If you've been searching for outdoor string lights that actually cover serious ground, the addlon 198FT patio lights deserve a hard look. Most string light sets top out at 48 to 100 feet — useful for a small deck, but frustrating the moment you try to span a large pergola, wrap a backyard fence, or zig-zag above a party patio. The addlon set doubles or triples that range, making it one of the few consumer-grade options that can tackle a genuinely large outdoor space without daisy-chaining multiple strands.
Here's a full breakdown of what you're getting and whether it lives up to the coverage promise.
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Brightness & Color Options
The addlon 198FT set uses ST38 LED Edison bulbs — a slightly smaller cousin to the popular ST64 globe shape — mounted on a heavy black cord at roughly 12-inch spacing. Each bulb produces a warm white glow in the 2200K–2700K range, which is the sweet spot for outdoor ambiance: warm enough to feel inviting, bright enough to actually illuminate a dining area rather than just decorate it.
The plastic bulb housing (versus glass) is a deliberate trade-off worth understanding. Plastic ST38s are significantly more impact-resistant, which matters when you're stringing lights 10 or 15 feet overhead and one eventually falls. They're also lighter, reducing sag on long runs. The trade-off is that the aesthetic up close is slightly less premium than a glass Edison bulb — though from any reasonable viewing distance, the warm glow looks identical.
At 198 feet, you're looking at approximately 50 bulb sockets depending on spacing configuration. This is enough light output for a large backyard without feeling clinical or over-lit, though those hoping to read a book under these lights should supplement with a dedicated task light.
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Smart Features & Compatibility
The included remote control is where this set earns real points over budget competitors. Rather than walking back inside or fumbling for a smart plug app, you can dim, switch off, or set timers from across the yard. The remote typically operates on a simple RF or IR signal with a workable range for most backyard setups — practical for dinner parties where you want to shift the mood without making a scene.
There's no native Wi-Fi or app integration, so if you're building a full smart home setup with Alexa or Google Home voice control, you'll want to plug the lights into a compatible smart outlet alongside using the remote. That's a straightforward workaround, and the lights themselves are power-compatible with standard 120V US outlets, drawing relatively modest wattage thanks to LED efficiency.
The set does not carry an
ENERGY STAR certification, but the LED bulbs consume a fraction of the energy that equivalent incandescent string lights would require — a meaningful difference when you're running 198 feet of lights for several hours nightly.
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Installation & Setup
Plan for 45 minutes to 90 minutes to set these up properly, depending on your space. The main tasks are: deciding your routing path, hanging guide wire or hooks at anchor points, and threading the cord. The strand itself is sturdy and manageable, but 198 feet of cord is genuinely a lot to unravel and position — do this with a second person if possible.
A few practical installation notes:
- Anchor points matter. At this length, you'll want dedicated outdoor screw hooks, pergola hardware, or garden poles spaced every 10–15 feet to prevent excessive sagging. Letting 198 feet of string lights droop unsupported mid-run looks sloppy and puts stress on the cord.
- The waterproof rating handles rain and general outdoor moisture well. Still, the power plug and connection points should be protected from direct, pooling water — use a weatherproof outlet cover at the wall socket.
- Because these are string lights rather than hardwired fixtures, no electrician is needed. Standard outlet access is all that's required.
Per
UL safety guidelines, always check that your outdoor extension cord (if needed) is rated for outdoor use and can handle the total wattage load before plugging in any string light set.
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Best Uses
The 198-foot length makes this set ideal for large-scale outdoor entertaining spaces that would require multiple shorter strands to cover — think backyard wedding receptions, large pergola installations, wraparound porch setups, or bistro-style above a lengthy dining table. It also works well for permanent backyard installations where you want a single continuous run without visible connection points between strands.
For a small apartment balcony or a compact 10x10 deck, this is overkill. A 48-foot or 100-foot set would serve that space better and cost less. Where the addlon 198FT earns its place is when scale is the actual problem you're solving.
The waterproofing makes year-round installation viable in most US climates. In areas with heavy snow and ice, bringing lights in for winter or securing them tightly to a structure reduces the risk of storm damage.
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Worth the Investment?
At the 198-foot length category, options are genuinely limited — most major brands stop at 100 feet, and exceeding that typically means buying two sets and connecting them, which creates aesthetic inconsistency and an extra connection point to weatherproof. The addlon set solves that problem cleanly.
The plastic bulb housing keeps costs lower than comparable glass-bulb sets, and the included remote eliminates the need to immediately buy a smart plug. For large outdoor spaces, the value proposition is solid.
The limitations are real but manageable: the remote isn't smart-home native, the plastic bulbs won't satisfy buyers who want that true vintage glass Edison aesthetic, and installation at this length requires more planning and hardware than a short patio strand. Go in with realistic expectations on those points and this set delivers well on its core promise.
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