Christmas is an exciting time of the year, especially for children. Many people like to decorate the outside of their homes with Christmas lights. If your neighborhood is lit up, you don’t want to feel that you’re letting the street down by not having Christmas lights. But what if you don’t have an outdoor power outlet?
Your home will look sad this Christmas without light. The good news is there are many ways you can light up your home even if you don’t have an outdoor power outage. Read on to find out more!
How to plug in Christmas lights without an outdoor outlet
If you have an extension cord, you can power your Christmas lights using a socket in your basement or another room in your home. An extension cord can be run from an inside socket, out the window, and then plugged into your Christmas lights.
There are a few things to consider when using an indoor socket to outdoor power lights, as it may not be as easy as it first seems. Here’s some step-by-step instructions on how to plug in Christmas lights without an outdoor outlet.
1: Choosing a power outlet and extension cord
You’ll first need to buy an extension cord and decide which power outlet to use for your outdoor lights. If you’re using an outlet in your basement, you’ll need to buy a long enough extension cord. If possible, it’s a good idea to choose a power outlet that’s close to your window as this will reduce the distance the cord has to travel. For outlets that are further away from the window, you may need to use multiple extension cords. Rather than using an outlet in your basement, you may have a porch outlet that’s closer to your lights.
The power cord that’s inside your home will need to be plugged into one that’s been graded for external use. You can’t use an indoor extension cord as the water’s likely to get into it, and this can be dangerous. Alternatively, use a lawn stake with an extension cord.
2: Plug in the extension cord
Once you’ve bought an extension cord and decided which power outlet to use, you can plug in your cord. If you plan to run the extension cord from your basement, you’ll need to check that your basement isn’t damp. As we all know, water and electricity don’t mix.
Most Christmas lights don’t use too much power, but it’s still a good idea to use an extension cord with either a fuse or circuit breaker in it.
3: Put the cord through the window to the Christmas lights
You can then put the extension cord through your window and then plug it into your Christmas light to check that they work. If they do, turn them off at the power outlet while you work on insulating your window.
4: Insulating the window
Now your Christmas lights will be on, even although you don’t have an outdoor power outlet. The only problem is that the window is open and in winter the weather can get bitterly cold.
You’ll need to close your windows as much as you can and then insulate them to stop a draft or even snow from getting into your home. Once the windows closed, a small opening will still be left, which can be filled with small pieces of foam. Use duct tape to secure the foam board in place so that you don’t feel a draught.
5: Turn on your Christmas Lights
You can then plug your electric cord into the Christmas decorations, and you’ll have a lightened-up home for the holiday season.
Alternative methods: How to power Christmas lights without an outlet
Rather than running a cable outside your home, you may like to act as an electrician to install an outdoor power outlet on the side of your property. This will obviously be more expensive but may be worth the investment if you want to light your home up every holiday season.
There are many rechargeable Christmas lights that either have a removable battery or a USB to charge. These types of lights may be an easier and cheaper way to light up your home than using traditional Christmas lights that use an extension cord. These lights have a detachable battery that’s generally long-lasting when fully charged. Here are some other types of outdoor lighting that you may like to consider:
LED candles
LED candles or Christmas lights that are designed for outdoor use are an excellent choice. LED candles are designed to look like real candles but have imitation wax and are battery-powered. They create a romantic atmosphere and look great.
Solar-powered decorations
Another option is to decorate your yard, home, and decking with solar-powered lights. These are more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly but will need to be exposed to enough sun during the day to work at night.
Many solar-powered lights can also be powered with rechargeable batteries if the weather is cloudy. Battery-powered lights generally provide soft illumination and help create a warm ambiance. Outdoor string lights have been specifically designed for outdoor use and are waterproof. These look amazing on fences, windows, doors, patios, and decking.
Bluetooth outdoor lighting
There’s also outdoor lighting available that’s powered by Bluetooth. These types of lights are weather resistant and won’t give you an electric shock. They can be used to brighten up your home, even if the weather is bad. Bluetooth lights are generally very energy-efficient and are hardwearing and rechargeable. Some lights even have Bluetooth sensors, which make the lights turn on when someone walks by. They can also be controlled using an app on your phone, so you won’t even need to go outside to turn on your Christmas lights if the weather is bad.
Conclusion
Your neighbors and, in particular, local kids will love seeing your house lit up this festive season. Even if you don’t have an outdoor power outlet available, you can still light up your home by using an extension cable or buying rechargeable Christmas lights.
When Santa flies over on Christmas eve, he’ll also appreciate the trouble you’ve gone to and how nice your home looks. Have a very Merry Christmas!