Quality has to be right
Tips for the electric Christmas lights
Thin or brittle insulation is dangerous with fairy lights.
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Beautiful lighting for inside and outside should not be missing in the Christmas season. These tips will save consumers money and effort.
Year after year, lights in all kinds of colors and shapes bring us into the Christmas spirit. However, to ensure that fairy lights, luminous snowmen and the like do not become a danger, some manufacturer’s instructions must be observed.
Indoor and outdoor lighting
In addition to the design, functionality, sustainability and safety are top priorities. To ensure that the tree does not suddenly catch fire at Christmas, TÜV Rheinland makes a clear statement to consumers: Only buy high-quality branded products with the GS mark. Strings of lights with thin or brittle insulation and faulty lamp sockets are generally not recommended.
Outdoor lighting must be labeled “suitable for outdoor use”. The symbols IP44 or IP65 should be legible. Incidentally, the triangle with the drop symbol ensures a high level of weather resistance – provided the manufacturer’s instructions are adhered to, of course!
No more tangled cables
If you want to avoid sorting out a tangle of cables, you should use this option: cordless Christmas tree candles that can be positioned in the tree with a holder clip. Each candle is powered by a battery. The advantage: There is no risk of defective cables or electronics triggering a fire. It is important to ensure that such products meet the requirements of the European Radio Directive (RED Directive). Ideally, use rechargeable batteries to protect the environment and your wallet!
Save electricity with LEDs
For indoor and outdoor areas, lighting with light emitting diodes (LED) is a good choice. With these intelligent electronics, a transformer regulates the voltage from 230 volts to around 12 to 14 volts. Thanks to this innovative technology, the lights stay cold and there are no electric shocks. Modern LED technology uses up to five times less electricity.