What is Rope Lighting?

Rope lights have grown in popularity in recent years offering consumers more ways to decorate and illuminate indoor and outdoor spaces.

Made from flexible, transparent cable loaded with tiny bulbs, these ropes can easily be attached to homes, decks and patios for outdoor delineation. With countless uses outdoors, rope lights can also provide safety in hard to see areas such as poorly lit staircases. For decoration colorful rope lights add a festive element and companion nicely with other outdoor lighting fixtures.

And for indoor use rope lights can be attached to walls or set on top of molding details to provide interest and ambiance at night.

How are they Sold

Rope lights are sold in a variety of lengths. You can also buy kits that enable you to add length and customize the rope size to fit your needs. Ropes come in a variety of colors, but the most popular colors by far are: clear, white, blue and red.

To save energy LED rope lights are a great choice. LED also has the advantage (over incandescent) of lasting longer and providing brighter light. However, there are, also soft white LED rope lights sold – and these illuminate with much less intensity.

If you buy a rope light, say a 12 foot length, it should include both mounting clips and instructions. Rope lights are very easy to string up and with included mounting clips nail easily into wooden surfaces.

Safety

While rope lighting is safe over-all, consumers should be aware of the Rope Light way to install rope lights along with the basic do’s and don’t to prevent a fire hazard. Common sense is a good way to go, but it is also important to follow the manufacturers’ instructions. Here are some safely tips:

1. Avoid overheating a rope light, do not enclosed, cover, or overlap when installed.
2. Keep rope lights away from all heat sources including: fireplaces, stoves, chimneys, heaters and wood stoves.
3. Avoid overload by not exceeding the maximum length and maximum wattage.
4. For outdoor use, only buy rope lights labeled: “outdoor” or “indoor/outdoor” use.
5. Outdoor rope lights need to be plugged into a receptacle protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter: (a GFI receptacle).
6. Don’t use a rope light that is cracked, split or damaged.