#Twinkle lights curtain how to
#Twinkle lights curtain series
#Twinkle lights curtain zip

Using wire cutters or a sharp knife, gently split the end of your zip cord to separate the two wires, pulling them apart to a length of a quarter- to a half-inch.

The ribbed edge, or neutral wire will connect to the wide prong or receptacle we took note of in the step above. This is the neutral wire which maintains polarization of the electrical current. One wire has a slightly raised 'rib' along its edge (you may have to feel for it).

You may notice that it's actually two wires side by side. Next, take a close look at your electrical cord.One of them is connected to the wide prong or receptacle the other to the narrow. These teeth pierce the cord when the plug is assembled to connect to electric current. Look inside your zip plug and locate the two 'vampire teeth' set down into the channel that runs along the length of the plug.Slide the backing off of your zip plug, note that it will only slide on and off one way.In addition to light strings, light bulbs, zip plugs and electrical tape, you will also need something very sharp to cut the wire, we found that wire cutters work best. If you choose not to place a female zip plug at the end of your wire, you will need to securely wrap the end with electrical tape and make sure no wires are exposed. Our light strings were created using SPT2 wire, so we made sure to use SPT2 rated male and female zip plugs as well. SPT1 wire is the standard for moderate to normal light usage, while thicker SPT2 wire insulation supports higher wattage bulbs and provides better protection against the elements, particularly in regions with extreme weather patterns and temperatures.įor this project, wire insulation is also important because you will need to match the insulation of your zip plugs to the insulation of your wire. This notation refers to wire insulation which is an important consideration, especially when planning longer term lighting installations.

#Twinkle lights curtain series

When choosing your light strings, you may notice they are identified by a series of numbers and letters: SPT1 or SPT2. Make sure to unplug the cord before you add each new plug.

Test each inline zip plug as you attach it by plugging in a set of lights to the plug to make sure you have a good connection.

#Twinkle lights curtain how to

Click here or scroll down for complete instructions on how to install a zip plug at the end of your wire. These should not be inline plugs, meaning that the wire can only go in one side and cannot not come out the other side of the plug. Install a male zip plug at one end of your wire and a female zip plug at the other end. Click here or scroll down for complete instructions on how to install an inline zip plug.

Install one female inline zip plug at each tape marker. By the end we had a total of 14 pieces of tape on our wire. We chose to have 1 foot of spacing between each of our light strings, so we placed a piece of tape at 1 foot increments along the wire. Lay your wire out straight and starting at one end, place pieces of tape where you want the lights to hang. The awning shown in the pictures above is 14 feet long, however we wanted extra length to hang down and reach the outlet, so we cut our wire at 20 feet. Cut a piece of zip wire to the length of your space.