For aficionados aiming to elevate their yearly light show, the starting point can often be overwhelming. Perhaps you've stumbled upon the well-known trade tip of using empty socket light line. It's clear that the secret to a neat display with no dangling wires is to measure the precise amount of cord required and cut it accordingly. Although eager to create a polished and professional appearance, you might feel daunted by the task. Crafting and assembling your own custom Christmas light lines might seem more suited to an electrician rather than a hobbyist.

Fortunately, employing slide-on vampire plugs makes the process of constructing your own light strings or extension cords remarkably straightforward. All it takes is a pair of wire cutters, some C7/C9 light line or zip cord, and a few minutes.

Vampire Plugs: The Overlooked Champions of the Christmas Light Arena

Vampire plugs, occasionally known as Gilbert plugs, consist of a small plastic shell, a slide-on component to secure the wire, and either a male or female plug end. They are user-friendly, cost-effective, and allow nearly anyone to create custom-length extension cords and Christmas light lines with ease.
To utilize them, simply measure out the length of the empty socket light line or 18/2 zip cord needed and cut it to the appropriate size. Ensure that the ribbed side of the cord aligns with the larger blade on the vampire plug, then slide a male and a female plug onto opposite ends. For a demonstration, watch this quick tutorial video:

See? It's the simplest method to create perfectly-sized light strings and extension cords available. This technique, used by professional installers for decades, has remained relatively unchanged over time.

Vampire Plugs and SPT

When purchasing vampire plugs, remember they must match the SPT rating of the cord or line you intend to use. There's considerable confusion and misinformation surrounding SPT ratings, but they are quite simple in practice.

SPT mainly indicates the thickness of the insulation. SPT-1 is .03” thick, and SPT-2 is .045”. As SPT-2 is 50% thicker than SPT-1, it is often preferred in environments with severe weather or areas prone to significant wear and tear. While you can delve into the technicalities involving amperage and intricate calculations — refer to our blog on the topic — it's essential to ensure that the vampire plugs you use match the SPT rating of the empty socket light line or zip cord.

If you are committed to enhancing your Christmas display, switching to empty socket light lines with vampire plugs is a wise move. Get started by following our detailed visual guide below!

Vampire Plugs - Slide On Plugs