Nice work! We are putting up our lights too. I like the bulbs on the string lights to be regularly spaced and oriented. One can buy plastic clips that latch onto roof gutters or shingles to hold the cone bulbs in a fixed orientation and spacing
Unfortunately, I can only hang my lights around the facade made of plaster (stipple), brick and wood. I don't want to tarnish the facade with hooks or nails and want a solution that can be reattached each holiday season without effort. I tried positioning the bulbs with removable clay/putty, hot glue but none of these temporary adhesives worked well.
The solution I settled on involves driving (permanent but relatively inconspicuous) threaded inserts into the facade at wide spanned intervals - tee-nut inserts [1] for wood and molly bolts for stipple/plaster surfaces [2]. I ordered aluminum bars ($1 per foot on Grainger) that will screw into these inserts during the season. These bars will let me use shingle clips to hold the light bulbs in the desired fixed span and orientation. For Halloween, I can attach led light strips to the bars to give more custom lighting effects.
We tried that with some lights we in our bushes thinking it'd be fine to just keep them off, they're not even visible unless you were on our porch with your nose against the bushes looking for them. HOA ended up fining us anyways, nosy fucks.
The clear plastic in which they are housed (think rope light) will turn yellow and brittle after a season of sun. Places like Florida, might have to replace due to sun degradation.
As an added bonus, many have an array of color options, which makes it easy to change the lights to suit Halloween, Easter, Independence Day, or any other holiday you want your house to observe.
While I share an affinity for magnets and their utility, I too was hoping for more zazz like a crossbow and/or Batman type over-engineering. Anything to keep me off a ladder is a safety value-add in my book.
In North Texas a guy who broke his leg went in for routine surgery to fix him up, his oxygen dropped and he is now brain dead and was the sole provider for his aging Mother - malpractice suit awarded but she is caring for him the rest of their days because "he is my everything" (loose translation from Spanish).
The two conductors in the wire are insulated separately and sort of lightly attached so it's probably OK if done carefully.
If this was me, I would've threaded the lights through the big triangle piece directly and attached with zip ties, instead of modifying the cord.
> Also, the comment at the end to use "hooks" beats the whole point of using magnets.
Installing a nondescript hook up there would be a one-time use of a ladder which could just be borrowed or rented from somewhere. Future decorations can be done with just the extending pole and magnetic attachment.
Haha, code. IIRC, Christmas lights have their own exception in the NEC, as the things are wildly unsafe by general NEC standards. For example, nothing stops you from plugging a space heater into the outlet at the end of a string. But relax, it's Christmas!
Having said that, OP's lights are built a bit more solid because they look like the 120V parallel-wired style, rather than the series wired tiny lights. I'd be completely comfortable splitting the two conductors down the middle like that. That's exactly what you do to terminate a wire, although doing it in the middle of a cable is trickier because you need to be more accurate. Start the split with a sharp knife at one point, then you should be able to just pull the conductors apart.
For the general idea, I love it and it has me wondering if my gutters are steel. Although part of me wants to permanently hang WS2812 strips and be decorated for every holiday.
The conductors appear to be separately insulated, so this poses no risk. However, it's generally a safe bet that modifying devices or equipment is a no-go. These lights were probably reviewed by a "listing" agency (e.g. Underwriters Laboratories) that's accepted/required by the municipality having jurisdiction and modifying the device invalidates that listing.
Splitting the wire is safe if you’re careful but no it’s not code lol. And it’s just one hook at the peak of the roof but it might be possible w/o it. I didn’t need any hooks.
[+] [-] brudgers|3 years ago|reply
In the US, there is a substantial probability the flashing is non-magnetic aluminum.
So test first.
[+] [-] PragmaticPulp|3 years ago|reply
It’s old houses that might have steel.
If you have a new house, I guarantee this won’t work. If you have an old house it’s worth checking, though.
[+] [-] dskhatri|3 years ago|reply
Unfortunately, I can only hang my lights around the facade made of plaster (stipple), brick and wood. I don't want to tarnish the facade with hooks or nails and want a solution that can be reattached each holiday season without effort. I tried positioning the bulbs with removable clay/putty, hot glue but none of these temporary adhesives worked well.
The solution I settled on involves driving (permanent but relatively inconspicuous) threaded inserts into the facade at wide spanned intervals - tee-nut inserts [1] for wood and molly bolts for stipple/plaster surfaces [2]. I ordered aluminum bars ($1 per foot on Grainger) that will screw into these inserts during the season. These bars will let me use shingle clips to hold the light bulbs in the desired fixed span and orientation. For Halloween, I can attach led light strips to the bars to give more custom lighting effects.
[1] https://www.mcmaster.com/tee-nut-inserts/ [2] https://www.mcmaster.com/molly-bolts/
[+] [-] bombcar|3 years ago|reply
Install those permanently and when they’re not on they’re basically invisible.
[+] [-] Zircom|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] factsarelolz|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kiawe_fire|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ThrowawayTestr|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] silisili|3 years ago|reply
The solar type seem to only last a year or two, but really nice for wrapping far away bushes and such.
[+] [-] Kaibeezy|3 years ago|reply
Well, looks like both permanent and seasonal professional installs are happening.
https://tulsaworld.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/merry-and-...
[+] [-] samwillis|3 years ago|reply
There is a product idea there, both full on magnetic light sets. But also simpler magnetic clips for use on any lights.
[+] [-] dskhatri|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] chrisbrandow|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] entropicgravity|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kylehotchkiss|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rufus_foreman|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] WallabyEV|3 years ago|reply
In North Texas a guy who broke his leg went in for routine surgery to fix him up, his oxygen dropped and he is now brain dead and was the sole provider for his aging Mother - malpractice suit awarded but she is caring for him the rest of their days because "he is my everything" (loose translation from Spanish).
[+] [-] senthil_rajasek|3 years ago|reply
Is this wiring upto code in the U.S?
Also, the comment at the end to use "hooks" beats the whole point of using magnets.
[+] [-] jffry|3 years ago|reply
If this was me, I would've threaded the lights through the big triangle piece directly and attached with zip ties, instead of modifying the cord.
> Also, the comment at the end to use "hooks" beats the whole point of using magnets.
Installing a nondescript hook up there would be a one-time use of a ladder which could just be borrowed or rented from somewhere. Future decorations can be done with just the extending pole and magnetic attachment.
[+] [-] mindslight|3 years ago|reply
Having said that, OP's lights are built a bit more solid because they look like the 120V parallel-wired style, rather than the series wired tiny lights. I'd be completely comfortable splitting the two conductors down the middle like that. That's exactly what you do to terminate a wire, although doing it in the middle of a cable is trickier because you need to be more accurate. Start the split with a sharp knife at one point, then you should be able to just pull the conductors apart.
For the general idea, I love it and it has me wondering if my gutters are steel. Although part of me wants to permanently hang WS2812 strips and be decorated for every holiday.
[+] [-] pulvinar|3 years ago|reply
Of course this all will increase pole-related accidents...
[+] [-] AnotherGoodName|3 years ago|reply
I really don't get the lack of calling this out. I'm ok with a little fudging with outdoor lights but this here doesn't make sense.
[+] [-] dionidium|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dsfyu404ed|3 years ago|reply
Don't worry. The internet virtue point demerits from playing with electricity are cancelled out by the ones you earn from avoiding ladder usage.
[+] [-] martyvis|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mtgentry|3 years ago|reply