Types of garlands and rules for purchasing holiday illumination

Varieties of garlands

If previously only one design was found in stores - thread, today we are greeted by a wide range of different types of devices. Let's list what options there are.

1. A thread is a cord with lamps located along its entire length. This is the most common variety, which is hung both on the Christmas tree indoors and for outdoor illumination.
2. Grid - the wires are shaped like diamonds or squares, with light sources at the corners. Such garlands are most often used to decorate windows and walls.
3. Curtain - many long vertical stripes with lights descend from one horizontal cable. They are convenient to place on door and window openings.
4. Fringe - similar to the previous one, only the flowing cords of such devices are short and there are only a few light bulbs on them, moreover, they can have different lengths. Such products are very popular in the decoration of facades, roofs and stairs.
5. Icicles are similar in structure to fringes and curtains, but the LEDs here are made in the shape of icicles. The effect is enhanced by a special shimmer that creates the illusion of “melting.” Such samples look very beautiful on trees and when installed under the ceiling.
6. Duralight is a strip with built-in LEDs. These specimens are sealed, very flexible, and durable. They are suitable for mounting on trees and for displaying inscriptions and figures. Duralight can be used outdoors without fear of safety.
7. Clip-light - consists of several cords with very bright backlight. It is used to decorate trees.
8. Belt-light is a multi-core bus with lamp sockets. This is already professional equipment for buildings, parks and bridges.
9. Strobe light is a modification of the previous version, differs in that the lamps do not just constantly burn, but flash at certain intervals.
10. Statodynamic - represent an imitation of fireworks. Multi-colored rays diverge in different directions and shimmer beautifully.

These decorations also differ:

• by the number of effects: constant glow, flickering, fading, running fire and others;
• according to the shape of the elements: in the form of light bulbs, snowflakes, stars, Christmas trees, etc.;
• by color: white, blue, red, yellow, multi-colored and many others;
• for additional functions: music, connection to a computer.

It is clear that everyone wants to make their home elegant and beautiful, but do not overdo it, because all the elements should be combined with each other and form a harmonious picture without excesses. I described the most spectacular options in the article Ideas for decorating your home.

Possible operating modes of outdoor garlands

When choosing decorative street lighting, it is worth keeping in mind the design and number of operating modes, since the visual image of the decorated space also depends on this. Street-type garland lighting has the following operating modes:

• Fixing – classic monotonous diode lighting without additional functions;
• Chasing – LEDs light up and go out alternately, the ability to create gradients and light starfalls;
• Flickering – blinking of every fifth or seventh diode in a static garland;
• Chameleon – alternating change of color modes;
• Multichasing is a combination of a number of the above-described lighting modes using a controller.

Chameleon mode

Specifications

The garland is an electrical appliance, so when purchasing it, carefully consider all the parameters. Low-grade materials and poor-quality assembly can cause short circuits and fires.

Lamps

There are two options for lights installed in modern lighting technology.

1. Lamp lamps used to be ubiquitous, but are gradually becoming a thing of the past and are becoming increasingly difficult to find. There are several reasons for this: they consume a lot of electricity, they burn out quickly, the color is given by the light filters of the shell, so they cannot change the shade. In defense of such samples, it is worth saying that they are inexpensive and create a soft yellow light that many people like.
2. LED (LED garlands) - the price is higher than for outdated lamp models, but there are countless advantages: their service life ranges from 20,000 to 100,000 hours, they are more difficult to damage and are resistant to moisture, economical, do not heat up, and have a variety of effects and very bright.

In any case, the lamps should sit tightly in their sockets and not wobble. Otherwise, rapid breakdown is inevitable.

Power type

Illumination can have different power sources.

1. Electrical from the 220 V network is a regular socket where the device is connected. The solution is best suited for indoor use as it is cheap and does not require special installation conditions.
2. Battery-powered - very convenient for street lighting, in places where it is not possible to extend an outlet. You can even take the decoration with you and have a party somewhere in nature, dressing up a snow-covered forest beauty.
3. Solar powered - works without electricity. During the day, when the sun is shining, the battery stores energy and uses it at night for lighting. If you want to install permanent illumination in the yard, then it makes sense to spend money on such an installation once. After installation, you will no longer have to pay for electricity.

The wire

The material from which the wire is made must have sufficient strength and heat resistance.

Budget products are made from PVC. They are well suited for placement in the interior of an apartment or house, as well as outside, if the frost is no more than -20 degrees.

However, you should be vigilant: high-quality PVC does not have a strong odor. Otherwise, when heated, it will become a source of harmful fumes that you and your children will breathe.

It is best to choose rubber and silicone models. They can withstand extreme cold (silicon -50, and rubber -40 degrees Celsius), have increased strength and resistance to moisture. These properties make them an ideal choice for decorating buildings and trees, even in the harshest conditions.

It would be good if outdoor lighting equipment was equipped with an additional layer of insulation. It is easily recognized by the letter N on the packaging.

In addition to the material, look at the color of the cable. It should blend in with the background as much as possible: green for a Christmas tree, brown for trees, universal transparent is suitable for interior decoration.

Protection from dust and moisture

To understand the difference between an outdoor garland and an indoor one, you should understand the indicator of safety from dust and water.

The security index is indicated by the letters IP, followed by two numbers. The first of them means the degree of protection from dust, and the second from water. To operate outdoors, the device must have a rating of at least IP 44.

Decoding of each of the codes in the picture.

Length

The length of the New Year's garland is calculated as follows: the height of the spruce must be multiplied by three. In this case, for every meter of tree there should be at least three hundred light points. Then the green beauty will look very elegant without empty areas.

In addition to the length of the part on which the lights are directly located, you need to choose the correct length of the connection wire. To connect street lighting, you will need at least ten meters, and for a house, one and a half to two meters is enough.

If you need a very long decoration, you can use models with connectors. They allow you to combine several garlands into one and extend them to the required size.

Other options

In addition to the cable and lamps, the design of most electric garlands requires the presence of a control unit. This is a box with a button responsible for switching modes. The controller must be sealed, with tight joints. This is especially important when installing lighting equipment outside the home.

Inspect the packaging and read all the labels, because you may be in for an unpleasant surprise in the form of a note “not for the Christmas tree.” This means that the product has not passed the appropriate test and the manufacturer is not responsible for the consequences of its use on wood. It is better not to buy such copies and choose those that comply with GOST, and therefore fire safety rules.

DIY LED street garland - step-by-step instructions

You can create your own unique garland of diodes based on the assembly diagrams of the Chinese versions. Let's look at some of them.

Necessary:

• wire with a profile of 0.5 or 0.25 millimeters ;
• resistor with a resistance of 100 ohms ;
• 20mA light diodes ;
• power supply 6V ;
• transparent silicone sealant;
• Soldering iron, solder, rosin;
• Knife (kitchen or stationery).

Assembly algorithm:

Step 1. When assembling the classic version of the series type, you need to select the desired distance between the diodes and the length of the garland, and then mark the wire with a marker at the places where the diodes are attached. The classic distance between bulbs is 20-30 centimeters .

Marking the mounting locations for the diodes

Step 2. The top layer of insulation is cut off from the cord at the places where the light bulbs are attached, and then rosin with a small amount of solder is applied to this place. The LED is soldered.

We mount the diode/bulb

Step 3. To secure the fastening, each connection of the diode to the cord is wrapped with electrical tape so that the LED is in the “pocket”. If necessary, the upper part of the pocket is additionally secured with silicone sealant.

Example of diode mounting

Step 4. A power supply with a resistor is connected to the resulting circuit, and then the resulting light decoration is tested.

Testing a simple type LED garland

DIY LED garland of several shades

Creating a colored garland according to the Chinese pattern is also not difficult. Each shade is connected to its own generator, so they can work both together and independently of each other. And if one shade of light bulb fails, the rest will continue to glow.

This scheme requires the use of a controller , which, at a low cost, significantly expands the possibilities of decorative lighting. The wires of each shade of diode are soldered to the microcircuit, and the modes are controlled using a switch button.

Using the attached diagram, create a unique garland that functions in different color modes with a small financial investment.

Switching circuit for several diode garland threads

A complicated diagram for assembling a diode garland with your own hands

A more complicated to create, but visually attractive option for street decorative lighting is the option on lithium batteries . Its assembly pattern is different from the Chinese one described above, and when in operation, the garland leaves behind a multi-colored trail, ideal for drawing patterns with light in the air.

The cost of such a model in the store is high, so self-assembly, although it will take time, will save money. For assembly you will need:

• light-scattering diodes with a diameter of 10 mm ;
• narrow adhesive tape or electrical tape;
• epoxy adhesive;
• magnets with a diameter of up to 1.3 millimeters and a thickness of up to 3 centimeters ;
• lithium batteries CR2032 3 V.

Garland “rain” device

Assembly algorithm:

1. The diodes are first tested by applying each of them with a long leg to the “+” of the lithium battery, and a short one to the “-”.
2. If the diode and battery are working, then they are wrapped in the same position with electrical tape or tape.
3. A magnet is attached to the positive side of the battery using tape.
4. Each of the resulting elements is attached to a thin garland cord. The main difficulty in assembling this type of lighting device is the monotonous repeated repetition of the same actions. Assembling this structure according to the instructions takes an hour and a half, and even a person not trained in working with electricity can create a light decoration for the street.

We also recommend that you take a look at the article on the topic - LED street lighting fixtures on poles with sensors.

Manufacturer

When I buy Christmas tree decorations, I honestly don’t look at the manufacturer. For me, the appearance and properties of the product itself are more important. But it happens that it is impossible to evaluate the internal contents of the box before purchasing, and then you can choose by manufacturer. Reputable, proven brands will not disappoint you, and the copy inside will most likely be of good quality.

Let's name the most famous companies manufacturing electrical equipment:

• Neon-Night;
• "Space";
• Christmas Lighting;
• Vegas;
• WinterTale;
• “Garlandus”;
• “SNOWBOOM.”

No. 7. What to consider when inspecting a garland?

• At first rate the packaging: it should contain the name of the manufacturer, the purpose of the garland (street or house), power and voltage, instructions in Russian. This information should be duplicated on the label near the plug.

• Good quality garland supplied quality certificate. Naturally, you won’t find it in a box with a cheap Chinese garland. Using it means taking a little risk every time.

• Check are all the lights on?. Reliable manufacturers include several spare bulbs in the box.

• Check the quality of the wire and insulation , pay special attention to the connection points of the wire with the plug, lamps and mode switch. They must be strong, without damage, otherwise the garland runs the risk of tearing if someone slightly touches it. It's a pity for the garland, and you can get an electric shock.
• The thicker the wire, the less heating. Cheap Chinese products are supplied with tiny wires. No matter how miniature the garland is, the cross-section of the wire must be at least 0.5 mm2.
• The mode switch box should not bend easily when pressed.

• The power of all garland bulbs should not exceed 65 W, otherwise the product may heat up to too high a temperature.

Separately, it is worth noting the garlands with the possibility of extension . The threads of such garlands are equipped with a socket for connecting the next link. It is important that this socket is of sufficient size - otherwise you can touch the pin of the plug with your finger and receive an electric shock. Do not connect too many of these garlands, otherwise the load on the first link will be critical.

Don't forget about safety during operation!

• Adults should connect the garlands.
• You cannot remove the garland that is turned on.
• Do not use indoor garlands outdoors.
• Do not allow water to get on interior garlands.
• In closed containers, garlands may overheat. So if you want to create an interesting decor, choose vases/bottles with good ventilation.

Upcoming holidays! Let the garlands envelop your home with magic!

Price

What worries most people is how much lighting costs. Prices vary significantly depending on the brand, characteristics and size of the device.

Threads are cheaper than more difficult to make fringe or mesh. The first ones will cost from 300 rubles for 2 meters. Fringe and curtain will cost from 400 rubles, and mesh from 600 rubles.

You will have to pay even more for options for street illumination. The most inexpensive LED strips cost at least 600 rubles for 60 bulbs.

Extravagant samples like fireworks, icicles and other delights are sold for no less than 700-1000 rubles.

You need to be careful with cheap goods. A low price in most cases indicates that the product is of low quality and is unlikely to have passed all the necessary tests.

And I know from experience: these specimens break very quickly, sometimes they are not enough even for one season. So the proverb that the miser pays twice is also relevant here.

For a test of expensive and cheap models, see the report of the “Test Purchase” program.

Device and scope

The design of such lighting is similar to the earlier version - a lamp garland. The basis for mounting LEDs is a horizontally oriented wire, on one side of which the control unit is usually attached. But the main difference that characterizes LED garlands is the connection diagram of the lamps: so that the backlight continues to function even after one of the light sources fails, the design provides for a parallel connection of the elements.

Based on this structure, other options appeared, for example, “rain”, “fringe” or “curtain”: vertically oriented branches extend from a horizontally located wire. The rest of the design repeats the basic version.

LED garland is used for various purposes: decorating houses and streets on holidays, organizing illumination of billboards, signs, illuminating facades and trees. Such lighting can be easily attached to windows and balconies. For each case, an outdoor LED garland of a certain type has been created.

For example, the “fringe” design is not suitable for decorating trees due to the risk of damage to wires, while the “mesh” design is more designed for installation on large areas (walls).

Where can I buy

You can buy decorations at numerous New Year's markets that appear before the holiday. But during the rush period, price tags increase significantly, so if you want to save money, buy products on sale after the holidays, because stores need to get rid of goods for which demand has sharply fallen, so as not to store them in warehouses for a whole year.

You can also save your budget if you buy Christmas goods in online stores in the summer, when discounts on them are consistently maintained at at least 30%. For example, Aliexpress offers good excellent conditions, where you will find 12,362 products.

In addition, pay attention to the large selection of garlands in the “All Tools” store.

How to choose the right product

First, decide where you will use the garland. For high humidity, choose solutions with a protection level of IP 44 or more. Consider the color of the cord - otherwise it will stand out strongly on the surface. If you are buying decor to decorate a spruce tree, the length of the garland itself should be three times greater than the height of the tree. You can choose a longer decoration.

Often the problem arises with connecting products, so make sure that the wire for connecting to the outlet is at least 1.5 m - this is for home use. When choosing outdoor garlands, it should be at least ten meters. It is also necessary to have a controller that allows you to switch modes and control effects.

It is not recommended to purchase cheap garlands from Chinese websites or from sellers who cannot provide documentation for their products. This is a question not only of the quality of the decor, but also of its safety for the home and people.