Socket Line or Bulk Light Line is going to be one of your most used products. Bulk Light Line is mainly used for decorating residential roof lines. There are several different things to look for when purchasing Bulk Light Line. Here are a few;
Socket Size
The two most popular sockets sizes utilized on commercial installations are C7 and C9. Whatever socket size you decide to go with is going to dictate what size bulbs you are buying. C9 is by far the most popular line used in the industry.
SPT Rating
SPT (Stranded, Parallel, Thermoplastic) comes in two different ratings, SPT-1 and SPT-2. Essentially, the only difference between the two is SPT-2 has a thicker coating on it. The copper inside is exactly the same. When purchasing Light line and your X-Wire, you are going to want to keep it consistent and stick to one or the other. Some people believe that SPT-2 works better in colder environments but this is not something that has been proven. There have been many installers in cold weather that use SPT-1 and have had no issues. SPT-1 is defiantly easier when it comes to installing plugs. If your just starting out, our recommendation is to go with SPT-1 across the board. Its cheaper and easier to work with.
12″ vs 15″
Bulb spacing on Bulk Light Line is something you want to stay consistent on. The two most popular spacings are 12″ and 15″. You can find light line that has other spacings from 4″ all the way to 36″ and more. Just keep in mind, the closer the spacing, the more bulbs you will need to purchase. When installed on a roof line, it is very difficult to tell the difference between a house that has 12″ and one that has 15″. So our recommendations is to go with 15″ spacing when it comes to Bulk Light Line. The below shows you where your cost savings will come into play when purchasing the two.
1000′ spool, 12″ spacing-1000 bulbs
1000′ spool, 15″ spacing-800 bulbs
As you can see, the savings of having to purchase 200 less bulbs adds up quickly.
Length
Bulk spools can be purchased in different lengths. The two most common lengths are 500′ and 1000′ spools. Either will work to get the job done.
Magnetic Lights
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When it comes to game changes, this is another one that tops the list. Magnetic Lights have revolutionized the industry and made this type of install a breeze. Now before you get to excited, they only work on metal surfaces and most residential properties do not have metal gutters nor metal facia. If you are one of the lucky ones, we are glad we helped.
These magnetic strands are durable and tested up to 70 miles per hour. They will stick to any metal surface and give you the confidence that they will still be securely fastened when you go to take them down.
They do make magnetic clips you can attach to regular C9 socket line but the man hours of installing them and wear and tear on the clips makes these magnetic lights a no brainer.
X-Wire
X-Wire is a game changer for Christmas Light Installers. X-wire will be used to create your own custom extension cords. When purchasing X-Wire, you will want to purchase the same SPT rating that you did for your Spools. For x-wire and spools to work, you will also be purchasing males and females that you will be splicing on to each. These also come in SPT-1 and SPT-2. It is very hard to tell the two apart so this is why it is important to keep it consistent when purchasing.
X-wire can be purchased in 250′, 500′ and 1000′ lengths. You will be using a lot of this product so we recommend buying plenty of is as well as plenty of males and females. We recommend you buy it in 250′ or 500′ lengths. These two are a lot more manageable to work with and not quite as heavy as the 1000′ spool. Beware, if the plastic breaks off the end of the spool, you will have a mess on your hands so make sure you and your installers are careful not to do this.