What's up with holiday lights? Here's the 1991 news - Christmas lights

Sunset, Dec, 1991

Another new shape encloses a midget set in clear or colored tubing. The tubing lends the midget lights a greater degree of durability.

A whole range of slide-on embellishments is available for midget strings. Most of them are sold with a light string, but a growing number of manufacturers are selling them separately--like little lit ornaments. You can find everything from Santas and candy canes to chilies and bacon and eggs.

One of the cleverest sets uses midget lights with colored translucent plastic covers that look like standard bulbs, giving the look of a standard set with many more bulbs possible per string.

THE NITTY-GRITTY

ON SAFETY

Always use UL-listed lights (sets with green labels are for indoor-use only; sets with red labels may also be used outdoors).

Check sets before using to be sure they weren't damaged in shipping or handling (or in handling since last season). Be sure the wire insulation hasn't been cut or scraped and that plugs and sockets aren't broken or cracked. Make sure no bulbs are loose, broken, or missing, especially on standard sets, since a set will still work with an open socket.

Never connect standard sets to a midget set, or a spotlight to any set: you'll overload the fuse. Never try to shorten, lengthen, or splice strings.

Unplug strings before replacing lights or fuses. Always use the specified fuse.

Don't test standard strings on carpeting or furniture; standard bulbs get hot enough to damage synthetic fibers or wood finishes.