I want to add string lights for nighttime play but struggling to find a good quality commercial-grade source…
Does anyone have a brand they recommend? Due to how I plan to string them (it will be a pain in the butt to get back down) I was hoping to use a heavy duty string light like you see at restaurants.
Many heavy duty ones are tied to cable and not actually self supported, especially in windy areas.
lefthandedbeast
Have you considering warm white lights to wrap around the base of the trees? ( it will be at level of the play park) and buy solar hanging lanterns. Solar ground lighting is another option you can buy various sizes and it will provide a lot of lighting….. just accent with the string lighting and lanterns. I can’t remember where I was was someone used a reflecting light in a big tree it looked like sparkling diamonds stones in the tree and it was not Christmas but could very well be Christmas lights.
Quiet-Bridge2553
Get the Feit 48′ LED String Lights from Costco.. They have survived 6 years in AZ. If they can handle that heat and brutal sun, they can handle anything.
According-Taro4835
If you want true commercial grade look for brands like Novelty Lights or 1000Bulbs where you can buy suspended socket stringers cut to length, though honestly the heavy-duty Feit Electric sets from Costco are surprisingly tough for residential jobs and easier to return if a socket fails. The biggest mistake people make with these isn’t the brand, it’s the installation. You cannot hang commercial grade lights by the electrical cord itself. They are too heavy. You need to run a stainless steel aircraft cable (guide wire) first and zip-tie the lights to that. If you try to tension the copper wire over a span that wide it will stretch and short out within a year.
Since this is directly over a play structure you absolutely need to stick with shatterproof plastic LED bulbs rather than glass incandescents. One stray branch or a heavy windstorm knocking a glass bulb onto that slide is a nightmare waiting to happen. Also be careful with your anchor points on those trees. Don’t wrap wire around the trunk or you will girdle and kill the tree eventually. Use proper stainless lag hooks with turnbuckles to keep the line taut so it doesn’t sag into the swing path.
Awwfooshnickins
FWIW, festoon lighting is meant to be temporary. Not available as commercial or rated for permanent installation, because it can’t be UL listed for the application. Don’t get caught by homeowners insurance with this on your name. Signed, elechicken.
5 Comments
Many heavy duty ones are tied to cable and not actually self supported, especially in windy areas.
Have you considering warm white lights to wrap around the base of the trees? ( it will be at level of the play park) and buy solar hanging lanterns. Solar ground lighting is another option you can buy various sizes and it will provide a lot of lighting….. just accent with the string lighting and lanterns. I can’t remember where I was was someone used a reflecting light in a big tree it looked like sparkling diamonds stones in the tree and it was not Christmas but could very well be Christmas lights.
Get the Feit 48′ LED String Lights from Costco.. They have survived 6 years in AZ. If they can handle that heat and brutal sun, they can handle anything.
If you want true commercial grade look for brands like Novelty Lights or 1000Bulbs where you can buy suspended socket stringers cut to length, though honestly the heavy-duty Feit Electric sets from Costco are surprisingly tough for residential jobs and easier to return if a socket fails. The biggest mistake people make with these isn’t the brand, it’s the installation. You cannot hang commercial grade lights by the electrical cord itself. They are too heavy. You need to run a stainless steel aircraft cable (guide wire) first and zip-tie the lights to that. If you try to tension the copper wire over a span that wide it will stretch and short out within a year.
Since this is directly over a play structure you absolutely need to stick with shatterproof plastic LED bulbs rather than glass incandescents. One stray branch or a heavy windstorm knocking a glass bulb onto that slide is a nightmare waiting to happen. Also be careful with your anchor points on those trees. Don’t wrap wire around the trunk or you will girdle and kill the tree eventually. Use proper stainless lag hooks with turnbuckles to keep the line taut so it doesn’t sag into the swing path.
FWIW, festoon lighting is meant to be temporary. Not available as commercial or rated for permanent installation, because it can’t be UL listed for the application. Don’t get caught by homeowners insurance with this on your name. Signed, elechicken.