Image from http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/energy/stories/trade-in-your-old-christmas-lights-for-a-reward

Have you strung up your Christmas lights? Kung hindi pa, here are a few reminders you need to keep in mind when buying lights.

1. Choose lights that have the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) mark

 Image from http://frcnorthvalkyries.weebly.com/news-feed/category/all/3

Kung may ICC sticker, ibig sabihin pumasa ito sa safety tests ng Department of Trade and Industry. The DTI regulates the sale of Christmas lights to protect consumers from substandard products. Kung substandard ang produkto, maaaring madali itong mag-overheat.

Tandaan lang din na ang ICC mark ay dapat hologram sticker, hindi ito printed, at may serial number.

2. Package should bear manufacturer details.

Image from https://pinecity.wordpress.com/2011/11/23/whats-with-the-warning-label-about-lead-on-christmas-lights/

Dapat nakalagay din sa packaging ang name, address, at trademark or brand ng manufacturer o kaya ng distributor kung ito ay imported. The voltage and wattage of the set of lights should also be indicated.

3. Buy LED

Mas safe at mas matipid gamitin ang LED or light-emitting-diode lights. It may cost more than ordinary lights but LED lights also last longer.

Other advantages of LED lights are: they are much cooler kaya hindi umiinit. They are made from epoxy lenses, not glass, kaya hindi madaling mabasag. They are also easier to install because up to 25 strings of LEDs can be connected end-to-end without overloading a wall socket.

4. Read instructions carefully.

Tignan kung puwede sa outdoors ang Christmas lights or pang-indoor lang. Carefully read the instructions before installing the product to prevent untoward incidents.

5. Inspect the lights.

If you will recycle your Christmas lights from last year, carefully inspect the plug and wires first. Tingnan muna kung may brittle or dented parts because the PVC material used to insulate the wiring deteriorate over time.