How To Make Extension Cords From Christmas Lights

[@redtruckhomes]

OMG This is AWESOME! I was planning on buying more extension cords next week and have several strands that I was tossing because they no longer work! You just saved our wallet!!

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Happy to hear that UnicornGirl. They do save a ton of money when you need a lot of cords! Just last week we posted an update to this episode in a soldering video kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGbdqqKtjr52pac

[@samueltheledfixersellers3480]

No

[@conwelcrochet]

You guys saved my Chrismas light loving life! Just made several and they work , Im so pumped about this! I am my local neighborhood Christmas light freak, people rely on my lights! Thank you Thank you!

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

That's awesome, Kenneth! I'm happy this helped you this year. I bet they do rely on your lights. Folks need to see Christmas lights more than ever this year.

[@Ryan-ji6wk]

I have been referencing this video for the last few years to make cords. Invaluable. Thanks for the lesson!

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

That's awesome, Ryan. Thanks so much for your support. I'm glad this worked out for you. Now, if I can only get a time machine and tell myself about making these 15 years ago lol. I'd have saved a ton of money!

[@lightsonbutlercourt261]

I've been doing this since my first year 5 years ago. It is time consuming but it has saved me money.

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

You're right, LOBC. It is a tad time consuming. Right now, we have this down to 6 minutes without soldering and about 10 with soldering. We're switching over to heat shrink this year though.

[@eddieleblanc8728]

I hit the jackpot after I watched this video. Found some incandescent lights on clearance for $0.32 a box (100) about 20’ per string. Bought A LOT and stripped down half for extension cords next year!

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Ah man, that's awesome, Eddie. Even getting a ton at summer garage sales will cost you more than that.

[@gporr7004]

Always wondered how people connected lights. Custom cords! Lol. Makes things so much easier. Running custom female adapters along the same line where a connection is needed

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

It makes things so much easier!

[@jules6499]

You just made my day! Went and got some cheap clearance strands of incandescent lights, both white and green wires, and tried it. Game changer! Will only need my good extension cords for long runs now. Gotta go bust up some lighted candy canes that no longer work

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Heck yeah, Jules. These saved us so much money it wasn't funny. Plus, they blend into the yard so well that they don't distract the viewer's eye from the show.

[@adivasworld7466]

Thank you. I've used old lights before but never thought to cut the bulb string. I like this idea! This year I was going to do SPT-1 wire but its more expensive than just buying more incandescent lights and using the cords.

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Indeed it is! Removing the bulb's wire removes most of the tripping hazards in your yard and adds the benefit of seamlessly blending into your grass's color.

[@dianabaskin1944]

I have always used lights as extension cords but have never cut them. I just connect the lights the way they are. I do it when I run out of cords. I never thought about using them completely. It probably looks better. I will try this.

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Well done you, Diana. Great minds.... The other benefit of removing the bulbs is that you keep extra leaves from getting tangled with them. Plus, it looks more streamlined, blends in better with the lawn, and takes away some of the tripping hazards.

[@darleneshipe7120]

Great video! Great learning about this from you! THANK YOU!!!

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

I hope they work out well for you Darlene!

[@apeters38]

A great idea indeed. I didn’t cut the bulbs off but I used old small lights to connect the lights above my garage to the ones by my front porch. It is the only option to connect them. I’ve learned that Christmas lights are non polarized where all extension cords are polarized so in a lot of cases regular two prong extension cords won’t even fit into Christmas light sockets using old Christmas lights eliminates that problem.

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

That's a great point, Anthony. I had that exact problem come up in a video I recently released. I was showing how to use the LED Keeper in tandem with an extension cord. However, the prongs were not adaptable, even with a three-prong adapter. The only option was to use one of my homemade extension cords. It worked perfectly.

[@Alaska_Rider_In_Texas]

What a great idea! I’m glad that I found this video since I’m working on putting up Christmas lights up this weekend.

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

It'll save you a ton of money, Brad. Happy lightning to you!

[@samueltheledfixersellers3480]

I've already made three of those Christmas lights strand so that actually is cool because it is saving us a lot of money cuz it is really easy that you do them and I cut the right wire so now I made a cord and I plugged it in and the lights on the other side turned on so I'm going to love these Christmas lights shares and with all of our incandescent strands that don't work I'm going to use them so I can make more Christmas light extension cords so it will save me a lot and lots of money

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Well good, Samuel. I'll be doing a part 4 to this series in this year's Christmas In July Series!

[@noahbones1221]

this is really good for LED displays but for incandescent displays (which i much prefer, by the way, even though i do like and use both styles) because of the current draw. and some christmas lights are polarized as well.

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Hello there, Noah. We've used these in both our incandescent show and then when we switched over to an LED show.

[@davper8619]

Can you take out the single bulbs and put some elastic tape over it, will the cord still work?

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Yes, you can. The electric current will still flow through the cord. However, removing the bulbs also removes all access points moisture can contact the wires. We also have a companion video where we completely weatherproof the cords. I hope that helps Dav.

[@jtapoling]

GENIOUS! THANK YOU!! First show just about spent a bunch of money.

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

I dropped a grand on extension cords my first year. I wish I knew this trick a decade ago lol. Good luck this season, Jeremy.

[@jtapoling]

@@ChristmasOnCrestline thanks. Stressing out pretty hard trying to get a Halloween show and Christmas show first year. I make bad choices.

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

That simply means your an official member of the club. We all make silly errors in our planning lol. Thank goodness for KZbin...we can see what to do and what to shy away from in the design plans.

[@jhankerson16]

Will it work If you pull the bulbs out of the 3 wire lights that are left?

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

It will indeed.

[@mbutala]

Instead of removing the sockets, could you pull out the bulbs and apply some silicon caulk or other sealant to waterproof the socket?

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

You can indeed, Mark. Sound advice.

[@lolboy-642]

makes me feel better knowing that one is an electrical engineer

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Us too.

[@RebeccaCrawford-u3c]

This is so great, thank you!! Couple questions 1) Can you add vampire plugs into this extension cord you created and then plug multiple other light strings off of it? 2) can you use this cord between to other christmas lights? I want to connect icicle strings on my roof but want a blank space for roof breaks. Thanks again!

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

You know, I've never tried to use a vampire on these. But that is a great idea. Yes, we very much use these cords to daisy-chain to other lights. We have several props that share programming in various parts of the yard. As a way to save channels, we daisy-chain them using these cords and run them off of the same channels. This would work just fine to give you your blank space.

[@RebeccaCrawford-u3c]

Perfect, thank you!! Merry Christmas :) @@ChristmasOnCrestline

[@Scott-xh7wd]

The loose wire on the 3 wire bulb has power. Shouldn't you cap that off?

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Good question Scott. You can cap it, tape it, or solder it. For outdoor use, we solder them to make them watertight. We broke the video up into a series. Here's the link to the soldering video kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGbdqqKtjr52pac

[@Scott-xh7wd]

I cut the 3 wire out and connected the wire. Just thought I'd point out that cut wire is live.

[@showbizwisconsin8350]

Pull the bulb out and fill the socket with hot glue

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Interesting idea, SBW

[@sarahrss5608]

I've been told to not plug LED into incandescent lights and the other way around. My neighbor proved yesterday that it doesnt work lol he kept blowing fues until I told him not to mix them. I would guess that is the same if they are used as extensions cords? LED cord should only be used with LED lights? Is it waterproof with that wire just chilling there? That won't short it out if it gets wet?

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Actually, we almost exclusively use incandescent cords to power our LED strings. They should all be fine with the weather as long as they were outdoor rated lights. But your correct, functiona incandescent lights and LED lights will not mix. Incandescent lights simply pull too much power which takes away from LEDs and doesn't allow them to work properly. Great question!

[@whiskeynwings5788]

AWESOME! This will save me some serous cash!

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

I'm happy this helped you, WNW!

[@electricalsmokealarmsandmo1564]

I would remove those bulbs from the sockets. I’ve gotten shocked from leaving the bulbs in. I did this trick last year before I knew someone you did it. Awesome method.

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

We will be releasing a new style of these cords later this year. But, removing the bulbs is certainly a quick fix to getting a cord going!

[@electricalsmokealarmsandmo1564]

Nice. I will watch that video. I am trying to water proof this as much as possible

[@shaleeg2015]

My god thankkkkk you!! Yall are too kind 🌲🎄

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Hello, Shalee. I'm happy this helped you! Merry Christmas 👍🎅

[@shaleeg2015]

@@ChristmasOnCrestline question though. Do you need to count the watts from the extention cord strand into the Christmas stand watts or is it not needed since theres like 3 lights

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

@@shaleeg2015 I don't pay too much attention to the watts. I track the amps the lights pull. If you take the lights off all the string or leave just the three, and make it a true extension cord, It's no big deal.

[@MrGjdunn]

So I noticed the "second video" on soldering wires etc seems pretty important in dealing with an exposed wire . An alternate approach which I just tried and was successful is that you can avoid clipping and detangling a string of lights by just using a spare but intact ( 50 or 100) lite set to connect two other strings and just pull one lite bulb out - which de activates all the lites but keeps the current running to other sets. A bit bulky as far as hiding the "dark set" but fairly easy to manage on an outside arrangement.

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Great call, Gerry. In a pinch, we do the exact same thing. The main reason we try to avoid that is simply due to the intact bulbs storing more easily when wrapped and them trapping more leaves and debris compared to the smooth stings with the bulbs removed. Great call though!

[@bmzx6072]

I have several of the home made extension cords. Why wont LED lights work when plugged into one of these extension cords?

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

While it isn't often, that happens to us from time to time. Some cords are just unusable and need to be trashed. For us, it's about the same for both LED and incandescent cords. I'd say 1 in 10 are bad.

[@jktuckness]

Can you plug LED lights into the modified cords from incandescent lights?

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

You can Judy, but make sure to check the amp rating for the wire.

[@bxmully]

Cause of death: youtube video

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Maybe one day, Bxmully. So far, so good.

[@bxmully]

@@ChristmasOnCrestline haha jk. God forbid. Wishing you the best. New sub.

[@Joseph-32]

Does the fuse in the male end ever go out? How do you deal with that?

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

It does, but it is rare. Here is how you replace it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bH27fYSClMuCgJYsi=9eagFSCE1bxFqhej

[@ThatPrettyMess]

Nice!!’ I wish i wouldnt have thrown most of mine out now hahah

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

These are so dang handy!

[@yvonnerenoult1819]

I want to run an extension cord inside that’s not bulky to the other side of the room on my rental to light up an 100 watt incandescent desk lamp. Would using these Xmas tree light cords hack be a fire hazard? Is the wire gauge on these homemade extension cords be the right gauge?

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Hello, Yvonne. We use these cords year-round as extension cords for all manner of purposes. As long as you don't have any exposed wires, these will be fine and there's no reason for them to be a fire hazard. However, if this is for a house you rent out to tenants, then I'd recommend using a store-bought cord. Several states have Landlord-Tenant acts that would prohibit using these cords as a permanent electrical connection. If you meant that you are renting this home yourself, you should be good to go as long as you are using cords rated as indoor/outdoor and you have no exposed wires. This can be done with heat shrink or soldering. Best of luck!

[@MissyBeidleman]

Thats awesome

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

They do come in handy!

[@sherrisentieri3123]

Wow thanks for this video

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

My pleasure, Sherri. I've saved so much money by doing this.

[@seanvangenderen]

Does it still draw wattage that I should account for per strand or does it work just like an extension cord?

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Hey there, Sean. They essentially act as traditional extension cords. When you remove the bulbs and use them to extend the reach of your LED light strings, you can consider them as simple conductive pathways.

[@seanvangenderen]

Thanks for the reply!

[@robrob7011]

I love the idea. I use dead light strands as extension cords as is. Strangely, sometimes they light up again. But for the old really crappy strands i have, i will try your method. I am really into the LED keeper. I have dozens of bad light strands, i never throw them away, lol. For years i have planned on going to the scrap yard with them, but now I will try your extension cord method. My display is about 15,000 bulbs. Growing more every year. This is the first year that i actually have traffic jams on my little road.

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Well congratulations, Rob. It's always rewarding when we see people enjoying themselves watching our displays, isn't it? Our favorite part is being part of people's family traditions. I think you'll find the extension cord method will save you a lot of money in the long run. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

[@timmaa83]

My light strand has 3 wires on every socket. Where do I cut?

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Hello, Timmaa. That's a very rare string of lights. I've never seen a string of lights that has 3 wires on every bulb. I'd bypass this string and try another old string of lights. The third wire represents the common connection wire running to the end of the string.

[@barbie5697]

Have you ever used icicle lights for this? I have a ton of them that have sections that no longer work. 🙄 I decorate our city park for Christmas and have spent thousands of dollars on extension cords!

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

I have not turned icicle lights for cords, no. I haven't used any of those in 10 years. I'd surmise that turning those into extension cords would be a lot of extra work since you'd need to secure the icicles off of the main cord. Instead, I would suggest zip cord. You can cut it to size, attach male and female vampire plugs on either end. and BAM you have a long-lasting extension cord! It runs about $0.05 a foot at regular price. Over the next month or so you can get it at Christmas wholesale companies for 40% off. Here is one example www.creativedisplays.com/products/1000-spt-1-weather-x-zipcord-green/

[@barbie5697]

Christmas on Crestline THANK YOU! I’m learning as I go! Lol When I took over the park from the chamber of commerce they gave me 3 pickup truck loads of string lights ... all incandescent and very few that worked. Thousands of feet of icicle lights. Ugh. Thanks again!!

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

@@barbie5697 Getting paid to work on Christmas lights??? I'd have a lot of fun with that job, lol!

[@barbie5697]

Christmas on Crestline no I don’t get paid. I’m a volunteer.

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

@@barbie5697 Okay, that makes sense. Thanks for volunteering on your town's displays. We need more of you around.

[@jonray2453]

How would I go about keeping only one socket on the strand functioning in order to plug-in an ornament?

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

I think you're asking if you can keep one single bulb socket on the string. Yes, you can. You would simply not cut that one off of the string. It would have to be the very first 3-wired bulb socket. The first socket, in most strings, is a 3-wired socket.

[@tshell41]

How many led strands can be run off one of these?

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Hello, T. The most we currently have on any one cord is 1,400 LEDs. Those are 0.06 amp green mini LED lights. There are 14 strings of 100 lights. The most we've ever had was 1,600 0.04 amp red mini LEDs.

[@Will-lz1nh]

How many feet of cord do they make?

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

This string was 22.6 feet. This was a Holiday Time green LED 100 ct mini. We usually don't solder them because it's just too easy to plug them into one another.

[@Will-lz1nh]

can I use incandescent Christmas lights for the cord and plug Led into them?

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

@@Will-lz1nh Absolutely you can. That's exactly what we do. The cord just carries the power. You can plug in incandescent or LED lights. We use these cords straight from our control box out to the lights in the yard. Works like a charm!

[@63BelairRacecar]

@@ChristmasOnCrestline Just remember the string will still have a max. draw limit. IE: you could have 3 incandescent OR 12 or more LED connected to the modified cord.

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

@@63BelairRacecar Excellent point. We ran into that issue just yesterday with some LED reds.

[@Purple_911]

Can this be done on LED strings that have three wires in each bulb?

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

You can but you would have to do a lot of sottering. I imagine this is a set of lights that has a controller Built-in or is attached to a battery of some sort?

[@Purple_911]

@@ChristmasOnCrestline Hey Charlie! Thanks again for your response and your help. I really appreciate your videos. Its a string of big box store 100 count C9 LED 8 watt Lights. They dont work... I tried my LED KEEPER and i couldn't find the problem. I connected a working string of lights to the female end of the burnt out string and plugged in the male end of the burnt out string to see if it still could transfer power and it does. When I plug the burnt out string into my watt o meter by itself it reads it as 0. So maybe I'll still use it but just remove the big noticeable colored bulb covers and not cut any wires. I have a long stretch between two displays that I want to be in sync with eachother. This is seriously a lot of work and I only have a crappy 6 outlet Mr Christmas Lights and Sounds of Christmas Light Controller. I Could never handle a light o rama controller. Lol.

[@inailedmyself767]

The light string that was cut for the extension cord did you use a box of LED lights or incandescent?

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

This string, if memory serves, was an incandescent string. However, we use LED strings all the time. It's the exact same process for both types of string lights.

[@inailedmyself767]

@@ChristmasOnCrestline Thank you for the quick reply. Do you know off hand if I use the incandescent holiday time lights from Walmart how many holiday time LED strings can I connect to it. Thanks so much in advance

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

@@inailedmyself767 I'm not home just yet but as soon as I get home I look. if memory serves though, I think it's 16 sets.

[@rossrian6037]

I would like to ADD these "extension cords" can ONLY be used for LED strings or 2 to 3 100 count mini-lite incandescent strings and NOT AT ALL for c-9 or c-7's as they draw too much current and pose a FIRE hazard! Also, be sure to recycle the "lite string" you cut out-can get good money for copper wire!

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Hey there, Ross. Safety is always paramount! Thanks for the advice. In this case, the old light strings, now used as extension cords, essentially act as traditional extension cords. When you remove the bulbs and use them to extend the reach of your LED light strings, you can consider them as simple conductive pathways. For light shows, current is not what we account for but amperage is paramount.

[@thecrepepaperhooligans8977]

How many can you string together?

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

For the string we used in the video (Wal-Mart brand) it is maxed out at 45 strings. So that equates to 1,762.8 feet. That comes out to almost exactly 1/3 of a mile!

[@jandiferreira649]

Like aceito de presente um piscar piscar desse

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Obrigado Jandi. Estou feliz que você tenha gostado deste vídeo.

[@jandiferreira649]

@@ChristmasOnCrestline de nada

[@WillyJoeFilms]

I’m mad at my parents ‘cause they say it’s dangerous and won’t let me do it 😢

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

I will always fall on the sides of the parents, Willy. With that said, we use over 500 of these custom cords and they are safe for use.

[@hawaii6282]

Why not leave it like it was and have lights and it's still a Extension Cord.

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Good question Michael. The answer is for two reasons. One, string Christmas lights are excellent for snagging everything they touch on the ground and enhance a tripping hazard. Secondly, as the cord lay on the ground, each bulb is another potential entrance for moisture to seep in and either trip the GFCI outlet or to screw with the fading effects.

[@samueltheledfixersellers3480]

Why are you using a new strand of Christmas lights to make it a extension cord

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Hello, Sam. A viewer wanted to know if we can make these from LED strings. We have a ton of new lights so it wasn't a big deal to use one in the tutorial.

[@69Ford]

I really do appreciate the videos a new subscriber. But 4 minutes of waste time. Just get to hey, this is how you make cords.

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

Yep, you're correct, Plywood. We've learned a lot since making this video! Since then, I've learned to get to the point. We'll be redoing this video in 2024 and we do appreciate the feedback. Keep it coming!

[@michaelkadziolka3626]

funny how he says that he used his old incandescent lights to make extension cords but used led ones in the video

[@ChristmasOnCrestline]

We did use incandescent lights to make the new extension cord in this episode Michael but you can use LED cords to make extension cords. Both types of cords can be used the same way to make extension cords and we have used LED cords to make extension cords several times.