Specialists recently finished hanging some magnificent fairy lights beneath the eaves of the new summer cottage in the yard; they look fantastic, but Fusion Lighting wanted to make sure they were acceptable for outside usage – which meant they had to be waterproof fairy lights.
If fairy lights have an IP65 rating for hanging on buildings and trees in the yard, or an IPX-8 rating if they will be permanently submerged in water, such as in a garden pond, they are waterproof for outdoor usage. If your fairy lights don’t have these ratings, it’s risky to use them outside.
Let’s delve deeper into the topic of fairy light waterproofing and learn about the safety ratings to look for when purchasing them…
Can You Use Fairy Lights Outside?
Fairy lights are simple ornamental lights that are intended for use outdoors. They look like string lights, however, they have considerably smaller bulbs and much closer bulb proximity than string lights.
As a result, the greatest analogy for fairy lights is that of Christmas lights. They come in a range of sizes and hues, but the most frequent are white and tiny bulbs.
Is it true that my fairy lights are waterproof?
The great majority of fairy lights are waterproof, having an IP65 rating for general protection and an IPX-8 rating if they will be submerged in water (more on these ratings below). Because your fairy lights will be used largely outside, they must be safeguarded in this manner to reduce the risk of harm.
When purchasing fairy lights, check the packing to see if they are protected in this way. If the lights are waterproof, they should be included in the package characteristics list.
Copper Fairy Lights: Are They Waterproof?
Copper fairy lights are a popular if more expensive, option that works well in a variety of settings. They’re popular because copper wiring can be twisted and sculpted into a variety of shapes. As a result, they’re simple to work with to create a variety of various ornamental patterns, especially for Christmas. Are they, however, waterproof? Here’s how you can figure it out.
Look for this four-digit code: IP65 on the packaging of any fairy lights. This marking indicates the amount of waterproofing on your lights and reduces the risk of shock. The final two digits tell you two distinct things. IP stands for Ingress Protection, and the last two digits tell you two separate things. The first (6) indicates that your lights are dust-proof and that no solid item may enter the structure and cause harm.
The string of lights can withstand low-pressure water, as shown by the second digit (5). Because it can withstand water from every angle, your lights should be protected from most sorts of rain, snow, and ice. This grade is applied to all wire-containing equipment, not only lights. Many audio speakers, for example, are rated IP65, which means they have the same level of protection as these fairy lights.
Conclusion:- In the end, if you’re buying fairy lights for usage outside, make sure they have an IP65 waterproofing certification and you’ll be OK for typical outside wet weather use.
If you wish to put your fairy lights in the water, such as a pond or a water feature, make sure they have an IPX-8 rating for continuous usage underwater to depths of over one meter.