Lighting a whole balcony for Diwali: a four-step plan with DesiDiya's 45 metre string

Forty-five metres is not a strand you loop around a money plant. It is enough to wrap a balcony railing, frame a couple of windows and still have some left for the gate. That is why strings like this from DesiDiya end up on so many balconies every Diwali.

The listing describes 45 metres of multicolour LEDs on flexible copper wire, with a controller offering eight modes, sold as waterproof, one pack.

Here is how we would plan it.

Step 1: Measure before you order

Forty-five metres sounds endless until you are halfway along a wall and run out.

Measure the railings, window frames and anything else you want to light. Add a little for the drop from the plug to the first hook.

Then, on the Amazon listing, do not settle for the default selection. This string comes in a wide choice of lengths, and the page simply opens on one of them. Take a minute or two to go through the length options and pick the one that matches your measurement, so the lights fit your home or balcony instead of falling short or piling up at the end.

If your total is far less than 45 metres, a shorter string, like DesiDiya's 35 foot warm white, will be easier to manage.

Step 2: Find the power first

Long runs live or die by the plug. Before you hang anything, decide:

1. Which socket will you use, and is it indoors?
2. Does the lead reach from that socket to where the lights start?
3. Where will the controller sit, safely away from water?

Look at the product images to see what is in the box, since the title does not list the adapter or controller details.

Step 3: Treat "waterproof" with care

A waterproof claim on a listing can mean splash-proof rather than rain-proof. The copper wire may cope with a shower. The plug and controller are a different story. Keep them indoors or under cover, and never leave them on a wet floor.

Step 4: Choose your mode

Eight modes is more than most people use. A steady glow is calmer for everyday evenings, and you can save the flashing patterns for the festival nights themselves. Multicolour can look busy, so try a few modes before the guests arrive.

Our take

For a big balcony, this is a lot of festive light for the money, and the bendable copper wire makes hanging it easy. Do the boring bits, measuring and power, first, and the rest is the fun part.

As with any lights, plug them in the day they arrive, so a faulty string can go back well before the festival.