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#204231 11/22/11 12:53 AM
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 193
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It's that time of year. Time to put up the Christmas lights and decorations. This is my wife's favorite time of year. She is putting out the boxes and boxes of Christmas propaganda. I've got some strings of lights that were working last year when I put them away. She pulled them out and I got no lights working. Well, being an electrician I can fix this, or at least figure them out. Not so easy. I'm tracing the wires in the string. I've got neutrals jumpering, hots jumpering. How in the world are these things put together? Does Scott have a schematic for Christmas lights?

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 7
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My solution is.....replacement time! Matter of fact, quite a few big box stores are buying 'old' lights via a credit toward buying new LED light strings.



John
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 32
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My wife does this exercise times 100. They have a storage bay full of Christmas decorations at the country club and around the community.
Her policy is to just chuck those little lights because there are several, incompatible, types of bulbs, it can easily take an hour to find the bad socket and they cost about $2.
If you do want to fix these, expect to find a socket that is not working because the little wire on the bulb is not touching the contact. They are usually shunted if they are just burned out. That tool they sell basically just cuts through the insulation and shorts out the bulb socket one at a time. It works if you only have one bad.


Greg Fretwell
Joined: Apr 2002
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Yes, I have 'invested' a few hours into attempting to fix something that is 'simple'. Afterwards, I came to the conclusion to use the round cylinderical container, and make a trip to the store.

There also could be a possibility of creating a hazzard.


John
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 764
K
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Those LED indoor/outdoor strings sure look enticing, even though they are about 3-times the cost of the cheapo $4.00 incandescent 100-bulb strings. I guess if they actually last as long as they say, after a few years of futzing around and tossing the incandescent strings, they may actually be less expensive.
It would imagine the energy savings could really add up too, if you happen to decorate your house with lights like the Griswolds.

[Linked Image from christmasvacationcollectibles.com]

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,381
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Kjay:

Back 2-3 years ago, I came upon some LED icicle strings, after Christmas, for 75% off. I wish I grabbed a few more! I'm getting 6 new LED strings next week & trading in the old sets.



John
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
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How are the LEDs connected? If this is still the same cheapo socket they can fail the same way.


Greg Fretwell
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 402
J
Member
LED are pemanent. You can not remove the LED from the string. I hope yours last longer then mine. After two years half the LEDs were out. Would have been better off buying the old style with bulbs.

Last edited by jdevlin; 11/22/11 05:31 PM.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,381
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Greg:

LEDs are not removable. They appear to be wired like regular bulbs, in the grand style of.......China.


John
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,158
Member
I have C9 and C7 strings all with replacement LED lamps smile

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