Having trouble with my Christmas tree lights

[kaguilbeau]

The first strand on my artificial tree stays wrapped around the pole all the time. From there, I run off single strands of lights and feed from one end to the other. This year after I got all the lights on (they looked so pretty) - 3/4 of the lights just went off! And then came back on later. There must be a short somewhere. DH says to take all the strands, throw them away and buy new ones. UGH!

Does anyone have another idea besides using the strands of lights? What about the icicle lights or maybe the netting that is used for outside bushes. I really like alot of lights on the tree.

Each year when I take down my artifical tree (I think it is almost 20 years old!) I say I'm going to buy a pre-lite tree the following year. My tree is so large and full - I really like it - it's just these darn lights!

 

[PamCo88]

I have a power strip at the base of my tree. I have found that you cant string more than 400 light together and keep it lit. I have 1600 on my tree. I keep hoping to get the new LED lights after Xmas for cheap, but there hasn't been any left.

 

[kaguilbeau]

Thanks for that info. I did unplug some of the strands and run them into another extension cord. It helped. I still have a strand wrapped around the pole that must've shorted out. I'll through it away when I take down the tree.

 

[imsarahmiley]

I would like to share some safty instructions with you all, please have a look and also give your suggestions and ideas.

• Keep Christmas tree far from the gas or electric heaters, fireplaces, candles similar sources of heat.
• Check with the insulation of wire whether it is damage, punctured or not.
• Unplug or switch off the light when you are living the house or you are installing it.
• Keep the children and pets far from the lighting area.
• Check regular for the burned out bulbs, and replace it by appropriate bulb with enough volt and wattage.
• Don’t add additional light sets because electrical wire got overloaded. Connect limited light sets as per the instruction.

 

[Flight]

I must have long ago angered the tree lights gods.

They continue to plague me with strands that only half the lights work and strands that cut out with the slightest movement.

 

[kaguilbeau]

I must have long ago angered the tree lights gods.

They continue to plague me with strands that only half the lights work and strands that cut out with the slightest movement.

THIS is me!

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

My tree lights, but only half my icele lights do. I have no clue why only HALF light but im irrated beyond belif with them.

 

[BLT_BobbyComics]

I hang Christmas Lights for a living. Minis you can do 400 end to end. 1600 TOTAL on one breaker. More then that you run the risk of shorting out the circuits and tripping your breaker. (the surge protector is a good idea as it will only trip the surge protector and not the breaker itself.)

With LED's ALL the rules fly out the window as you can string 32,000 together before you have to worry about tripping the breaker.

If you get LED's a STRESS dont go the cheap Home Depot / Lowe's route. Go to your local mom and pop Hardware store and ask for commercial grade materials. They will run you an extra dollar or two per pack but it is WELL worth it.

With commercial brands the LEDs that a bulb or light breaks only THAT light goes out not the entire strand like with Incadecents.

When we install lights we do it when they are on so that way we know if the strand is good or bad. Also a nice SIMPLE tip to adding lights is take hold of the female plug, then roll the lights into a ball like you would a ball of yarn. Then when you put the lights on you just unravel the ball, it makes life SO much easier!!!

If it were me in this particular case I would ignore the strand around the pipe/center. I would bypass it and just keep the outer ones lit.

Hope this all helps.