Ah yes, a familiar scenario.....

Most series strings here are 20 lamps of 12V each. Older types had the really tiny screw bases, but all the modern ones are just a "plastic-wedge" base with two fine wires from the bulb folded over. Ugh! I've spent more hours than I care to remember removing bulbs and carefully re-aligning those dang wires!

The worst shock I ever recall getting was from one of these series chains when I was about 13. A holder disintegrated and a wire broke leaving me holding 240V hand to hand. Ouch! [Linked Image]


BJ,
I've seen a few LED chains appearing in stores here. They're usually quite expensive types linked to a "box of tricks" to give various flash and chasing patterns.

I remember building some interesting Christmas displays using LEDS and TTL ICs when I was a kid. In the 1970s you can bet that the December issue of the hobby electronics journals would contain some such ideas.



[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 12-03-2002).]