Slide On Vampire Plugs

Slide-On Vampire Plugs for Christmas Lights

Vampire plugs are the connectors professional installers use to build extension cords exactly as long as each run needs. You cut SPT zipcord to length, slide the wire into the plug and press it closed. Metal teeth pierce the insulation and make contact with the conductors inside, which is where the name comes from. No stripping, no soldering, no tools. Some people call them vampire clips, slide-on plugs or Gilbert-style plugs; they're all the same idea.

Match the Plug to Your Wire

Our SPT1 and SPT2 zipcord are both 18 AWG, but SPT2 has thicker insulation, which makes it the heavier-duty choice. Because the insulation is a different thickness, the plugs are not interchangeable: SPT1 plugs fit SPT1 wire only and SPT2 plugs fit SPT2 wire only. Every plug title lists its wire type, and you can find the wire itself in our SPT1 and SPT2 wire collection.

Plug Styles

• Male plugs go on the power (start) end of a run. The ribbed design bites into the insulation and locks in place.
• Female plugs go on the output end and accept any standard male plug, which completes a custom extension cord.
• Female inline pass-through plugs install in the middle of a wire instead of at the end. Use them to add a connection point or branch power off a run without cutting the main wire.
• SPT1 splicers (also known as One Plugs) aren't really plugs at all. They join two pieces of 18 gauge SPT1 wire, which is handy for jumps between roofline sections or for lengthening socket wire. Break the tab off one end to turn a splicer into a Y-splitter.
• Male and female bundles include a pack of 25 male plugs and a pack of 25 female plugs in green, for SPT1 or SPT2.
• SPT1 termination caps snap onto bare wire ends for a clean, weather-resistant finish. Pack of 100, clear.

Plugs come in packs of 25 in green, to disappear into greenery and green wire, or white, to blend with white trim and white wire. Availability of each color varies by style, so check the product page. All plugs are rated for indoor and outdoor use.

Build a Custom Run

Plan each run from the outlet to the first light, cut your zipcord to that length, add a male plug at the outlet end and a female plug at the light end. Use inline pass-throughs where you need a tap point mid-run, and cap any bare end with a termination cap. Protect your connections from rain with our moisture protection gear. Prefer a ready-made run with sockets? Shop our C7 and C9 Christmas light stringers.