Why Buy Commercial Grade String Lights?

When you hear commercial grade, it is the actual stringer, not the light bulbs, that make string lights "commercial grade". Light bulb can be used interchangeably between standard and commercial grade stingers, as long as the base size of the bulb matches the socket size of the cord.

Benefits of Commercial Grade String Lights

Designed for long-term outdoor use, commercial grade string light cords provide the durability to withstand year-round weather conditions. Typically used for permanent outdoor installations, commercial grade is by far the most popular, and smartest, choice

Let's look at the key features that set commercial grade string lights apart:

1.Commercial grade cords have weatherproof sockets which are formulated PVC that form a tight seal around the bulb to prevent the entrance of water and moisture.

2.The heavy duty wire in our commercial string lights provides better gauge wiring. The gauge of a wire (AWG) is the thickness — the lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire; and the thicker the wire, the more amps you can typically run. Our commercial medium base cords are typically 14 gauge, and our commercial C9 and commercial C7 base cords are typically 16 gauge (standard grade is typically 18 gauge).

3.With lower gauge wiring, longer runs are allowed for your installation. As a point of comparison, our 100-foot commercial C9 cords have a max run of 1200 watts, whereas the standard 100-foot C9 cords has a max run of 840 watts. Be sure to review each cord and bulb product specs to make sure you don't exceed the max run of our decorative string lights.

Features for Standard Grade String Lights

Our standard grade stringers still have a time and a place in the world of decorative string lights. Not every application calls for the heavier outdoor stringers

Below are some key points when deciding if our globe patio lights are perfect for your space:

1.Rated for outdoor use, our standard grade cords can still be safely used outdoors. They can be left up year round, but typically do not last as many years as our commercial grade options.

2.A great option for indoor use, when you want to add accent lighting to a three-season room, the game room, a kid's room, or during the holidays on larger Christmas trees when mixed with mini lights.

3.Perfect for temporary use, our standard grade is a great choice for short-term event lighting for backyard parties, wedding receptions, and more!

4.The lower price point is attractive to many people when they are looking for a quick and easy solution for patio and event lighting, as well as smaller, less permanent applications.

Shopping Options for Commercial Grade String Lights

Generally speaking, our Commercial Medium cords are the most popular for permanent outdoor lighting that are larger jobs with multiple lengths. Commercial C9 cords are more popular for smaller spaces since it is lighter weight and smaller size bulbs.

Below outlines some of the key options available for each:

MEDIUM BASE, COMMERCIAL GRADE CORDS

Commercial Medium String Light Cords are made from 14 gauge round, insulated wire and have a standard household socket size (E27/E26) with 24" spacing between sockets. It is offered in two styles: suspended or inline socket. Suspended sockets drop down from the wire and dangle, while regular sockets are mounted on the wire.

Two popular bulbs paired with this cord are the LED S14 Vintage Bulb , but you can use any E26 E27 incandescent or LED bulb.

Custom length cords are also available (black only), or you can opt to cut the cords to your desired length.

E17 BASE, COMMERCIAL GRADE

Commercial E17 strings are made from 16-gauge wire, with socket sizes of the smaller E17, E14. Only inline sockets are available.
Commonly used bulbs are 1-watt G40 globe bulbs, or more "decorative" vintage bulbs are available.
Custom lengths (black only) are also available if a specific length of E17 cord is required for your backyard or patio.

E12 BASE, COMMERCIAL GRADE

Commercial C7 String Light Cords are made from 16 gauge wire and has our smallest C7 (E12) socket size with 12" spacing between sockets. Only inline sockets is an option.

The smaller, energy efficnet LED G40 Vintage Bulbs are popular, but you can use any C7-base incandescent or LED bulb.

The cord is offered in black in 25' or 330' bulk reel lengths. Black is the only color available at this time.

BULK REELS

Commercial grade bulk reels are available in all three socket sizes: Medium, C9 and C7. They are 330' in length, and are perfect for for larger, do-it-yourself projects. There is no plug with the bulk reel string light cords, as they are typically used for hard-wired, permanent installations.