor for short circuits in the electric circuit, and can even be a source of fire. Therefore, if at all, repairs should only be carried out by a professional to ensure the necessary safety standards.
The exception is, of course, if you still have a string of lights with replaceable bulbs - because if one bulb doesn't work, the whole circuit won't light up. If this is the only reason and not a visible defect in the cable, you can simply try out yourself which lamp is broken and replace it.
(Image source: Unsplash / Jamie Davies)
Image source: Zakharova/ 123rf.com
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