LED Christmas Lights and Other Holiday Lights

Make Your Holidays Sparkle
with AQ Lighting’s Premier Christmas Light Collection

Welcome to AQ Lighting, your go-to store for premium Christmas lights that will make your Christmas decorating magical. We have everything you need from a 1000’ bulk reel of C7 stringer to a single 5mm LED mini light string. Whether you are decking out your home or decorating a city street AQ Lighting has what you need.

Choosing the Correct Size and Shape of Bulb

Step #1 to purchasing Christmas light stringers is knowing the exact bulb that you want. There are many different sizes and shapes so choosing the bulb that you want can be a little confusing if you don’t know what the differences are. Here is a quick reference to the most popular Christmas bulb options:

1. C9 Bulbs

   
   
   • Largest of Christmas bulbs.
   • “C” refers to the cone shape of the envelope.
   • The envelope is approximately 2 ¼” tall and 1 ⅛” in diameter
   • The base of this bulb is an E17 also known as an intermediate base. It is approximately 17 mm in diameter. The base of a bulb is very important to know for a couple of reasons. If you need to purchase spare bulbs you need to make sure that they fit the stringers that you have. Also, quite often stringers are purchased separately in bulk. If you purchase a C9 stringer then you must purchase a C9 bulb or equivalent with an E17 base or they will not be compatible.
   • C9s come in several styles, smooth transparent, smooth opaque and faceted
   • Because the bulbs are so large and cast so much light they work great when installed for long range visibility like rooflines and gutters.

2. C7 Bulbs

   
   
   • Just a little smaller than the C9
   • The envelope is approximately ⅞”” in diameter and 1 ½” long.
   • The base is an E12 (12 mm just under ½”) or candelabra base.
   • C7s also come in smooth transparent, smooth opaque and faceted.
   • Same size as a nightlight.
   • Use them to decorate indoors or outdoors. C7s are sure to create a festive atmosphere.

3. C6 Bulbs

   
   
   
   • This is the smallest of the traditional C shaped bulbs but not nearly as small as a mini.
   • The envelope is approximately ¾” diameter and 1 ⅛” long.
   • Like the C7, the C6 also has an E12, candelabra base.
   • Great for decorating trees and shrubs, indoors or outdoors. When you prefer the nostalgia of a C shaped bulb but you don’t require the brightness of a C7 or C9 then the C6 is a great option.

4. G12 Bulbs

   
   
   
   • The G12 bulb is a spherical or “globe” shaped envelope that is 12mm in diameter (almost ½”).
   • This bulb can create the look of small orbs, gum drops or even berries.
   • Use these bulbs anywhere that you want to have fun. Whether it’s decorating for Christmas, adding some pizzazz to a restaurant, or even making wedding decorations extra special.

5. T5 Bulbs

   
   
   
   • These lights have a smooth, tubular shape and are made to mimic the classic incandescent mini lights.
   • They are approximately 5 mm in diameter (a little less than a ¼”) and almost ¾” long.
   • Use these lights anywhere you want a traditional Christmas look like wreaths, garland, indoor trees and even outdoor trees.

6. M5 Bulbs

   
   
   
   • The M5 bulb is about the same size and shape of the T5 except that it is faceted.
   • The faceted look just gives you that extra dazzle and sparkle.
   • They are great for decorating almost anywhere indoors, outdoors, wreaths, garlands, banisters and railings.

7. 5MM Bulbs

   • The 5mm Christmas light string has become one of the best selling stringers across the U.S.
   • Approximately ¼” h x 3/16” w, this little bulb packs a punch.
   • 5mm can also be referred to as “Wide Angle Conicals”.
   • The 5mm bulb has an inverted cone lens that disperses light similar to that of incandescent mini lights, however they can appear much brighter.
   • Because they can be so bright, many people find them more suitable for decorating outdoors.
   • If brightness isn’t an issue, they can be used to decorate almost anything.

Christmas Light Stringers

There is a huge variety of Christmas Lights. Some lights have a very specific role and some have a variety. Here’s a little breakdown to make Christmas lights a little less confusing.

Christmas Light Stringers: The beginning of this article explained all of the different bulb shapes and sizes but it did not explain the different types of stingers that are required to actually light up the bulbs.

C7 & C9 Stringers: These types of stringers typically range from 25’ to 1000’ long. The longer bulk reels are usually purchased by lighting professionals who custom cut the reel to whatever specified lengths that are required and then reattach male and female plugs.Typically, you can find these bulk reels with socket spacing ranging from 6”-36” apart.

5mm - C6 - T5 - M5 - G12 Stringers: These stringers range from very short 12’ up to 100’ with the most common around 25’. The bulb spacing is usually 4” to 6”. It is very common to be able to plug many strings together consecutively, however always reference the manufacturer’s specifications for maximum run length.

Net Lights: Net lights are the fastest and easiest way to light up shrubs, hedges and to wrap tree trunks. The most common bulbs used today are the 5mm and the T5. Just like stringers, net lights use stackable plugs to connect multiple nets together. 4’ x 6’ nets are the most common but there are nets that are specifically designed for tree trunks and columns that are usually narrower and longer.

Icicle Lights: Icicle light strings are very popular. They are used to decorate roof lines, windows, railings or basically any overhang where a real icicle might grow. Most icicle lights utilize T5, M5 or 5mm bulbs. The actual string light comes in many different lengths that can be connected together with stackable plugs. Hanging from the strings are called drops. The drop lengths typically alternate in size and can range from 9” to 65” and everywhere in between.

SAFETY

Christmas lights can be amazing! They bring cheer and the Christmas spirit to all. For some of us, just the act of installing Christmas lights is what gets our Christmas spirit ignited. Whether you go full Griswold or just a small display keep in mind safety, safety, safety! Each year approximately 770 fires are attributed to Christmas lights and other decorations. On top of that over 18,000 ER visits. Nothing can destroy the Christmas spirit quicker than a fire or an ER visit so here are a few things to keep in mind.

Follow Manufacturers Specifications: Read all labels and warnings.

• Do not use indoor rated lights outdoors and vice versa.
• Never exceed the maximum number of additional stringers.
• Always check for broken bulbs or damaged stringers; either can cause a fire.
• Christmas lights should never be left unattended. Turn them off while you are sleeping and while you are away from your home.
• Make sure that all outdoor plugs and connections are water proofed. Electricity and water do not mix!
• Make sure that all outdoor decorations are plugged into a GFCI protected outlet.