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.
The vast majority of decorative light strings feature a semi-manually manufactured molded husk, surrounding a lower-grade LED. Considered to be commercial grade and highly water resistant, this husk construction is actually 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 epoxy-filled molded husk is manufactured through a fully automated and multi-patented process. This new design offers a superior 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. The newly designed husk is also slightly longer and sleeker than competitors’ husks, enabling the points of light to stand out and create a superior light display.
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. 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, which ever comes first.
With the introduction of NxG, S4 Lights 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.
“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,” says S4 Lights Vice President of Product Development Jason Loomis. “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.
Decorative light strings with NxG will be on display during the company’s presence at the Atlanta Market, booth number B1 18-E21, January 11-18, 2022. The company plans to introduce NxG on more of its light string series, including its forthcoming King of String system, in Q1 of 2022.
