Christmas Light Acronyms
It seems like acronyms are becoming more and more prevalent in our society, and the world of Christmas lights is no exception. So here is a quick guide to the acronyms you might come across while dealing with Christmas lights.
LED: Light Emitting Diode. LED lights last longer and use less power than comparable traditional Christmas lights.
C7 and C9: Denotations of bulb sizes. C stands for “candle” which describes the shape of the light’s “flame-like” appearance, and the numeral represents the number of eighths of an inch in diameter of each bulb. (For example, a C7 bulb is 7/8 inch wide, while a C9 is 1 1/8 of an inch in diameter.)
GFCI: Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. This type of circuit-breaker is recommended on the electrical outlet you use for your lights. It can sense small imbalances in an electrical circuit and quickly shut off the electricity to the lights to minimize the chances of electrical accidents when a problem occurs.
UL: Underwriters Laboratories. This organization is responsible for setting industry standards for the quality and safety of electrical products like Christmas lights. You should only use UL-approved lights for your home.