Running outdoor Christmas lights without an outdoor outlet

 Ok, so here's the deal, I live in a rented townhouse that does not have
an outdoor outlet.  I used to run an extension chord in through the
kitchen window to a surge protector but that means my window is not
locked and also lets in cold air.  Last year I bought a light socket to
outlet converter and put it in my porch light which I then ran my
extension chord to.  I was considering doing it again but I'm concerned
that there is too much electricity running through my setup for it to
be safe.  The wiring coming out of the light is just two small black
and white wires and I'm afraid that I might overload them and start a
fire.  Does anyone have any advice on this?  I usually string 3 or 4
sets into the outlet.

Thanks!!

    Do the numbers yourself.  Each light string would have some labels
that provides number of watts.  Total that wattage for all three
strings.  Warming label inside light is maximum watts of heat - a
warming limit inside the fixture.  That is not the watts limit of
wires.

  At minimum, building wires would be rated for 15 amps or 1800 watts.
Derate that maximum to something  like 1000 watts (since fixture really
is for lower currents).  Still, that electric source from a light
fixture should be well above what your light string would consume.
Again, don't take anyone's word for it.  Do the numbers yoursefl.  That
is why a label must be adjacent to every appliance connection to mains
- so that you will read those numbers.

  Meanwhile, code demands that there be at least one outside
receptacle. It even says how high from the ground, etc that receptacle
must be located.  What year was this townhouse constructed?

PM wrote:

 On 15 Dec 2006 13:57:51 -0800, someone wrote:



Oh great, you want him/her to call in a violation on their rental
because he/she can't run Christmas lights....


Reply to NG only - this e.mail address goes to a kill file.