Christmas Light Receptacles

[iggy2]

On the few residential projects we design each year, we usually call for split wired receptacles where they are below a window where someone would put the Christmas candle type lights on the window sill (mostly facing towards the street). One receptacle is live, the other is switched from a single, out of the way location, usually in the basement stairwell. Often requires a 2P switch or 2, since the houses are large, and require more than one circuit to power the switched halves of the receptacles. Circuiting also gets a little tricky when in the dining room or kitchen.

Most of the year, the switch is on, and no one is the wiser. But come Christmas, the candles are plugged in and can be easily switched off from one location at bedtime.

Requires more wire, a switch or two. Owners love it, but Contractors seem to hate it.... don't know why.

Anyone else doing this or run into it?

 

[mhulbert]

Re: Christmas Light Receptacles

That is a great idea! I'll have to try that one.

On the few houses I've done, we put in outlets up above the eaves and switch them from an entryway closet or similiar. If there is a timeclock for outdoor lights, I will put it coming off of that (may need a 2p timeclock, xmas light wattage adds up quick!). Have also seen a few WP boxes out in the yard for xmas lights on bushes. Really common to see an FS box next to each palm tree in outdoor shopping centers, downtown, etc here in southern cali.

 

[physis]

Re: Christmas Light Receptacles

I've done a hand full of the exterior provisions. It's real popular all of a sudden with the keep up with the jones'/neighbors crowd. But sensible too. The extra interior switching's a neat twist but I can't decide if I think (for me) it's excessive.

I think the general idea is a good one. It's safer and more conveinient. And if you're starting from rough it's also easy.

 

[hurk27]

Re: Christmas Light Receptacles

We have been switching our living room switched receptacles that way for about 20 years. I have seen where there are some electricians that still switch the whole duplex but it seems old hat as switching only half of a duplex will allow the other half to be used for something that a home owner doesn't want to get turned off. AS for Holiday receptacles we feed them with only 20 amp circuits for the outside and switch them from a closet that is not too out of the way. which can be converted to a single gain switch type timer or also have a photo cell with a switch bypass. One house we did had a 100 amp sub panel just for the Holiday lights with receptacles every where. I nick named the home owner Chevy
We have had too many who just tell us to install a receptacle and don't want it on another circuit and just before Christmas we get that ever dreaded call that they keep blowing the circuit, so now it's 20 amps or nothing. Have you seen what some of those icicle lights pull? No wonder why they trip breakers. Also X10 make some interesting controls for controling these receptacles via wireless.

 

[luke warmwater]

Re: Christmas Light Receptacles

Originally posted by iggy2:

Anyone else doing this or run into it?

Yes. We've been installing these types of things for years.

Do a search on this forum for 'Holiday Lights' or 'Christmas Lights', you should find a bunch of prior threads.


but Contractors seem to hate it.... don't know why.

Maybe because your design is too complex?

You forot to mention when Bedrooms and Bathrooms come into play. They will require AFCI protection and GFCI protection.

 

[iggy2]

Re: Christmas Light Receptacles

Maybe because your design is too complex?

You forot to mention when Bedrooms and Bathrooms come into play. They will require AFCI protection and GFCI protection.

I don't think it's that the design is too complex, I just think it's out of the norm, and requires a few more minutes thought than the usual "daisy-chain" approach to wiring receptacles. I'm always scratching my head, because we don't design tract housing - these are very high end resi projects, where there are a lot more complex items to build - lighting control systems, home theatres, safe rooms, multi-room sound systems, etc. But we seem to get comments about the Christmas light switching. Go figure.

And you are right about the AFCIs in bedrooms, but this happens anyway, at the panel, hence the need for sometimes several multi-pole switches. (Although generally we see the bedrooms in the back of the house, not street side.) And I have not run into a receptacle in a bathroom below a window (yet) that we switched for Christmas lights. But now that I've said that.....