Christmas lights, safety tips

Christmas time means fridges full of food, ovens full of roasts, a frantic search for your fat pants and dazzling festive lights worthy of being named best in the street. Yes, it’s a time for those baggy saggy fat pants because no one can resist the third helping of Granny’s apple pie. And yes, it’s a time for playful rivalry with your neighbours as to who is rocking the street lighting scene this year - and no Joe you are not winning this year mate.
 
But the festive season can end in tragedy or circuit trips, and too often this is because of those dazzling lights that are making Joe see green. Let’s face it, there is no use taking the title of best lights in the street if you trip the power and can’t turn the oven on to heat up Granny’s famous apple pie now is it!! 

There is no use taking the title of best lights in the street if you trip the power and can’t turn the oven on to heat up Granny’s famous apple pie...

So let’s look at how safe your lights are.
 
Here are some tips to consider:

• Make sure the lights you purchase are compliant with Australian standards. For those purchasing lights online, many manufacturers do not comply with our standards and can be faulty, resulting in fire or electrocution.
• Check old Christmas lights before using. Wires should not be showing and all lights should be working.
• Don't alter or modify your lights. Any work with electrical appliances, including lighting, should only ever be done by a qualified electrician.
• Always follow manufacturer's instructions.
• Install a safety switch and test it before setting up your lights. If you don't have a safety switch, use a portable safety switch.
• Avoid using double adaptors or piggy-back plugs.
• Use power boards fitted with over-load protection.
• Ensure all lights, extension leads and power boards are suitable for use (this means don’t use an indoor power board for outdoor use).

Ensure your family, friends and fat pants are safe this year by thinking about the lights you are using and how you are using them.​

Lights manufactured for indoor use should only ever be used indoors (this might seem obvious but it’s a big cause for my Christmas call-outs). If you are unsure, please check the packaging or look on the light itself. Most lights will feature a tag near the plug indicating whether the lights are indoor or outdoor lights. Indoor lights do not have the additional weatherproof ratings required of lights that are to be used outside and should not be used outdoors, this includes on verandahs.

More tips to keep in mind: 

• Keep lights and other electrical appliances out of reach of children and pets.
• Turn your lights off before going to bed or leaving your house.
• If your wife is like mine and insists on having a live tree (something to do with the smell), please switch off and unplug lights when watering tree. 
• Outdoor lights feature an IP rating showing how weatherproof the light is with all outdoor equipment requiring a minimum rating of IP23. If your outdoor lights require a transformer, check whether it needs to be located indoors or outdoors as some can be impacted by weather.

• Turn off any outdoor lights in wet weather.
• Avoid passing power leads through doorways and windows or across walkways and driveways where leads can be damaged.
• Secure outdoor lights to avoid damage in wind or storms.
• Avoid wrapping lights around sharp metal objects that may damage the wires.
• Ensure that your connections used outdoors are waterproof -- don't put Christmas lighting around or above swimming pools or have leads lying in water or wet areas.
• Be aware that using multiple high-powered lamps may overload your electric circuits.

 
Ensure your family, friends and fat pants are safe this year by thinking about the lights you are using and how you are using them. If you do need to upgrade your lights, consider purchasing LED, solar powered lights or extra low voltage lights (12V or 24V) as these are the safest options to prevent electric shock and overheating leading to fires.
 
Happy holidays and enjoy those Christmas lights, the safe way! ​​

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