Christmas Light Safety?

[BruiseLee]

Last year, I finally got around to upgrading my Christmas lighting to LED. Nothing big, just some Sylvania Led snowflakes and a string of some multi-colored Led star lights. Anyway, I noticed the packaging said not to leave the lights on unattended.

Now, in the old days of wrapping hot incandescent bulbs around dried out Christmas tree needles, I could see the definite possibility of a fire hazard.

However, these LED's are cool to the touch. Sez so right on the packaging, and I finger tested them, too. They didn't even get warm. They consume, what maybe 1/10th as much power as tradition Christmas tree lights? Plus, these are programed to blink on and off in patterns, so they are probably only actually lit about half the time.

Since this is the age of the lawsuit happy lawyers, I'm pretty sure the written warning is on the packaging just to cover the manufacturer's butt. I mean, I suppose there is always the one-in-a-million chance one of the leds could overheat and start to smoke or something, but I tend to thing that's highly unlikely.

Do you agree? Is it all right to keep the lights on for hours when we're away for the family Christmas dinner? I just have them around the window, they aren't even on the tree.

 

[dt3830]

Salutation,

It is true that LED or "solid state technology lighting" uses less power.
But if would do no extra harm if you use some added HSE (Health, Safety, Environmental) precautions.
I have personally tested turning LED on for an extended time, such as one year, without any problems.

For extra precautions, do take note of the power used, and select the appropriate "lower current rating" fuse.
So, it pays to be safe, than to be sorry.
~CHAM

 

[mvyrmnd]

The LED's aren't the dangerous bit any more. The cheap power packs (wall-warts) are the bits that have dodgy connections, cheap components and are the bit likely to fail/blow up/kill your dog.

Keep them clear of everything, or even build a box for them to ensure they don't get tripped over/played with by kids/ egg nog spilled on them and you'll be right :)

 

[thelonewolf1124]

My brother had led christmas lights up around his cealing in his room that he used as primary lighting, often left them on 24/7 and never had a problem other than several dead bulbs apearing despite the 50,000 hour life. The warning is for the lawyers, but smoke alarms are still smart.

 

[BruiseLee]

Thanks for the replies. I've had the lights on for about 7.5 hours a day now for the last 4 days. No signs of problems, did finger temperature checks of the wall warts, cords, and the lights themselves, everything good so far. I guess if there were problems with these lights, about 20,000 homes across the world would burn down every Christmas season.

You all have a safe and Happy Holiday!