# Outdoor holiday lights without external power outlet **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 5, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-holiday-lights-without-external-power-outlet/739483 "2015-12-05T02:07:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-holiday-lights-without-external-power-outlet/739483/1 "2015-12-05T02:07:38Z")
How might one set up outdoor decorative holiday lights if one does not have a power outlet on the outside of one’s house? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-holiday-lights-without-external-power-outlet/739483/2 "2015-12-05T02:15:02Z")
Maybe rig it up to your front porch light, using an adapter with a couple wall sockets? [Like this.](https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/59368/SOCK-90446.html?utm_source=SmartFeedGoogleBase&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_term=SOCK-90446&utm_content=Sockets+and+Electrical&utm_campaign=SmartFeedGoogleBaseShopping&gclid=CODv9aDTw8kCFcpCXgod9nsOtw) I’d be concerned about how much power the lights would be drawing, though. Or run a cable through the bushes to the neighbor’s yard. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-holiday-lights-without-external-power-outlet/739483/3 "2015-12-05T02:49:57Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Maybe rig it up to your front porch light, using an adapter with a couple wall sockets? [Like this.](https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/59368/SOCK-90446.html?utm_source=SmartFeedGoogleBase&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_term=SOCK-90446&utm_content=Sockets+and+Electrical&utm_campaign=SmartFeedGoogleBaseShopping&gclid=CODv9aDTw8kCFcpCXgod9nsOtw) > > I’d be concerned about how much power the lights would be drawing, though. Hmmmm … Interesting suggestion. Just the way my porch light dome is configured, though, I am not sure I want to risk that. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-holiday-lights-without-external-power-outlet/739483/4 "2015-12-05T02:50:41Z")
Crack a window open just enough to run an extension cord from the living room to the bushes outside. That’s how we did it at my parents’ house when I was a kid. Edited to add, I think we removed the extension cord and closed the window during the day. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-holiday-lights-without-external-power-outlet/739483/5 "2015-12-05T02:56:04Z")
Is there such a thing as solar powered or battery powered lights available at a place like Home Depot? ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-holiday-lights-without-external-power-outlet/739483/6 "2015-12-05T03:00:35Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Crack a window open just enough to run an extension cord from the living room to the bushes outside. That’s how we did it at my parents’ house when I was a kid. > > Edited to add, I think we removed the extension cord and closed the window during the day. That’s how we did it, too. Even in Chicago, it didn’t make the house that much colder. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-holiday-lights-without-external-power-outlet/739483/7 "2015-12-05T03:19:27Z")
Opening a window a crack is how we did it too. Get a flat extension cord. They are only a 1/4 in thick. You can use a bath towel to block out any cold air from the window. like this [http://www.skycraftsurplus.com/productimages/sk1904\_050.jpg](http://www.skycraftsurplus.com/productimages/sk1904_050.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-holiday-lights-without-external-power-outlet/739483/8 "2015-12-05T04:06:41Z")
You don’t have an outlet in your garage either right? I use the one at the back of my garage (inside the garage) and run it under the garage door. But I assume that’s considered an outdoor plug? ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-holiday-lights-without-external-power-outlet/739483/9 "2015-12-05T04:52:07Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Is there such a thing as solar powered or battery powered lights available at a place like Home Depot? There are battery- or solar- powered outdoor decorations. I’ve seen them at Menard’s and Home Depot here. They claim that they can run for the season on one set of batteries. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2015, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-holiday-lights-without-external-power-outlet/739483/10 "2015-12-19T21:41:01Z")
This is how I’ve always done it. Certainly adequate, but then again, I wasn’t setting out any sort of Impressive Lighting Display ™ so I wasn’t drawing a lot of juice.