Great Christmas decorations can turn a bare tree into one worthy of the holiday spirit, especially when you have all these cool electronic gadgets to make the tree even more attractive. A few lights, animated decorations and merry jingles can indeed make the difference.

These electronic decorations, however, need to be treated with respect. The power drawn from an electric outlet is not to be taken for granted, since it can shock an unwitting victim or even set the tree alight if you're not careful.

So without further ado, here are some of the top tips you need to keep in mind when setting your tree's electronic Christmas decorations:

Read the label of the decorations

You would not believe how many people simply rip open the packaging of their electronic decorations and set them up with nary a second thought. Some decorations are intended only for outdoor use and some decorations are not even intended to be placed on trees at all. For example, certain lights generate enough heat that they could quickly dry out the needles of a pine tree or even set them ablaze under the right conditions. Remember to read the label before you do anything else with the decorations you have at hand.

Inspect the wiring and the sockets

Once you've taken out the electronic device from its packaging , the first thing you need to do is inspect the wires and sockets. Bare wires or loose connections pose both a fire and shock hazard and is a common issue with older devices that have been stored for quite some time. The cover being scraped off by friction or a rodent nibbling at parts are two situations where an electronic decoration's connections could be damaged, so always inspect the wiring and sockets before plugging the device in.

"Water" your tree properly

Christmas trees stay greener much longer when the trunk is submerged in water, but spraying the needles or branches with water will not do anything except create a shock hazard. Make sure the lower section of the trunk is the only thing exposed to water and is far away from any electrical connections. Another advantage of watering your tree properly is that its needles become more resistant to heat; making them less likely to catch fire.

Position the tree away from heat sources

A heater or fireplace can suck the moisture out of a Christmas tree; greatly increasing the chances that it catches fire. Another reason to keep your tree away from heat sources is to minimize the risk of electronic Christmas decorations melting or getting damaged by heat. The smaller components of these devices, like circuit boards or thin plastic, could be compromised by constant exposure to high heat, so make sure to position the tree away from any sources of this heat.

Only power the devices after decorating the tree

Never, ever plug in electronic devices while you're installing them on your tree. The last thing you want to do is to accidentally touch an electrified part of the decoration while you're bent forward in an awkward angle. A ladder and step stool can also give you extra reach and stability when setting up your electronic Christmas decorations, so keep one or two nearby while decorating.

Keep all cords secured and above rugs

The cords transmitting electricity from a wall outlet to the decorations on your tree needs to be visible and above rugs or carpets. This prevents heat from building up underneath the rugs and allows you to quickly spot any damage. Just remember to secure the cords so that they lay flat on the ground. This prevents people from tripping on the cord and causing the whole tree to fall down right on top of them.

Never leave the tree unmonitored

Always turn off all electronic Christmas decorations when no one is around to periodically check the tree, like when you have to go to sleep or get out of the house. The risk of something going wrong with the electronics is low, but you at least want someone to act quickly just in case something does go wrong.

Keep these tips in mind and you should be able to enjoy the dazzling effects of your electronic Christmas decorations while still keeping your family and yourself safe from harm!

 

 


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