If you like the light chain, yes, me too! Whenever we eat on the restaurant terrace, the lights are on the headlights or strolling in the Larimer Square in Denver, I dream of hanging the terrace light chain in our backyard! Our backyard terrace is located between our kitchen and the detached garage, so I always imagine swinging back and forth between the house and the garage.
Commercial grade VS. standard grade light chain
As I mentioned, we knew from the beginning that we wanted to use a commercial grade light chain with wires instead of the cheap light chains offered by most stores. One of the reasons for this is because we can customize the exact length of the required luminaire, but another more important reason is because commercial grade luminaires are more suitable for permanent outdoor installations.
So what is the difference between a standard and commercial grade light chain? This is a common misconception, the difference is the type of bulb, but the difference is actually the wires and sockets. According to https://www.nhhx.net/, commercial grade light strands are made of heavy-duty wires with weatherproof sockets that seal around the bulb to prevent moisture loss. In addition to providing a more professional look, it is recommended to use a commercial grade light chain for permanent installation for year-round placement and for hard wiring.
In contrast, standard-grade light chains are also suitable for outdoor installations, but they are usually not as long as commercial-grade light chains, especially in inclement weather. They are cheaper in advance, but if they are abandoned all year round, they need to be replaced more frequently. Standard-grade light chains are better suited for events and less permanent applications.
Planning and buying ratio string lights
A few years ago, during the construction of the courtyard, we installed a socket under the garage eaves (above the lights above the garage door) and it is expected that one day the chain will be added. Commercial grade light chains can be plugged in or hardwired, but the addition of this socket has been considered for many years, which makes our light chain installation so easy and fast! The sockets are controlled by light switches in the garage, allowing us to turn the lights on and off without having to unplug them.
To be honest, I think it’s harder to find out the layout of the lights and determine the length, wattage and socket spacing than the actual installed lights. However, I fully admit that this may be a biased view because I am responsible for measurement and planning, but I have not done any work to install lights.
Still, planning is obviously an important step, so let me tell you what we are planning. In the course of our work, I learned that there are still many more than just measuring the length of the light chain, and it can be confusing, so I will try to summarize everything you need to consider. Buy your light chain.
Since our sockets are located in the garage eaves, we actually used two separate light chains to insert each rope into the exit of the garage door and then swing back and forth between the garage and the house. We measured the length of the garage, including the overhang of the roof line. Taking into account the location of the power outlet, we determined that 5.25 feet between the points would allow us to have five evenly spaced connection points, as shown in the following figure.
Then, we identified four corresponding connection points on the side of the courtyard house – each connection point is evenly distributed between the connection points of the garage. Knowing the distance between the garage and the house, and considering the distance between the junctions is 5.25 feet, we can calculate the length of each zig {or is it a zag? } at 230 inches. Have you said that you never need Pythagorean theorem in real life? !
To ensure that you stay within the maximum operating power range, you must consider the total length of the strands you need, the wattage of the bulb you want to use, and the distance between the sockets. In other words, the higher the wattage of the bulb, the closer the socket is, the shorter the filament must be; the lower the wattage bulb and the socket are far apart, you can have longer strands and still have maximum operating power. Installing two light fixtures is not only convenient, as our socket location {shown above], but also allows us to avoid exceeding the maximum wattage of any strand.
With all of these factors in mind, we chose the 11-watt “marker bulb” and the 24-inch socket spacing. This is the exact luminaire we ordered, these are precise bulbs. If you are doing mathematical calculations, you may notice that this scroll is much longer than we need. This is because we are separated from my parents and they also install the light chain at home; however, we can order the length we need.
Please note that the reels we purchased do not have a plug. Since we didn’t hardwire our lights, we had to add plugs at the end of the strings we bought at our local hardware store.
How to use the guide line to install a commercial grade light chain
Commercial grade lamps we purchase are suitable for permanent installation and can be attached to structures such as pergola or suspended by wires. We used a guide wire because we were threading back and forth between the house and the garage.
Full disclosure – I did not participate in the actual installation of these lights. A family friend with experience in installing a commercial light chain helped Scott complete the job. He did the job when he left the town at a meeting last summer. So, I only have one or two photos that illustrate the process that Scott sent to me, but I think the photos and instructions for completing the installation will tell you everything you need to know. .
materials needed:
Commercial Grade Lights from PartyLights.com {discussed above}
1/16″ wire rope
1/16″ wire rope clamp
Eye-to-eye turnbuckle
Screw hook
Zipper chain
Outdoor rated plug
Since a picture is worth a thousand words…
Using the files I created to show the layout of the lights, these guys installed five screw hooks under the eaves of the garage – one next to the exit and the other 5.25 feet apart. Then they installed four screw hooks on the small cantilever on one side of the house.
They then place eye screw clasps on each of the screw hooks and run a length of wire rope between each turnbuckle {across the distance from the house to the garage} and then secure each guide wire with a wire clamp. Once the wire rope passes between the house and the garage, one can adjust the screws in the turnbuckle to control the amount of dirt in each wire. {Twist the eye hook further into the turnbuckle to pull the guide wire more tight}.
The screw hooks on each distal end of the garage have only one eye to the turnbuckle {because this is where the light chain ends}. All other screw hooks have two turnbuckles, so these zippers bind the two turnbuckles together to ensure the position of each guide wire.
Once all the guide wires are in place, these people begin to use the zipper at each socket location and connect the light chain to the guidewire between each socket.
This is the light chain device completed on the side of the house in our backyard:
And this is how a steel strand ends near the corner of the garage and is capped:
PATIO STRING LUNGTS HUNG in ZIGZAG mode
The lights hanging above the patio during the day are great…
But of course, when the sun goes down, the light chain becomes the star of the show! After the sun sets, I like to watch the way the light changes, because the sky is getting deeper and bluer.
We replaced the regular light switch in the garage for the dimmer switch, allowing us to control the amount of light that was obtained from the chain at night. When not dimmed, the lights make the backyard very bright {but not too bright} – perfect for entertaining or for kids to play at night. But for a quieter backyard dinner or relaxing on the outdoor couch, we like to be able to dim the lights for more atmosphere.
How to add a DIMMER PATIO STING LIGHTS
If you decide to use a dimmer, be sure to purchase a dimmer that can handle the light wattage load. Most dimmer switches can only handle 600 watts of power, which is not enough for wattage and the number of bulbs we have. Before achieving this goal, we burned a normal dimmer and replaced it with a 1000 watt dimmer. If your harness rate is higher than 1,000 watts, you may not be able to use a dimmer with a light chain because we were told that no one is dimming the wattage above 1000 watts (although you should confirm it yourself).
How does the string light last?
String lights have been in the backyard for more than a year, I only hope that we install them early! They are a stylish addition to our yard, making it easier to enjoy our terrace at night.
In the winter in Colorado, the guidewire and lights are good, including several major blizzards. However, we had a massive thunderstorm earlier this summer, which produced a very large hail. After the storm, we went outside and found that about 20 ice hockey balls were crushed by hail. If you look closely at the photos below, you will find that almost every other bulb disappears.
I didn’t notice the broken bulb at first, until I started to find the glass on the ground. Fortunately, the children have not returned to the outside. We already have extra bulbs on hand, so replacing them is not a problem, but cleaning up all the thin pieces of glass is a pretty big job! Not only is the glass covered with glass, we also found glass on tables, chairs and sofas, floor coverings and grass. So a warning – after a hailstorm, be sure to check any broken bulbs and let the kids run around in the backyard!
I hope I can clearly explain the installation process to get you on the right track, but if you have any other questions, please feel free to leave me a message or email me!
The commercial grade light strands are made of heavy-duty wires with weatherproof sockets that seal around the bulb to prevent moisture loss. In addition to providing a more professional look, it is recommended to use a commercial grade light chain for permanent installation for year-round placement and for hard wiring.
In contrast, standard-grade light chains are also suitable for outdoor installations, but they are usually not as long as commercial-grade light chains, especially in inclement weather. They are cheaper in advance, but if they are abandoned all year round, they need to be replaced more frequently. Standard-grade light chains are better suited for events and less permanent applications.
Plan and buy PATIO STRING LIGHTS
A few years ago, during the construction of the courtyard, we installed a socket under the garage eaves (above the lights above the garage door) and it is expected that one day the chain will be added. Commercial grade light chains can be plugged in or hardwired, but the addition of this socket has been considered for many years, which makes our light chain installation so easy and fast! The sockets are controlled by light switches in the garage, allowing us to turn the lights on and off without having to unplug them.
To be honest, I think it’s harder to find out the layout of the lights and determine the length, wattage and socket spacing than the actual installed lights. However, I fully admit that this may be a biased view because I am responsible for measurement and planning, but I have not done any work to install lights.
Still, planning is obviously an important step, so let me tell you what we are planning. In the course of our work, I learned that there are still many more than just measuring the length of the light chain, and it can be confusing, so I will try to summarize everything you need to consider. Buy your light chain.
Since our sockets are located in the garage eaves, we actually used two separate light chains. Each rope is inserted into the exit of the garage cornice and then swings back and forth between the garage and the house. We measured the length of the garage, including the overhang of the roof line. Taking into account the location of the power outlet, we determined that 5.25 feet between the points would allow us to have five evenly spaced connection points, as shown in the following figure. {The gray in the picture represents the location where the roof line extends to the garage building. }
Then, we identified four corresponding connection points on the side of the courtyard house – each connection point is evenly distributed between the connection points of the garage. Knowing the distance between the garage and the house, and considering the distance between the junctions is 5.25 feet, we can calculate the length of each zig {or is it a zag? } at 230 inches. Have you said that you never need Pythagorean theorem in real life? !
Once we calculated the required light chain length, we began to study commercial grade light chain pricing. We decided to buy bulk reels from PartyLights.com because they are not only the best price, but also recommended to us by friends. {This article is not sponsored by Party Lights, I just share our experience. }Since we are custom ordering fixtures, in addition to knowing the length of the chain we need (as shown above), we must also determine the distance between the sockets and the style and power of the bulb. These decisions are important not only for aesthetic purposes, but also because each lamp has maximum operating power {listed in the specifications of each light chain}.
To ensure that you stay within the maximum operating power range, you must consider the total length of the strands you need, the wattage of the bulb you want to use, and the distance between the sockets. In other words, the higher the wattage of the bulb, the closer the socket is, the shorter the filament must be; the lower the wattage bulb and the socket are far apart, you can have longer strands and still have maximum operating power. Installing two light fixtures is not only convenient, as our socket location {shown above], but also allows us to avoid exceeding the maximum wattage of any strand.
With all of these factors in mind, we chose the 11-watt “marker bulb” and the 24-inch socket spacing. This is the exact luminaire we ordered, these are precise bulbs. If you are doing mathematical calculations, you may notice that this scroll is much longer than we need. This is because we are separated from my parents and they also install the light chain at home; however, we can order the length we need.
Please note that the reels we purchased do not have a plug. Since we didn’t hardwire our lights, we had to add plugs at the end of the strings we bought at our local hardware store.
Ninghai Haohua Company is a manufacturer that designs and produces various types of LED Light Chain . LED lamp chain products are complete in specifications and beautiful in style. The goods are exported to Europe, the United States, Australia and other countries and regions.
https://www.nhhx.net/
Commercial grade VS. standard grade light chain
As I mentioned, we knew from the beginning that we wanted to use a commercial grade light chain with wires instead of the cheap light chains offered by most stores. One of the reasons for this is because we can customize the exact length of the required luminaire, but another more important reason is because commercial grade luminaires are more suitable for permanent outdoor installations.
So what is the difference between a standard and commercial grade light chain? This is a common misconception, the difference is the type of bulb, but the difference is actually the wires and sockets. According to https://www.nhhx.net/, commercial grade light strands are made of heavy-duty wires with weatherproof sockets that seal around the bulb to prevent moisture loss. In addition to providing a more professional look, it is recommended to use a commercial grade light chain for permanent installation for year-round placement and for hard wiring.
In contrast, standard-grade light chains are also suitable for outdoor installations, but they are usually not as long as commercial-grade light chains, especially in inclement weather. They are cheaper in advance, but if they are abandoned all year round, they need to be replaced more frequently. Standard-grade light chains are better suited for events and less permanent applications.
Planning and buying ratio string lights
A few years ago, during the construction of the courtyard, we installed a socket under the garage eaves (above the lights above the garage door) and it is expected that one day the chain will be added. Commercial grade light chains can be plugged in or hardwired, but the addition of this socket has been considered for many years, which makes our light chain installation so easy and fast! The sockets are controlled by light switches in the garage, allowing us to turn the lights on and off without having to unplug them.
To be honest, I think it’s harder to find out the layout of the lights and determine the length, wattage and socket spacing than the actual installed lights. However, I fully admit that this may be a biased view because I am responsible for measurement and planning, but I have not done any work to install lights.
Still, planning is obviously an important step, so let me tell you what we are planning. In the course of our work, I learned that there are still many more than just measuring the length of the light chain, and it can be confusing, so I will try to summarize everything you need to consider. Buy your light chain.
Since our sockets are located in the garage eaves, we actually used two separate light chains to insert each rope into the exit of the garage door and then swing back and forth between the garage and the house. We measured the length of the garage, including the overhang of the roof line. Taking into account the location of the power outlet, we determined that 5.25 feet between the points would allow us to have five evenly spaced connection points, as shown in the following figure.
Then, we identified four corresponding connection points on the side of the courtyard house – each connection point is evenly distributed between the connection points of the garage. Knowing the distance between the garage and the house, and considering the distance between the junctions is 5.25 feet, we can calculate the length of each zig {or is it a zag? } at 230 inches. Have you said that you never need Pythagorean theorem in real life? !
To ensure that you stay within the maximum operating power range, you must consider the total length of the strands you need, the wattage of the bulb you want to use, and the distance between the sockets. In other words, the higher the wattage of the bulb, the closer the socket is, the shorter the filament must be; the lower the wattage bulb and the socket are far apart, you can have longer strands and still have maximum operating power. Installing two light fixtures is not only convenient, as our socket location {shown above], but also allows us to avoid exceeding the maximum wattage of any strand.
With all of these factors in mind, we chose the 11-watt “marker bulb” and the 24-inch socket spacing. This is the exact luminaire we ordered, these are precise bulbs. If you are doing mathematical calculations, you may notice that this scroll is much longer than we need. This is because we are separated from my parents and they also install the light chain at home; however, we can order the length we need.
Please note that the reels we purchased do not have a plug. Since we didn’t hardwire our lights, we had to add plugs at the end of the strings we bought at our local hardware store.
How to use the guide line to install a commercial grade light chain
Commercial grade lamps we purchase are suitable for permanent installation and can be attached to structures such as pergola or suspended by wires. We used a guide wire because we were threading back and forth between the house and the garage.
Full disclosure – I did not participate in the actual installation of these lights. A family friend with experience in installing a commercial light chain helped Scott complete the job. He did the job when he left the town at a meeting last summer. So, I only have one or two photos that illustrate the process that Scott sent to me, but I think the photos and instructions for completing the installation will tell you everything you need to know. .
materials needed:
Commercial Grade Lights from PartyLights.com {discussed above}
1/16″ wire rope
1/16″ wire rope clamp
Eye-to-eye turnbuckle
Screw hook
Zipper chain
Outdoor rated plug
Since a picture is worth a thousand words…
Using the files I created to show the layout of the lights, these guys installed five screw hooks under the eaves of the garage – one next to the exit and the other 5.25 feet apart. Then they installed four screw hooks on the small cantilever on one side of the house.
They then place eye screw clasps on each of the screw hooks and run a length of wire rope between each turnbuckle {across the distance from the house to the garage} and then secure each guide wire with a wire clamp. Once the wire rope passes between the house and the garage, one can adjust the screws in the turnbuckle to control the amount of dirt in each wire. {Twist the eye hook further into the turnbuckle to pull the guide wire more tight}.
The screw hooks on each distal end of the garage have only one eye to the turnbuckle {because this is where the light chain ends}. All other screw hooks have two turnbuckles, so these zippers bind the two turnbuckles together to ensure the position of each guide wire.
Once all the guide wires are in place, these people begin to use the zipper at each socket location and connect the light chain to the guidewire between each socket.
This is the light chain device completed on the side of the house in our backyard:
And this is how a steel strand ends near the corner of the garage and is capped:
PATIO STRING LUNGTS HUNG in ZIGZAG mode
The lights hanging above the patio during the day are great…
But of course, when the sun goes down, the light chain becomes the star of the show! After the sun sets, I like to watch the way the light changes, because the sky is getting deeper and bluer.
We replaced the regular light switch in the garage for the dimmer switch, allowing us to control the amount of light that was obtained from the chain at night. When not dimmed, the lights make the backyard very bright {but not too bright} – perfect for entertaining or for kids to play at night. But for a quieter backyard dinner or relaxing on the outdoor couch, we like to be able to dim the lights for more atmosphere.
How to add a DIMMER PATIO STING LIGHTS
If you decide to use a dimmer, be sure to purchase a dimmer that can handle the light wattage load. Most dimmer switches can only handle 600 watts of power, which is not enough for wattage and the number of bulbs we have. Before achieving this goal, we burned a normal dimmer and replaced it with a 1000 watt dimmer. If your harness rate is higher than 1,000 watts, you may not be able to use a dimmer with a light chain because we were told that no one is dimming the wattage above 1000 watts (although you should confirm it yourself).
How does the string light last?
String lights have been in the backyard for more than a year, I only hope that we install them early! They are a stylish addition to our yard, making it easier to enjoy our terrace at night.
In the winter in Colorado, the guidewire and lights are good, including several major blizzards. However, we had a massive thunderstorm earlier this summer, which produced a very large hail. After the storm, we went outside and found that about 20 ice hockey balls were crushed by hail. If you look closely at the photos below, you will find that almost every other bulb disappears.
I didn’t notice the broken bulb at first, until I started to find the glass on the ground. Fortunately, the children have not returned to the outside. We already have extra bulbs on hand, so replacing them is not a problem, but cleaning up all the thin pieces of glass is a pretty big job! Not only is the glass covered with glass, we also found glass on tables, chairs and sofas, floor coverings and grass. So a warning – after a hailstorm, be sure to check any broken bulbs and let the kids run around in the backyard!
I hope I can clearly explain the installation process to get you on the right track, but if you have any other questions, please feel free to leave me a message or email me!
The commercial grade light strands are made of heavy-duty wires with weatherproof sockets that seal around the bulb to prevent moisture loss. In addition to providing a more professional look, it is recommended to use a commercial grade light chain for permanent installation for year-round placement and for hard wiring.
In contrast, standard-grade light chains are also suitable for outdoor installations, but they are usually not as long as commercial-grade light chains, especially in inclement weather. They are cheaper in advance, but if they are abandoned all year round, they need to be replaced more frequently. Standard-grade light chains are better suited for events and less permanent applications.
Plan and buy PATIO STRING LIGHTS
A few years ago, during the construction of the courtyard, we installed a socket under the garage eaves (above the lights above the garage door) and it is expected that one day the chain will be added. Commercial grade light chains can be plugged in or hardwired, but the addition of this socket has been considered for many years, which makes our light chain installation so easy and fast! The sockets are controlled by light switches in the garage, allowing us to turn the lights on and off without having to unplug them.
To be honest, I think it’s harder to find out the layout of the lights and determine the length, wattage and socket spacing than the actual installed lights. However, I fully admit that this may be a biased view because I am responsible for measurement and planning, but I have not done any work to install lights.
Still, planning is obviously an important step, so let me tell you what we are planning. In the course of our work, I learned that there are still many more than just measuring the length of the light chain, and it can be confusing, so I will try to summarize everything you need to consider. Buy your light chain.
Since our sockets are located in the garage eaves, we actually used two separate light chains. Each rope is inserted into the exit of the garage cornice and then swings back and forth between the garage and the house. We measured the length of the garage, including the overhang of the roof line. Taking into account the location of the power outlet, we determined that 5.25 feet between the points would allow us to have five evenly spaced connection points, as shown in the following figure. {The gray in the picture represents the location where the roof line extends to the garage building. }
Then, we identified four corresponding connection points on the side of the courtyard house – each connection point is evenly distributed between the connection points of the garage. Knowing the distance between the garage and the house, and considering the distance between the junctions is 5.25 feet, we can calculate the length of each zig {or is it a zag? } at 230 inches. Have you said that you never need Pythagorean theorem in real life? !
Once we calculated the required light chain length, we began to study commercial grade light chain pricing. We decided to buy bulk reels from PartyLights.com because they are not only the best price, but also recommended to us by friends. {This article is not sponsored by Party Lights, I just share our experience. }Since we are custom ordering fixtures, in addition to knowing the length of the chain we need (as shown above), we must also determine the distance between the sockets and the style and power of the bulb. These decisions are important not only for aesthetic purposes, but also because each lamp has maximum operating power {listed in the specifications of each light chain}.
To ensure that you stay within the maximum operating power range, you must consider the total length of the strands you need, the wattage of the bulb you want to use, and the distance between the sockets. In other words, the higher the wattage of the bulb, the closer the socket is, the shorter the filament must be; the lower the wattage bulb and the socket are far apart, you can have longer strands and still have maximum operating power. Installing two light fixtures is not only convenient, as our socket location {shown above], but also allows us to avoid exceeding the maximum wattage of any strand.
With all of these factors in mind, we chose the 11-watt “marker bulb” and the 24-inch socket spacing. This is the exact luminaire we ordered, these are precise bulbs. If you are doing mathematical calculations, you may notice that this scroll is much longer than we need. This is because we are separated from my parents and they also install the light chain at home; however, we can order the length we need.
Please note that the reels we purchased do not have a plug. Since we didn’t hardwire our lights, we had to add plugs at the end of the strings we bought at our local hardware store.
Ninghai Haohua Company is a manufacturer that designs and produces various types of LED Light Chain . LED lamp chain products are complete in specifications and beautiful in style. The goods are exported to Europe, the United States, Australia and other countries and regions.
https://www.nhhx.net/
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