String Lights

Construction string lights are temporary electrical lighting systems that run multiple lamp sockets or integrated LED modules along a single flexible SJTW cord, built to illuminate active job sites, unfinished construction, stairwells, attics, tunnels, and large work zones before permanent lighting is installed. String lights come in LED and incandescent cage configurations, in 50 foot and 100 foot lengths, and most support daisy chaining to cover extended runs from a single circuit. LED versions like the Southwire 7175SW (SKU: 7175SW) deliver 16,000 lumens across a 100 foot string, while incandescent cage models rated up to 1,875 watts remain a practical option for shorter duration setups. OSHA standard 1926.56(a) requires a minimum of 5 foot candles of illumination at ground level on active construction sites, making string lights one of the core tools for keeping a crew working safely and on schedule before the building's permanent electrical system is energized.

KEY SUBCATEGORIES / PRODUCT TYPES

LED String Lights, 100 Foot

LED construction string lights are temporary lighting systems that deliver fixed output illumination via integrated LED modules mounted along a durable SJTW power cord, with no replaceable bulbs and no wasted time during a shift swapping lamps. Electricians, general contractors, and site supers on new construction, renovation, and tunnel projects reach for LED string lights when a run needs to stay up for weeks or months without maintenance callbacks. The Southwire 7175SW (SKU: 7175SW) outputs 1,600 lumens per LED head for a total of 16,000 lumens across the 100 foot, 18/3 SJTW string, with a NEMA 5-15R daisy chain receptacle for linking multiple strings in sequence. A hanging clip is included for fast overhead installation. For projects needing a high lumen LED package on a wet location rated cord, the Southwire 97132 (SKU: 97132) delivers 9,000 lumens across a 100 foot, 18/2 STW cord approved for outdoor and wet locations. The wattage savings from running LED strings add up fast on a job pulling multiple circuits off a temporary power panel.

LED String Lights, 50 Foot

Fifty foot LED string lights are the right sized option for tighter spaces, including single floor bays, mechanical rooms, stairwells, and corridors where a 100 foot run would pile up cord and create a trip hazard. The Southwire 7164SW (SKU: 7164SW) is a 14/3 SJTW LED string light in the 50 foot format, designed to daisy chain with other strings in the same series for coverage that scales with the job. The shorter format also makes it easier to relocate the lighting setup as the work progresses from room to room or floor to floor. For contractors managing a job with multiple active work zones, having the 50 foot option alongside 100 foot strings gives more flexibility in how the temporary power layout gets organized.

Incandescent String Lights with Metal Cage

Metal cage string lights are incandescent temporary lighting systems built for rough conditions where lamp guards are likely to take hits from tools, scaffold pipe, or moving materials. General contractors, ironworkers, and electricians on commercial new construction and industrial sites favor the metal cage format when a lighting run will be up for an extended period on an active, high traffic floor. The Southwire 7539SW (SKU: 7539SW) runs a 12/3 gauge SJTW cord rated for moisture, abrasion, UV exposure, and chemical resistance, with 10 sockets accepting bulbs up to 150 watts each for a maximum string wattage of 1,875 watts. Lampholder spacing starts 9 feet from the plug and repeats every 10 feet for predictable coverage when laying out a run. A 50 foot version, the Southwire 7538SW (SKU: 7538SW), uses the same 12 gauge, three conductor SJTW construction in a shorter format with the same weatherproof build. Both models are UL listed and meet OSHA and NEC requirements.

Incandescent String Lights with Plastic Cage

Plastic cage string lights are a lighter duty incandescent option for interior temporary lighting applications where bulb guards need to protect against incidental contact rather than heavy job site impact. Crews on residential construction, remodel work, and shorter duration commercial jobs often run plastic cage strings when a straightforward field replaceable bulb setup is all the job calls for. The Southwire 7145SW (SKU: 7145SW) carries 10 medium base sockets spaced 10 feet apart along a 100 foot yellow 14/2 SJTW cord, with each socket accepting up to 150 watt incandescent bulbs for a total string capacity of 1,500 watts. The yellow cord improves underfoot visibility in dim conditions. Snap on plastic guards open easily for bulb replacement without tools. The 7145SW is UL listed, NEC compliant, and meets OSHA requirements.

Replacement Cages and Accessories

Replacement cages and accessories for construction string lights include individual metal lamp guards and compact string light systems with molded cords for jobs that need a ready to run temporary lighting solution. Replacement cages let site electricians extend the life of a working string light setup without pulling the entire run when a guard cracks, corrodes, or goes missing after weeks on a hard use site. The Southwire 1781 (SKU: 1781) is a metal bird cage replacement guard for incandescent string lights. The Southwire 1782 (SKU: 1782) is a temporary string light with a molded cord rated at 100 watts, suited to quick deploy setups where a compact, pre terminated option saves setup time. Stocking a few replacement cages on a long project is the kind of low cost insurance that prevents downtime when a guard gets damaged during a pour.

BUYING GUIDE / HOW TO CHOOSE

The most important variable when specifying construction string lights is lamp technology: LED vs. incandescent cage. LED string lights carry no ongoing bulb cost, require no maintenance during the run, and draw a fraction of the power that incandescent strings consume. Incandescent plastic cage and metal cage string lights take any standard medium base bulb, making field replacement easy when a lamp blows on a night shift with no supply house nearby.

After lamp type, cord gauge and run duration drive the spec. A 14/2 SJTW cord like the one on the 7145SW suits lighter duty or shorter term interior applications. A 12/3 SJTW cord like the one on the 7539SW or 7538SW handles more demanding runs, withstands prolonged UV, moisture, and chemical exposure, and supports a maximum string wattage of 1,875 watts. Any job running string lights for more than a few weeks benefits from the heavier 12/3 build.

String length is the next decision. Fifty foot models like the Southwire 7164SW (SKU: 7164SW) and 7538SW (SKU: 7538SW) fit tighter spaces and multi room layouts better than a 100 foot run that generates excess cord. One hundred foot versions like the Southwire 7175SW (SKU: 7175SW), 7539SW (SKU: 7539SW), 7145SW (SKU: 7145SW), and 97132 (SKU: 97132) cover more ground per circuit tap and reduce the number of power connections needed on a wide open floor plate or long corridor run.

For LED construction string lights, daisy chain capacity matters when sizing the temporary power circuit. The Southwire 7175SW supports daisy chaining via a NEMA 5-15R receptacle. Confirm the daisy chain limit and maximum total wattage from the manufacturer's specification sheet before committing to a circuit breaker size on the temporary power distribution panel.

For outdoor or partially exposed runs, cord rating matters. The Southwire 97132 (SKU: 97132) uses an 18/2 STW cord approved for wet locations. Incandescent cage string lights with SJTW cords are also outdoor rated, though open socket designs don't offer the same sealed module protection as a fully enclosed LED fixture. For any construction string light application, confirming UL listing, NEC compliance, and OSHA compliance before putting a string into service is non negotiable.

FAQs

What is the difference between LED and incandescent construction string lights?

The difference between LED and incandescent construction string lights is maintenance, power draw, and output consistency. LED string lights like the Southwire 7175SW (SKU: 7175SW) deliver fixed lumen output per module, 1,600 lumens per head and 16,000 lumens total on the 100 foot version, with no bulbs to replace and no output degradation over the run. Incandescent cage string lights like the Southwire 7145SW (SKU: 7145SW) and 7539SW (SKU: 7539SW) rely on field replaceable medium base bulbs, which adds flexibility when a lamp fails on a remote site but requires maintaining a bulb supply throughout the project.

What is the difference between a 50 foot and 100 foot construction string light?

The difference between 50 foot and 100 foot construction string lights is coverage per run and cord management on the job. A 100 foot string like the Southwire 7539SW (SKU: 7539SW) covers more ground per circuit tap and works well on open floor plates, long corridors, and tunnels. A 50 foot string like the Southwire 7538SW (SKU: 7538SW) fits tighter spaces, mechanical rooms, and multi room layouts where a shorter run is easier to manage and relocate as the work moves through the building. Both lengths support daisy chaining on compatible models for extended coverage.

What cord gauge should a construction string light have for heavy duty job sites?

A 12/3 gauge SJTW cord is the right choice for heavy duty construction string light applications. The Southwire 7539SW (SKU: 7539SW) and 7538SW (SKU: 7538SW) both use 12/3 SJTW cords rated to withstand moisture, abrasion, chemical contact, and prolonged UV exposure. Lighter gauge options like the 14/2 SJTW cord on the Southwire 7145SW (SKU: 7145SW) work well for shorter duration interior applications but may not hold up as reliably on rough use commercial or industrial sites over extended build cycles.

Are construction string lights rated for outdoor use?

Most construction string lights are rated for both indoor and outdoor use, but the protection level varies by cord type and fixture design. Incandescent cage models with SJTW cords, including the Southwire 7539SW (SKU: 7539SW) and 7538SW (SKU: 7538SW), are suitable for indoor and outdoor applications including attics, garages, unfinished construction, and exposed work zones. The Southwire 97132 (SKU: 97132) LED string uses an 18/2 STW cord approved for wet locations. Always verify the cord designation against the specific conditions on the job before running a string in an exposed location.

What OSHA requirements apply to temporary construction lighting?

OSHA standard 1926.56(a) requires a minimum illumination level of 5 foot candles at ground level on active construction sites. Construction string lights are one of the primary methods for meeting this requirement during rough in and pre permanent power phases of a project. LED string lights with documented lumen output, like the Southwire 7175SW (SKU: 7175SW) at 16,000 lumens per 100 foot string, make it practical to calculate whether a lighting layout achieves the required foot candle minimum across the work zone before the crew starts the shift.