Electrical Basics for Christmas Light Installers

Electrical Basics for Christmas Light Installers

1. Understanding Power Sources

Here are the basics of how power works in Christmas light installations:

  1. Outdoor GFCI Outlets: Always use outdoor-rated Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets to prevent electrical shocks.
  2. The 80% Rule: To avoid overloading, use only 80% of an outlet’s capacity. Example: A 15-amp circuit can safely handle 1,440 watts.
  3. Amps, Watts, and Volts: Amps measure current, volts measure force, and watts measure total power. To calculate watts: amps x volts = watts.