C7 & C9 Christmas Light Bulbs
You've probably wrapped them around trees in your home or used them to outline the peaks of your roof, and if you haven't decorated with them yourself, you've surely seen them setting the scene in your favorite classic Christmas movies... C7 & C9 Christmas lights are everywhere during the holidays! These popular bulbs are a nostalgia evoking hallmark of Christmas past and, thanks in part to LED technology, a constantly evolving decoration we'll continue to see in Christmas future.
C7 Christmas light bulbs have E12 bases and are smaller than C9 bulbs. Because of their small size, C7 bulbs are popular for use indoors and on smaller residences like condos and townhomes. C7 bulbs can be wrapped around indoor trees and used to illuminate a festive mantel display. Outdoor uses include wrapping columns, railings and small bushes or outlining windows and door frames.
C9 Christmas light bulbs have E17 bases and are noticeably larger in size and thus produce brighter light, which is especially eye catching from structures that are very tall or far away, and perfect for large scale holiday displays. While C9 bulbs are regularly used to outline roofs and driveways, these bold lights have also become a popular alternative to globe patio lights for use during outdoor events and everyday backyard patio lighting.
C7 & C9 Light Strings & Spools
Some holiday lighting projects present unique obstacles - the most common being unusual space measurements or configurations. Trying to figure out how many light strings you need while attempting to fit a string length that is either too large or too small into your space can be frustrating. Ready for the good news? There is a better way! E12 & 17 light strings and spools can be cut to create completely custom lengths for virtually any size space. Choose light strings and spools from 15-1000 feet in green, black and white wire colors with several socket spacing options to fit your needs. If you're trying to complete a DIY lighting project, outfit a large scale holiday light display or simply create neat lines along your roof, there is no shortage of selection here!
Understanding C7 & C9 Christmas Light Sets
C7 & C9 Christmas Lights Glossary of Terms
Prelamped LEDs - Bulbs are hard wired into the socket and cannot be removed
Commercial Prelamped LEDs - Bulbs are hard wired into the socket and cannot be removed; strings have coaxial waterproof connectors.
Coaxial Connectors - Connectors that fasten together to create water tight connections between light strings
Prelamped Incandescent Lights - removable bulbs are pre-installed on the strings
Commercial Stringers with Bulbs (kits) - Bulbs are separate so the bulb/string combinations can be customized as needed
C7 & C9 Christmas Light Sets
Premium LEDs with Hard Wired Bulbs
While searching for C7 and C9 light strings it is very likely that you will come across the phrase "prelamped LEDs" - this means that the bulbs are not removable from the string. Why is this important? The one piece construction of prelamped LEDs eliminates the possibility of water leaking into the bulb or string which means less chance of damage due to moisture buildup. Prelamped LED strings are also very convenient because they come ready to hang out of the package which makes for faster installation. Additionally, this type of light set is a budget friendly option for anyone who wants to make the switch to LEDs and does not plan on changing their light colors or display for several years.
Commercial LEDs with Water Tight Connectors
Commercial grade prelamped LED strings have coaxial connectors which creates water tight end to end connections between runs. Commercial prelamped bulbs are also brighter than regular prelamped LEDs and provide peace of mind for light installations that need to stay up for longer periods of time.
Bulbs & Stringers / Commercial Sets with Removable Bulbs
Choosing bulbs and stringers separately or pre made kits which have the bulbs and coordinating stringer already matched allows you to create a customized light display and change out the bulbs as needed. For example, if you want to hang C7 or C9 Christmas lights on your roof in the winter and then illuminate your back patio with globe patio lights in the summer, you can use the same string and simply swap out the Christmas light bulbs for globe lights with the same bulb base size (usually E12 or E17). Although this method can be more expensive initially, the convenience of customization is worth the initial investment should you decide to switch up your light display.
Walkway Lights
These pre made kits are identical to commercial sets with removable bulbs, the only difference is that they come with a coordinating light stake which allows them to be placed in the ground and used as walkway or pathway lights!
C7 & C9 Christmas Light Clips & Accessories
You can hang C7 & C9 lights from a variety of surfaces with the help of Christmas light clips. One of the most popular options for hanging C7 & C9 lights is the All-In One clip which allows the bulbs to face multiple directions and can be used on both shingles and gutters. For step by step installation instructions and more information on which clip to use with your C7 & C9 bulbs, visit our Christmas Light Clips Guide!
Christmas Light Electrical Accessories
Electrical accessories including bulk wire (also called zip cord), zip sockets and zip plugs, are the building blocks you can fit together to create an incredible custom Christmas light display. Decide exactly how many lights you want to put up, pick the best light string and bulb colors for your project and custom tailor your entire light display to your specific needs.
