Safe Practices for Outdoor Christmas Lights

Question: A couple of weeks ago, I spent an enormous amount of time putting up our Outdoor Christmas Lights.

• I created our own swag lights (3 sets of mini lights to make the swags…100, 150, & 200).
• A couple of days ago I tested them and they looked great. We didn’t keep them on because we were waiting to light them on Thanksgiving night.
• It rained almost all day Wednesday and all of Thanksgiving day…and it reached freezing temperatures last night.
• Only one part of our lights are working and come on with a timer every time.
• The majority of our lights aren’t working since the rain.
• My dad checked the GFCI circuit and that wasn’t it, it wasn’t a circuit breaker in the basement because our porch lights come on.
• I’m wondering if some water got into the power strips/extension cords and froze which shorted out our lights.

Could this be?
How can I fix them?

Will they thaw/dry out and work again without me doing anything?

I have the light keeper and have tried plugging the strands into it and pulling the trigger 20 times, but had no luck. Please, PLEASE help me! I’m desperate and don’t know what to do!
Thanks so much!

This electrical question came from: Chrissy, a Other from Fort Wayne, IN
See more about Home Wiring for Indiana

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical question Chrissy.

Safe Practices for Installing Outdoor Christmas Lights

• If the plug strips are not rated for being used outside then this will be a problem especially if they are getting wet.
• Drying them out may help but this will most likely happen again.
• Keep in mid that a lot of these strands of lights have built in fuse protection that is designed to prevent overloading the wires which can lead to a hazardous condition including causing a fire.

Tips for Installing Outdoor Christmas Holiday Lights

1. Make sure to use electrical extensions and multiple outlets that are rated for outdoor use.
2. Install these items in covered areas where they will not be exposed to direct weather.
3. Always plug outdoor holiday lights into GFCI protected circuits or GFI outlets.

The Following links will assist you with your electrical question:

Circuit Breakers
House Wiring Circuits and Circuit Breakers
Circuit Wiring

GFCI Outlet Wiring
Lighting For The Home