FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q - How many sets of light strings can I connect together from one plug?

A - Use our convenient LED String Light Energy Calculator to determine your power needs.

Our Commercial Grade light strings (with 25 lights each) can be connected up to 125 sets (3,125 bulbs) to the power of just one plug. However, the Standard Grade products are currently subject to incandescent UL ratings and most are labeled "connect up to 3 sets" on the tags.Fortunately, UL codes and ratings are changing for LED lights which will begin in 2008 and will specify maximum wattage connections instead of maximum set connections. Until that becomes official, it has been our experience that it safe to use 20 to 30 strings of Standard Grade products from one plug depending on the number of lights per string. To ensure your safety, DO NOT combine incandescent light strings with LED light strings.

Q - How many retrofit bulbs can I operate from one plug?

A - Use our convenient LED Retrofit Energy Calculator to determine your power needs.

All of our decorative C7 and G20 bulbs with 3 LEDs, C9 and G30 bulbs with 5 LEDs, or G40 and T50 bulbs with 10 LEDs are rated at approximately 1 watt each (as compared to 5-9 watts for similar incandescent bulbs). We have tested these products and recommend installing up to 825 bulbs to a single plug when using our cordset with quick-connect plugs (these plugs are rated for 8.5 amps). Larger bulbs with E26 bases such as the G40, T50 and F50 can be used with Eagle Sockets and double twisted wire which can support more wattage.

Q - Can I request LED products that are not on the website?

A - Yes! We understand that sometimes a project or budget requires the use of one vendor for certain products so we have resources available to get many types of commercial and residential LED lighting products. We will make every effort to find the items you are looking for and get a quote back to you in a timely manner. Special requests have included battery and solar powered LED lights, LED halogen replacements, LED par lights, LED spot lights, LED theatrical and stage lighting fixtures, LED tube lights, LED strobes, LED Ultraviolet (UV) lamps, LED landscape lighting, LED low-voltage lamps, or even industrial LED mercury vapor replacement bulbs.

Q - How Do LEDs Work?

A - Construction - LEDs (light emitting diodes) are constructed from tiny solid-state semiconductor chips similar to those used in computers. These chips directly convert electricity to light without the use of a filament or glass bulb. Instead, the chips are encapsulated in solid plastic that can be made into a variety of shapes and sizes. Basic differences between conventional light bulbs and LEDs are shown as follows:

Since LEDs have no fragile filament there is nothing to burn out or break and no need for a protective glass bulb. Since LED's don't actually "burn", very little heat is produced which saves energy.

An LED is a special type of diode which is similar to a transistor. Diodes and transistors are "solid state" devices that are made from semiconductors such as silicon. The semiconductor is made to contain two types of special impurities. The first type of impurity, called "N" for negative, is a material with an excess of electrons. The other type of impurity, called "P" for positive, has a deficiency of electrons in "holes." These two kinds of impurities are dispersed into the semiconductor at different regions, so that a "P-N junction," or active layer, is created at the border.

Semiconductors do not freely conduct electricity like materials such as copper. Instead, they can be made to conduct electricity under certain conditions. For diodes and transistors, these amount to connecting electric power across the junction to make the "P" side more positive and the "N" side more negative. When this happens, electricity flows freely across the "P-N junction" and the electrons fill up the holes. The laws of physics describe the energy between electrons and holes and show that this energy is a fixed amount depending on the materials. LEDs differ from ordinary diodes in that the "P" and "N" materials take this energy and convert it to photons, or light. Since the energy involved is a fixed amount, the light that results has only a single wavelength, or color. Using different materials for the "P" and "N" impurities enables the light to be manufactured in different colors.

Function - Our Standard Grade LED lights are built with patented circuitry to maximize efficiency of their LEDs. This revolutionary design concept eliminates the use of traditional components that add to cost and generate heat. Our Commercial Grade lights are full-wave rectified to create a light that can appear up to 40% brighter than our Standard Grade LEDs. The result is a cheaper, safer, and longer lasting product with less power consumption than could otherwise be designed. Lifetime is predicted to be over twenty years of continuous use, and much longer if just used seasonally.

Design - At first glance, the flameproof bulbs in our lights look like bright conventional miniature light bulbs. A closer examination, however, reveals that our lights have a slightly different shape. This shape has facets that create a unique diffusing effect with different light levels when viewed at certain angles. The result is striking, particularly as the lights shimmer in the breeze outdoors or one walks around the tree or other object being lighted indoors. Although the true and intense colors are created by the diode formulations, the lenses are also colored to enhance the hue and make the lights identifiable when not lit.

This latest development in decorative lighting technology promises to change the way people decorate their homes, businesses, and even towns for many years to come. Less power consumption, longer product life, and durability without the hazards of excess heat build-up should make the holiday season brighter, safer, and greener for the next generation.