One section of a long strand of lights - out!

[minniecarousel]

We have the "icicle" exterior lights. DH & I put them up yesterday. We checked all lights before we started. We had to buy 2 more strands. We get the six strands up - and on two of the old strands, several feet is out! in 2 different places on 2 different strands. What could cause that?

So I went back to Target and bought 2 more boxes, DH started to put them up. Since it's dark, he put them up lit. Everything is fine, but after a few minutes, a section right next to the line it's plugged into, goes out! These are each about 4-5 foot sections. Why would small sections go out, and the rest stay lit? And why are any lights from a new strand that light up otherwise not function? There are no more than 2 sets strung together.

 

[RitaZ.]

Maybe one of the blinkers is out? Maybe the different strands have different wattage?

We went through that frustration yesterday. We thought we fixed the problem, but once the lights were up, a few single strands weren't lighting up.

I'm so done with those stupid lights! It's LED next year! I don't care how much it ends up costing!

 

[minniecarousel]

Yeah - we have now spent another $28 on lights this year. And we probably won't be living in this house next year, so I don't even know if we'd use these again.

It looks like we'll need to exchange one strand at Target.

 

[lizziepooh]

We finally gave up on those lights. We would test them, put them up then a few hours or a couple days later sections would be out. We could not figure out what the problem was. Got tired of messing with them and no longer put up lights outside.

 

[SandrA9810]

How are you hanging them up??

The strands are broken into sections, so if a section of wiring is bad, it'll cause the whole section to go out, but not the whole strand. As well, many strands are the "always on" meaning, if a bulb is burnt the rest remain lit. But if a bulb is missing, the section will go out. Double check on the bulbs to make sure non are broken. I always fold mine, so it's easy to see if there's any missing or broken.

If you're stapling the wires to the roof, it's very easy that you've broken the wire, so that's why it was on when they were down, but suddenly went off when they went up. I always put mine up with them on. Usually at dusk, so there's still enough sunlight to see. That way I can tell if there's any breaks in the wire. Which also means more than one night of being outside.

Since I was in high school, I've been buying after christmas clearance lights. I try to wait for 75% off. Although LEDs go fast and you better be there opening on the 26th to get any good sets.

I also separate the lights with ones used outdoors and ones used indoors (the bulbs aren't faded, and a little less abused). The best thing I do when hanging my lights, is I will staple a twist tie to the wood, then use the twist tie to hold the wire. If I don't need a perfectly straight line, I just tack in a few nails, about every foot does it well, then hang the lights on that (nail going between the wires).

 

[aprilgail2]

I just replaced all my lights with LED lights this year becuase you can string so many more together. I had the icicle lights on my house and I had to break them down into 2 sections with an extention cord running down either side of my house because you can only string about 3 of them together without a section blowing out. Perhaps you are trying to string to many together.

 

[Avalon_toon]

I replaced all of our icicle lights with LED icicle lights last winter - 6 strands. This weekend I got them all out, only ONE set would work properly! I was very mad. I thought buying the LED lights would solve the problem of the half-on, half-off light strands, but nope.

 

[RitaZ.]

I replaced all of our icicle lights with LED icicle lights last winter - 6 strands. This weekend I got them all out, only ONE set would work properly! I was very mad. I thought buying the LED lights would solve the problem of the half-on, half-off light strands, but nope.

Good to know. I guess I won't be spending all that money on LED lights.

 

[golfgal]

I got enough LED lights to do our big pine tree to see if I like them-I HATE them--but on the box it specifically said that the lights strung together need to be the SAME-so a box from Walmart strung together with another from Target won't necessarily work together. Perhaps that is the issue you are having too? I haven't tried it to see if it makes a difference or not.

 

[Jennasis]

Lowes sell this little "gun" thingy that tests bulbs and repairs the strand. If a section is out, you remove the first bulb in the section that is out, stick the bulb outlet into the gun, pull the trigger a few times and it relights the whole section that was out! The thing is a miracle and we still cant firgure out how it works.

 

[BunsenH]

Lowes sell this little "gun" thingy that tests bulbs and repairs the strand. If a section is out, you remove the first bulb in the section that is out, stick the bulb outlet into the gun, pull the trigger a few times and it relights the whole section that was out! The thing is a miracle and we still cant firgure out how it works.

Good to hear...I just ordered one from eBay....I'm tired of swapping bulbs trying to find the culprit.

 

[Avalon_toon]

Lowes sell this little "gun" thingy that tests bulbs and repairs the strand. If a section is out, you remove the first bulb in the section that is out, stick the bulb outlet into the gun, pull the trigger a few times and it relights the whole section that was out! The thing is a miracle and we still cant firgure out how it works.

Wow, really? I will look for that! Thanks!

 

[java]

The 12 pains of Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yasSkqJBytk

 

[Mr.MouseFan]

Lowes sell this little "gun" thingy that tests bulbs and repairs the strand. If a section is out, you remove the first bulb in the section that is out, stick the bulb outlet into the gun, pull the trigger a few times and it relights the whole section that was out! The thing is a miracle and we still cant firgure out how it works.

I've had one of these for years and I cannot live without it at Christmas time! I can't even explain how much time and money that little gadget has saved me over the years!

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

If you're stringing a lot of regular light strands together, you could also be blowing out those little tiny fuses that get slotted into the plugs. There's usually two of them.

I outline our whole house, about 10 150-bulb strands, and I always have trouble with strands going out (or half-out!) when I'm not very careful about how many strands are plugged end-to-end....

 

[lovetoscrap]

Lowes sell this little "gun" thingy that tests bulbs and repairs the strand. If a section is out, you remove the first bulb in the section that is out, stick the bulb outlet into the gun, pull the trigger a few times and it relights the whole section that was out! The thing is a miracle and we still cant firgure out how it works.

Will this work if the whole thing is out? I tested my lights before I put it around the greenery that I hung over a large doorway and everything was fine-- worked perfectly. Tested when it was in the greenery, all was good. Put it up around the door and plugged it in and NOTHING. No lights. I really don't want to take it all down and start over.

 

[Kathi OD]

Lowes sell this little "gun" thingy that tests bulbs and repairs the strand. If a section is out, you remove the first bulb in the section that is out, stick the bulb outlet into the gun, pull the trigger a few times and it relights the whole section that was out! The thing is a miracle and we still cant firgure out how it works.

I bought one at Target this year! It's amazing.

To understand how they work go to: www.lightkeeperpro.com

I will say, if the problem is w/ the wire and not the bulb, this tool won't solve your problem. Most of the time, however, the problem is with a bulb.

 

[Jennasis]

I bought one at Target this year! It's amazing.

To understand how they work go to: www.lightkeeperpro.com

I will say, if the problem is w/ the wire and not the bulb, this tool won't solve your problem. Most of the time, however, the problem is with a bulb.

Thats the one! I didn't see it at Lowes today but Home Depot had them.

 

[RitaZ.]

I got enough LED lights to do our big pine tree to see if I like them-I HATE them--

but on the box it specifically said that the lights strung together need to be the SAME-so a box from Walmart strung together with another from Target won't necessarily work together. Perhaps that is the issue you are having too? I haven't tried it to see if it makes a difference or not.

Did you buy the white or multi lights? I tried both at the store and the white is really stark. I liked the multi ones better and bought those.

I'll be looking for that little gadget tonight when I stop at Target.