C9 (E17) Christmas Light Cords and Spools

Questions to ask when Selecting C9 Cords

• How much length do I need for full coverage?
• What color wire will be most attractive? (Think white for snow or along light-colored flat rooflines and green in shrubs and trees.)
• How far apart do my lights need to be. (Remember, you can double up or offset a 25 or 100 foot cord with 12 inch spacing to get 6" spacing.)
• How many total lights do I need?
• What is the rating for my outlets?
• Do I want cords that are ready to go or do I need a custom spool?

After you have a good handle on these questions, you should be able to pick the stringer that will work best for your project. If you have questions about assembling the custom spools or your outlets, please consult an electrician.

Whether you are starting from scratch, replacing your worn cords or adding to an existing system, we offer a wide variety of C9 cords to choose from.

Hereā€™s a list of your options to consider as you are making a purchase:

• Wire color - options include green, white, brown and black
• Stringer length - 25, 50, 100 or 1000 foot lengths
• Socket Spacing - choose from 4 to 36 inches between sockets with most commonly used cords constructed with 12 inch standard spacing
• SPT-1 or SPT-2 - This is a measure of insulation thickness. SPT-1 has been a favorite of professional installers for years and SPT-2 is tailored to heavier duty applications.

Here are questions frequently asked about C9 cords:

Do the cords come with plugs?

The 25-foot cords come with male and female plug ends and can be connected with other 25-foot cords up to two (2) in series. The 50 and 100-foot cords come with a single male plug. We suggest you connect them from a centrally installed splitter in a T formation. The 1000-foot spools do not come with plugs but we do carry male and female gilbert plugs in our installation hardware category.

Can these cords be cut?

Yes, these cords are all constructed in parallel so unlike string lights, they can be cut to fit your project. We suggest you seek the services of an electrician and properly terminate all ends with a plug end or similar option.

Can I use these cords outside?

These cords are rated for indoor and outdoor use.

Common Sense Alert: Important Note regarding 1000 foot spools: You cannot hook up all 1000 feet in a continuous run of lights but must cut it into at least 4 sections of 250 feet or less - less for higher wattage incandescent bulbs. Do not exceed 250 feet of 18 AWG wire in a single circuit no matter the kind of bulb you are using and do not exceed 1000 Watts per common household breaker. Please consult with a Master Electrician as you design and install your project.