What better way to improve the celebratory mood than installing battery-operated LED Christmas lights?
The Christmas season is a time to spend with family and friends, especially if you haven’t met throughout the year.
The challenge, however, comes in when you consider the finite power supply of a battery. How long will a battery last?
Are some LED Christmas lights more energy efficient than others? How do the lights compare to traditional lighting options concerning performance and durability?
If you have such questions, you are in the right place. Today’s piece tackles crucial information regarding battery-operated LED Christmas lights.
Let’s get going.
What Are Battery-Operated LED Christmas Lights
(Christmas tree decoration in a room with a fireplace)
Battery-operated LED Christmas lights are holiday lighting using light-emitting diode technology and drawing power from a battery.
Generally, depending on the brightness requirements, you will find them as either 12V or 24V lights.
The 12V ones use a higher current but are dimmer than the 24V ones that operate on a higher voltage.
Generally, the 12V LED lights can operate using 24V, but you’ll risk damaging the diodes.
Therefore, use your battery capacity or LED power requirement to determine the components to purchase.
Moreover, they are convenient and versatile by design, allowing you to decorate areas without a nearby power source.
As for the battery compartment, it may have switches and other controls for adjusting flashing modes or brightness.
Reasons Why You Should Buy Battery-Operated LED Christmas Lights
(A small LED Christmas light with battery)
There are multiple reasons why Christmas lights manufacturers are turning to LEDs.
First, they have a high wattage-to-lumen conversion ratio. In other words, they convert almost 90 percent of incoming wattage to light energy.
In comparison, incandescent lights convert less than 20 percent of wattage to light energy while the rest dissipates as heat energy.
Second, LEDs are durable, with premium-quality ones lasting nearly 100,000 hours.
Incandescent light sources last about 1,000 hours, while fluorescent lights last between 10,000 and 20,000 hours.
Thirdly, LEDs produce little heat and are a viable option for indoor Christmas decorations. You don’t have to worry about installing heat dissipation measures like fans.
Fourth, LED Christmas lights are versatile; you can install them anywhere around your home.
For instance, you can install an IP68 LED Christmas light indoors and outdoors.
Fifth, batteries are crucial, especially if your home experiences periodic blackouts during Christmas.
Moreover, batteries store energy that you can use for other tasks when the main AC supply is off.
Top Considerations While Selecting Battery-Operated LED Christmas Lights
(Christmas lights decoration in a home)
Picking the right Christmas color is equally important as celebrating the day itself. Therefore, you must consider the following to get the best quality product.
Power Consumption
It is important to know the duration a battery’s charge lasts. Typically, a good battery will last as you expect without damaging your lights in case of an overvoltage.
Other times, the lights may draw more power than the battery can supply, forcing them to dim with time.
Also, you must match a battery to its LED Christmas lights or risk damaging them with a higher voltage supply.
LED Christmas Lights Color
A white LED Christmas light color remains timeless and a favorite of people that prefer a simpler look. Conversely, colored lights are festive and adaptable to many colors.
Additionally, some have music synchronization features allowing them to change colors according to the tune of a song.
Installation
LED Christmas lights have varying installation methods depending on the type.
Generally, people prefer those that are easier to install while still durable. For instance, some LED strands come with clips to attach to the tree, while others do not.
IP Rating
The Ingress Protection rating specifies an electronic component’s resistance to water and dust.
When installing LED Christmas lights outdoors, it’s better to go with those with IP66 to IP68 ratings.
The reason is that they have the best dust protection while still having reputable waterproofing characteristics.
Quality and Durability
(Connecting multiple LED Christmas strips)
High-quality LED Christmas lights last over 50,000 hours or over 17 years.
Therefore, check the manufacturer’s reputation through online reviews before purchasing.
Generally, those with more 5-star ratings manufacture sturdy components to enhance durability.
Brightness and Color Temperature
Consider the ambiance you want to create when picking LED Christmas lights.
Typically, you will go with brighter lights for outdoor use, while those for indoor decorations will be dimmer.
Additionally, you can buy LED Christmas lights with adjustable temperature settings to control LED Christmas lights’ brightness and color.
Timer and Controls
Spending more on a high-quality LED Christmas light with timers and controls is wiser. The Christmas setting is playful, and lights turning on and off at certain times is a plus.
It not only improves the overall aesthetic appeal but also saves battery power. Moreover, dimmers and flash controls improve the lights’ versatility.
FAQs
Can you power your LED Christmas lights using batteries?
Whether you can power your LED Christmas lights using batteries depends on their voltage requirements.
If your LED lights operate on 120V AC, you cannot power them using your battery as it provides only direct current (DC) power.
Conversely, 12V and 24V LED Christmas lights operate on DC power and nothing else.
If you lack a battery, you can still power the DC LEDs using the AC supply line.
However, you must install a converter or power supply between the power source and your Christmas lights.
The role of the converted is to transform the incoming power from 120V AC to a 12V DC that your lights can use.
Another scenario is if you want to power a 24V LED strip without a single battery. In such a case, you can assemble a bank of two 12V batteries that cumulatively supply the necessary voltage.
How long will battery-operated LED Christmas lights last?
Battery-operated LED Christmas lights will last more than 30 years if you keep them on for an average of eight hours daily.
Second, operating conditions are crucial in how long and well the lights perform.
For instance, installing indoor LED lights in an outdoor setting is unwise.
The reason is that outdoor LEDs are waterproof, with Ingress Protection ratings ranging from IP66 to IP68.
Generally, LED lights can last close to 50,000 hours under good maintenance. As of today, they are the longest-lasting lights available for Christmas decorations.
Additionally, they are easy to uninstall, meaning you won’t incur any damages during the process.
Can you leave battery-operated LED Christmas lights on all night?
How long you leave battery-operated LED Christmas lights depends on the battery capacity. If a battery is big enough to satisfy the Christmas lights’ energy requirements, you can be sure it will last long.
Sometimes, batteries of a higher capacity power the lights for close to 40 hours. On the other hand, if your battery has a small capacity, expect it to power your LED lights for a short time.
Sometimes, they may not last beyond twelve hours, meaning that the battery will drain before morning arrives.
Conclusion
LED lights are an excellent addition to any Christmas celebration as they instantly improve the aesthetics and mood.
Additionally, the fact they consume fewer watts per lumen means they won’t drain your battery fast like incandescent lights.
However, you must determine their current draw, brightness, and waterproofing capability beforehand.
They specify the lights’ installation location and batteries to pair them with.