Hilchos Chanukkah / Kindling the lights (l) – 19

1. On Erev Shabbos (Friday), the Chanukkah lights are kindled first, then the Shabbos candles. However, the Chanukkah lights should not be lit before pelag ha-mincha (literally “half the Mincha,” which is one and a quarter Halachic Seasonal Hours before sunset). Mincha should be prayed before kindling the lights (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, 139).

2. Since the Chanukkah lights are kindled in Erev Shabbos before the true time of lighting, it is necessary to fill the lamps with enough oil that they will last until at least half-an-hour after the stars come out. At the very least the person should make sure that one of the flames will last for that duration (ibid.).