by Brianna Crandall — December 15, 2021 — S4 Lights, a fully integrated designer and manufacturer of commercial decorative lighting solutions, is introducing NxG, a product innovation proven to extend the life and enhance the performance of commercial decorative light strings.
Decorative light strings made with NxG construction feature a watertight seal and advanced-grade LEDs for greater lumen output and longevity. Image courtesy S4 Lights
According to S4 Lights, the vast majority of decorative or holiday light strings feature a semi-manually manufactured molded husk, surrounding a lower-grade light-emitting diode (LED). Considered to be commercial grade and highly water resistant, this husk construction is actually still prone to water ingress, the number one cause of damage to a string’s internal components, which can result in string failure or GFCI tripping. What’s more, the lower-grade LED provides inconsistent lumen output, affecting the overall look and design of lighting projects.
NxG directly addresses and provides a new solution to these long-standing decorative light string limitations. NxG’s multi-patented epoxy-filled husk design is manufactured through a fully automated process. This new design offers an improved seal proven to prevent water ingress. In fact, tests show strings with NxG prevent water ingress four times better than strings made with the traditional husk, says S4 Lights. The newly designed husk is also slightly longer and sleeker than competitors’ husks, enabling the points of light to stand out and create a high-quality light display.
NxG’s multi-patented epoxy-filled husk offers an improved seal to prevent water ingress and is slightly longer and sleeker than competitors’ husks for a stand-out light display. Image courtesy S4 Lights
To address lumen performance, decorative light strings with NxG include an advanced-grade LED. Laboratory tests show the lumen performance of light strings with NxG outperform non-NxG light strings by more than 20 percent when tested at 504 hours and more than 50 percent when tested at 1128 hours, says the company. This enhancement allows lights to shine longer with greater color consistency and performance. Underwriters Laboratory (UL) considers one season 90 days or 1,000 hours, whichever comes first.
With the introduction of NxG, S4 Lights says it is the only manufacturer to offer a four-season warranty for its strings that come with NxG construction. Decorative light strings from resellers or other manufacturers only offer a maximum three-season warranty.
S4 Lights Vice President of Product Development Jason Loomis remarked:
We’ve spent years researching and testing how to make the traditional 5mm decorative light string — by far the most-used light string for commercial lighting projects — better for installers, their customers and the people who experience decorative lighting designs. The result is NxG, which represents the next generation of decorative light strings. No other manufacturer or reseller offers the innovations that make NxG a game changer for the industry. We are excited to usher in this new day in decorative lighting.
NxG is currently offered through S4 Light’s flagship Benchmark Series of decorative light strings, a 120V system of LED components that offers easy installation and multiple color options and design effects. NxG is available with Benchmark’s standard plug series and coupling series and comes in S4 Lights’ most popular color options.
Decorative light strings with NxG will be on display during the company’s presence at the Atlanta Market, booth number B1 18-E21, Jan. 11-18, 2022. The company plans to introduce NxG on more of its light string series, including its forthcoming King of Strings technology, in Q1 of 2022.
For more information about the NxG series and to request a sample string with NxG technology, visit the S4 Lights website or call 888/660-6640. Founded in 2009, S4 Lights holds 26 patents and numerous proprietary technologies, and maintains state-of-the-art warehouse, testing and manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and in Asia. S4 Lights products can be found at leading international hotels, theme parks, zoos, aquariums and other notable spaces across the world.
