Christmas Lights - A Brief Look at the Different Types

!±8± Christmas Lights - A Brief Look at the Different Types

You know that you've had many different types of Christmas lights in your home.   However, you might not know some of the differences between these types of lights, until now. 

C7 and C9 Bulbs and Cords - Traditional Christmas Lights

Some of the most popular types of Christmas light sets are C7, C9 - they are the traditional Christmas lights that everyone remembers growing up.  Their retro look has been making a comeback over the last several Christmas seasons. They can be used either indoors or outdoors.  The 25 and 100 foot sets contain either replaceable or built-in fuses.   They are glass and filament (incandescent) construction and can break if you drop them.  (And I've noticed about a 30% loss rate when my 3 year old helped me install them 2 years ago around our flowerbed.)

Both C7 and C9 Christmas lights can be purchased pre-installed or separately for a wider choice of colors. The C7 and C9 Christmas bulbs are designed so that if one bulb fails, it only affects that bulb, and not any of the surrounding bulbs - even removal or failure. They come in a variety of colors, and the cords are usually  either green or white with a common spacing of 12 inches.

One of the nice features of C7 and C9 sets is that you can alternate colors or set them up in any pattern you choose.  You aren't limited to a pre-manufactured selection.  These Christmas light bulbs commonly come in transparent, opaque (painted) and flashing.  With the opaque bulbs, you can achieve pastel colors not available in any other style.

C7 bulbs are smaller, just over 2 inches, while C9 are about three inches long from base to tip of bulb.  Also, C9 lights have a larger diameter base than C7 lights.  Most of the time, C9 bulbs are a great choice  for outlining  buildings and other outdoor work.

Mini Lights

Christmas mini lights are smaller and spaced more closely than the C7 and C9 varieties. For the most part, mini lights bulbs are small and the sets come in wide variety of bulb colors, wire colors, and bulb spacings.  Their incredible versatility is their biggest asset.  You can use them for everything from Christmas to super-hero birthday party decorations.

Mini lights can be a little more trouble than C7 and C9 lights since they are wired in series. If one bulb is physically damaged or unplugged, its entire series or section of the set will not light. Their configuration, however, allows for a bulb to burn out and not break the circuit, it is only when a bulb is broken or comes out of the socket. 

LED Christmas Lights

These Christmas light newcomers are loved and revered by some and not a replacement for the tried and true for others.  They are based on Light Emitting Diode technology and are general housed in plastic casing which makes them durable for outdoor use. 

The main assets of LED Christmas lights are their low energy usage which saves customers money when the December electricity bill arrives, their low operating temperature and the fact that they last longer than traditional Christmas lights.  How much longer is dependent on the environmental conditions where they are used and how they are treated.  Nothing can protect against harsh wintry winds and errant squirrels.  But at least if you drop a set, you won't have to run for a dustpan.  As a rule of thumb, UL  and the LED manufacturers rate these sets for 90 days of outdoor seasonal use.

The final choice when selecting Christmas lights all too often just comes down to personal taste.  Knowing their strengths and weaknesses, take an opportunity to try something new this season!

Christmas Lights - A Brief Look at the Different Types

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When to Apply Lime to Your Lawn

!±8± When to Apply Lime to Your Lawn

Before you know if you need to apply lime to your lawn, you need to know the pH level of your soil. The pH level will indicate whether your lawn soil is too acidic or alkaline. The pH level range from 1.0 to 14.0. A value of 1.0 indicate extreme acidity and a value of 14.0 indicates extreme alkaline. A desirable or balanced pH level is between 6.5 and 7.0. If your lawn soil has a pH level in this range, your grasses will grow healthily and there is less chance of weeds growing. If the pH level of your lawn soil is less than 6.5, it is acidic and you have to add lime to bring it back to balance.

In general, when there is an increase in rainfall, the acidity of your soil will also increase. Other factors that can cause acidity include irrigating with water that has a high acid content and decomposition of organic matter.

You can purchase a soil test kit from your nearest nursery or garden center to test your lawn soil pH. However, the test result will only tell you if your soil is acidic or alkaline. You will not know how much lime is required to bring the soil back to balance. A better alternative is to send a soil sample to a soil test lab for testing. You can look up the yellow pages to find one that is located in your vicinity. Once the soil test is completed by the lab, you will receive a report with an accurate analysis of your soil chemistry and composition. There should be a section in the report indicating the amount of lime you need to apply to your lawn.

There are a few type of lime available in the market. The most common type being pulverized limestone, which is relatively inexpensive. Another type is dolomitic limestone, which contain magnesium. This is used when the soil test indicates that your soil is low in magnesium. The more expensive type of lime is pelletized limestone, which is cleaner and easier to apply. When applying time, you should use a rototiller to work the lime into the soil for best result.

You can apply lime any time during the growing season but not when the grasses are wilted or frost covered. Do not apply fertilizer immediately after a lime application. Give the lime about two weeks to improve the soil before applying fertilizer. If you have a new lawn, you should apply the lime before planting any seed.

A soil test should be done every three to four years. Apply lime to your soil only when the test result indicates such necessity. Too much lime will cause your soil pH to go off balance, which will lead to other lawn problems. As long as you are able to maintain a balanced pH level for your soil, your lawn will have a easier time to grow healthily.

When to Apply Lime to Your Lawn

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6 attempt 1" firework block (homemade)

!±8± 6 attempt 1" firework block (homemade)

i put together a small cake for new years. it was very good. the only things were the stars that fell to the ground were supposed to be for a peony shell ( i guess they were a little big). the stars were d1 glitter, c6, troy fish glitter, and a couple lady finger firecrackers thrown in. also the last shell was a failed attempt at a double break. rate 5 stars and sub. happy new years!

6 attempt 1" firework block (homemade)

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