Timers, Takedown and Storage

Photocell timers

A photocell timer senses daylight. It turns the lights on at dusk and, depending on the model, off after a set number of hours or at dawn. Because it follows actual sunset, it does not need resetting as days shorten through December. Photocell timers are $11.00 each, or $43.00 for a 4-pack case.

Where to put the timer

• Plug it directly into the GFCI-protected outdoor outlet, then plug the display's first jumper into the timer.
• Position the photocell sensor where it sees open sky and is not lit by a porch light, streetlight or the display itself. A sensor that sees artificial light at night can switch the display off.
• Keep the timer's connection pointing down and off the ground so water drains away.
• Check the timer's rating. It must handle the load of everything plugged into it.
• If the display is split across circuits, each circuit's feed needs its own timer.

Mid-season checks

A quick walk-around once a week catches problems before they grow: a bulb knocked loose by wind, a clip that popped off, a connection sitting in water after rain. Replacement parts worth keeping on hand are a few spare bulbs, a pack of replacement sockets, and a handful of male and female plugs.

Takedown, step by step

1. Unplug at the outlet

   Start by disconnecting power at the outlet and removing the timer. Never take down live wire.

2. Photograph the display

   Take a photo of each elevation before anything comes down. It is a record of where each run went.

3. Remove runs in reverse

   Start with the last run in each chain and work back toward the power end. Unhook clips one at a time; do not pull the run off the gutter.

4. Leave bulbs and clips on

   If the run will go back on the same house, leave bulbs and clips in place. It saves the most time next season.

5. Coil and tag

   Coil each run loosely, female end first so the male end is on the outside. Confirm the tag shows the house, the run number and the circuit.

6. Store dry and uncrushed

   Pack runs in labeled bins by house or elevation, in a dry place. Keep heavy items off the top so sockets and bulbs are not crushed.

A labeling system that works

A tag on each run turns next year into a repeat instead of a rebuild. Write three things on every tag:

Keep the run map with the bins, or photograph it and store it with the house photos. Next season, hang runs in order and the display goes up in the same shape without measuring again.

Spooling long runs

Long runs coil more neatly onto an empty reel or a sturdy piece of cardboard than into loose loops. Wind with even tension, not too tight, since sharp bends stress the wire at the sockets. Tape the end so it does not unwind.

Storage

• Store in bins, not bags: bins protect bulbs from being crushed.
• Keep bins somewhere dry. Moisture in storage corrodes contacts.
• Store bulbs in their sockets for runs that return to the same house, or loose in a labeled container for runs being reused elsewhere.
• Keep plugs, clips and bulbs as separate inventory so you know what to reorder before next season.

Questions installers ask

Why does my photocell timer keep the lights off?

The sensor is probably seeing a porch light, streetlight or the display itself. Move the sensor so it only sees natural sky.

Should I leave the bulbs in the sockets during storage?

For a run going back on the same house, yes. It saves time next season. Store the runs in bins so bulbs are not crushed.

When should lights come down?

Pick a dry day. Wet shingles and gutters make roof and ladder work more dangerous, so avoid rain, ice and wind.