Are C9 Christmas lights the brightest?

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Related posts:
Related posts:
What type of Christmas lights are the brightest?
What type of outdoor Christmas lights are brightest?
Which lights are brighter C7 or C9?
Are C7 or C9 Christmas lights better?

Top positive review

4.0 out of 5 starsTough, expensive, semi-random twinkle, the closest I've found to the old-timey C9 twinkle bulbs.

Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2020

For a long time I've been looking for LED Christmas lights that come as close as possible to the twinkling C9 bulbs of my youth (late 1960's - 1970's.) While these are not without flaws, they are the closest I've found yet.

I never liked the frosted bulbs as a kid, so I chose the faceted bulbs over the opaque bulbs because they are closer to the transparent tinted bulbs that I prefer (YMMV.)

The biggest flaw (IMHO) is that they are not as random as twinkling incandescent bulbs. Each bulb is a steady one second on, one second off. This is especially noticeable (and annoying) when you first plug them in, because they will all be flashing on and off simultaneously.

Luckily, this phase doesn't last too long. Random differences in manufacturing mean that the exact period of each bulb differs slightly from the others. After you plug them in the flash sequences start to drift out of sync and by the time 2-4 minutes have passed they appear fairly random if you don't look at any two bulbs closely for long enough to watch them drift in and out of sync.

This is noticeable in the video I took. When I first plugged in the strands the camera was constantly adjusting the exposure as the light level increased and decreased. As the video progresses, the average light level evens out, and the camera adjusts exposure less and less. This is especially noticeable if you look at the floor as the video progresses.

If the strand that the lights screw into looks familiar, it should. It is identical to the strands that the old-timey C9 bulbs screwed into. In fact, if you have a few of the old strands laying around you should be able to save a little money by just buying the bulbs.

The bulbs themselves seem pretty rock solid. There are YouTube videos of people repeatedly dropping the bulbs off from a two story house onto concrete, and the bulb survives 3-4 drops before it stops working.

One thing these bulbs are not is cheap. One 25ft strand of 25ft C9 bulbs is about the same price as a 100ft strand of mid-range C7 LED Christmas lights. The Opticore seem a lot more durable, and the screw-in base seems a lot more resilient than the plug-in mini or C7 lights, so I'm hoping that the Opticore will be cheaper in the long run (and much better looking, especially with the random-ish twinkle!)

Remind me to update my review in a year or two when I have more info about longevity. 😊

Hello,

I am looking at this style of bulb – yellow LED C9 Twinkle bulb – in the colors of Red, Blue, Green, Purple and Yellow.

Could you tell me if their brightness from a side view of the bulb is the same as a regular incandescent C9 light bulb? I am trying to match OR better the brightness of my current display with these bulbs.

Thanks in advance for your help, Dean S.

Dean,

You’ve asked a great question. LED bulbs just don’t have the same ‘light throw’ as traditional lights.

They won’t match or beat the brightness of traditional incandescent 7-watt C9 bulbs.

They’ll last longer if you connect your strands to a surge protector, won’t break during installation and will use 90% less electricity.

The colors are also rich and saturated and resistant to fading because the color is in the polycarbonate material and not a paint.

But to get maximum brightness, incandescent is still the stronger choice.

Hope that helps as you are planning your Christmas display for your upcoming season.

Marcia from Ohio asks:

I am looking to purchase C9 LED lights for my house to replace icicle lights that are too much maintenance. I want clear white (not the blue tint) with white wire to line the front of my house. Is it better to get 25 or 50 ft lengths? How many can be plugged together and what product numbers should I look up. It becomes overwhelming with all the choices.

That’s a good question. Here was our answer:

You have two main choices when designing your Christmas lights display with LED C9 lighting.

Each way has it’s pros and cons. (As I start this response, I realize this would make a great topic for a helpful video… thank you for your question!)

The color of white bulb you are interested in is “Warm White”. Our bulbs are actually “Sun Warm White” which is one shade warmer than a more neutral yellow-white. It’s the most “warm” you can get in the industry at this time.

It’s better not to mix bulbs from different suppliers and keep in mind that LED bulbs will change color as they burn in so if you order a few extra they won’t be the EXACT same color as bulbs that have been through a season but more than likely if you were to look at them, only you would be able to tell – if at all. (I hope that makes sense.)

Here are those two approaches:

1. LED Bulbs and Cords – purchased separately

Take a look at the cords: C9 Cords

To clarify one of the specifications, SPT-1 is for normal use, SPT-2 has thicker insulation and is targeted for retail/commercial customers.

Get the length of cord that works best for your project. The 25 foot cords are a smaller gauge wiring so if possible, stick with 50 and 100 footers depending on how much coverage you need. The 50 and 100-foot cords come with a single male plug and most people run them like “T” from an extension cord with a splitter.

Don’t run more than 250 feet of the 50 or 100 foot 18 AWG wire in a single run – even if you use LED bulbs. That’s the maximum light line length.

Note, the standard spacing on the 25, 50 and 100-foot cords is 12 inches. If you want closer or wider spacing, you’ll have to purchase and cut to fit one of our 1000-foot spools.

Bulbs: C9 LED Bulbs

You can choose between faceted, opaque and smooth. Unless you plan to animate your lights, you won’t need to choose dimmable. These bulbs have 5 LEDs to the bulb.

Purchase a plug to terminate the end of the cord if you cut it to fit.

See a white gilbert plug here.

Advantages of this setup with separate bulbs and cords:

Slightly brighter bulbs
Ability to customize lengths to your home
If a squirrel eats your cord, it can be repaired by an electrician or replaced and the bulbs can be moved to the new cord
You can use your own C9 cord if you have them
You can alternate and change colors of bulbs – possibly providing decorating options for future evens and Holidays other than Christmas
You can use any of the installation hardware tailored for C7 or C9 stringer wire (https://www.christmas-light-source.com/Christmas-Light-Clips-and-Hooks_c_128.html)

Things to consider:

You have to mess with installing a plug if you cut the end. (Not much trouble, you just lay the cord in the top of the gilbert plug and slide the top shut – instant installation.)
Maximum of 250 feet of 18 AWG wire in any one run
50 and 100-ft cords come with just one plug – so if you want to run them end to end you’ll have to have a female plug installed on the end of your cord. Tthis is standard since these cords were originally developed for incandescent bulbs and the industry wanted to discourage long runs of bulbs that would exceed the specifications of the cord).

2. Pre-wired Sets

Here is our pre-wired C9 warm white LED Christmas light string with unibody construction:

https://www.christmas-light-source.com/c9-warm-white-led-christmas-lights

(These should be back in stock within a couple of weeks or so.)

Advantages:

You can run 87 sets of these lights end to end – that’s over 2100 feet – in a single series run (and plug them into one outlet)
Easier installation since you don’t have to run many extension cords – if any
More water resistance due to sealed construction
More economical per LED
Tighter 8 inch spacing
Perfect for applications where you are going to run a LOT of lights
Can be used with animation

Things to consider:

If a squirrel eats through the wiring, you have to replace the entire set
2 LEDs to the bulb
If a bulb fails, you have to replace the entire set
There is just one installation clip tailored for LED sets https://www.christmas-light-source.com/LED-All-In-One-Clips-Plus-500-clips_p_1338.html

Keep in mind that LED light bulbs used to outline a roofline do not have exactly the same look as traditional C9 incandescent bulbs and cords but have a look all their own.

Let me know if you have any questions. I hope my response made things more clear for you.

(It is a complicated topic.)

Be sure to consult with a master electrician on any project where cords are modified or your have questions about maximum run length or your home’s electrical service.

Save this for later – PIN IT!

What type of Christmas lights are the brightest?

LED bulbs produce a brighter more vivid light than traditional incandescent bulbs. The light output is stunning and one of the most complimented aspects of LED lights in customer reviews!

What type of outdoor Christmas lights are brightest?

Conical 5mm Wide-Angle LEDs are the most durable and brightest Christmas lights available. Almost every professional Christmas light installer uses conical LEDs for their displays. Conical LEDs are waterproof and snowproof because the LED is injected molded into the plastic cordage.

Which lights are brighter C7 or C9?

C9 light wattage can be up to twice as powerful as C7 lights. Due to their power, they are commonly used for commercial purposes, and really illuminate roofing and larger parts of your landscaping. We shoot for quality, and that's why we use C9 lights to light your home brighter than any other house on the block!

Are C7 or C9 Christmas lights better?

The Main Difference: Size! C7 Bulbs are much smaller than the larger C9 Bulb. C-9's are longer, wider, and fit into a bigger socket. As you can see from the photographs above, the C7 Bulb is usually 2-1/8in in length and 7/8in in width. In comparison, the C9 Bulb measures 2-7/8in in length and 1-1/8in in width.