- With the lights unplugged, cut the two wires that enter the last light in the series strand with wire cutters.
- Use wire cutters to strip the ends of the two wires cut in the previous step. Twist the two bare wire ends together.
- After twisting the wires together secure with a wires connector. ...
How to repurpose old Christmas lights?
Lots of ways to repurpose old Christmas light bulbs. Upcycle Christmas bulbs into ornaments with glitter and modge podge. Beauty In A Light Bulb | Family Chic by Camilla Fabbri ©2009-2018. All rights reserved. The blog Glue together expired light bulbs...I think this would reflect lights on a Christmas tree beautifully.
How to recycle your Christmas lights?
- Start by calling your local waste service to see if they accept and recycle Christmas lights. ...
- If your local government won’t recycle Christmas lights, never fear! ...
- If neither of those options work, you can send your lights to a mail-in recycling company like Christmas Light Source or Holiday LEDs.
How do you troubleshoot a Christmas light?
- The circuit isn’t carrying power.
- A fuse has blown.
- A bulb has burnt out and has created a cascading outage.
- The wire has broken.
- One or more bulbs are not seated properly in their sockets.
- A bulb has burnt out and its shunt is not passing on electricity.
- If you're using battery-operated Christmas lights, start by replacing or charging the batteries.
How to make Christmas lights work again?
Trace the location of the dead bulb.
- Tug apart the braided wires to identify the one directly connected to the light bulbs.
- Place the detector on this wire about halfway along the string, between two bulbs. ...
- If the tool hums or lights up (depending on model), the problem is in the half of the string farthest from the plug. ...
How do you fix a cut string light?
3:4714:53Fixing low voltage copper wire LED strings. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou could just cut one of those LEDs out and you could bridge those wires together to actually getMoreYou could just cut one of those LEDs out and you could bridge those wires together to actually get that back up and running. Again. This is a good point to mention the best way to strip these buyers.
How do you splice Christmas lights together?
1:323:21Shorten Christmas Lights // How-To - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWith the lights. Unplugged. Once cut the cut into the wires can be capped with a wire nut. If theMoreWith the lights. Unplugged. Once cut the cut into the wires can be capped with a wire nut. If the lights are going outdoors. Be sure to purchase outdoor wire nuts that are waterproof.
How do you fix a half broken strand of Christmas lights?
1:494:50How To Fix Christmas Lights Half Out - Ace Hardware - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can cut this particular diode off and use a wire nut to tie these two wires back together. AndMoreYou can cut this particular diode off and use a wire nut to tie these two wires back together. And then cap it and then the lights should work.
Can you cut and rewire Christmas lights?
The lights are designed so each bulb receives all 120 volts and each bulb has a direct route to power, meaning they can be cut to any length without overpowering and burning out bulbs. With the lights unplugged cut wires with wire cutters between the bulbs and cap each end with wire connectors.
How do you connect Christmas light strands?
0:092:03How To Attach 2 Strings Of Christmas Lights Together-Holiday Decorating ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou should wrap both of the plugs in electrical tape now the reason that I do this is for twoMoreYou should wrap both of the plugs in electrical tape now the reason that I do this is for two reasons one the electrical tape actually holds them together. And it is pretty strong.
How do you connect string lights together?
Turnbuckles connect to one end of each strand, directly to the eye bolt, and minimize torsion from wind. Just loop your cables into the eye bolts (or turnbuckles) and lock them in place with wire clamps. After these cables are set up, lock your string lights in place with cable ties.
How do you fix outdoor string lights?
How to Troubleshoot and Repair String LightsStep 1: Look for Safety Issues. ... Step 2: Look for Unseated or Corroded Bulbs. ... Step 3: Change the Fuses. ... Step 4: Check for Damaged Shunts. ... Step 5: Replace Burned-Out Bulbs on String Lights.
How do you fix 3 wire Christmas lights?
0:445:37CHRISTMAS LIGHTS! Simple fix for 3 wire Christmas lights - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo you put the wire through there. And then it pulls off just the outside. So you know then you justMoreSo you put the wire through there. And then it pulls off just the outside. So you know then you just pull it. So you get more wire to be able to connect both of them back together.
How do you fix a broken LED strip light?
1:534:29How do I repair my damaged LED strip lights? Push connectors repairYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow in previous videos I have resold it in joints. That have had dry solder joints. But in thisMoreNow in previous videos I have resold it in joints. That have had dry solder joints. But in this video. I'm going to show you how to use these now this is a 12-minute RGB W tape to tape connector.
Can you cut LED string lights and still work?
Will they continue to work if they are trimmed down? Yes, LED strip lights will carry on working after they've been cut as long as you cut along the designated lines. LED strips are made up of several individual circuits, so each cut line demarcates the end of one circuit and the start of a new one.
Can you splice string lights together?
No, you should not do this. Agree with tester. There is no safe or legal way to do this. Also, just for the mention of it, I would say to look at the instructions / specs included with the lights.
Can you shorten outdoor string lights?
Outdoor light strings with male and female end plugs are meant to be connected end to end. Shortening these lights voids the safety rating and can cause the string to no longer work. Patio light strings without end plugs are available that can be cut to any desired length.
How to fix Christmas lights
It’s a problem many of us have encountered. The functioning string of Christmas fairy lights you tidied away last year doesn’t work at all this year. Or maybe it’s that individual bulbs aren’t working now you go to hang the string as part of your holiday decor.
1. Inspect the Christmas lights
This is an important step that should be carried out before you even plug in your Christmas lights, but it is important as it could reveal a problem that needs fixing before you try switching the lights on.
2. Check the fuse
Plug the Christmas lights in. Entire string not working? Check the fuses in the plug, and be aware that there might be two of them.
3. Look for faulty bulbs
Wondering how to fix Christmas lights if the problem is that one bulb isn’t working?
3. Mend a section of Christmas lights
Perhaps the problem is that a whole section of the lights isn’t working? ‘Christmas light strings share a circuit so when one isn’t firmly attached, it throws out the entire circuit which means the others aren’t going to light up either,’ explains Andre Kazimierski, CEO, Improovy .
4. Deal with a faulty shunt
The problem with Christmas lights may be a faulty shunt. Use the Christmas light repair tool available at Amazon as directed in the instructions. Test the lights by plugging them in.
How do you know which bulb is out on Christmas lights?
You might be able to see which bulb is out on Christmas lights simply by looking.
How to repair damaged Christmas lights?
Step 1. Place a piece of masking tape on each wire on either side of the damaged portion you are cutting away, about 2 inches on either side of the damage. This will leave you with two pieces of tape on each wire strand--most Christmas lights have two strands, but some have three or more. Advertisement.
How to splice a wire?
Use wire strippers to remove that length of insulation from the end of the wire you will be splicing. This allows the thicker portion of the connector to house insulated wire while the active (thinner) part of the connector houses the bare wire, keeping the bare portion away from contact.
How to crimp a wire into a connector?
Place one end of one of your wires into one end of a connector, then place the connector and wire into the grooved side of your crimping tool. Squeeze the tool's handles together to crimp the connector shut.
How to crimp wires?
Once the connection is secure, tightly wrap the connection in electrical tape, stretching the tape as you wrap it around the wires . This will not hold the wires into the connector if the crimp is not secure, but it can reduce strain on the wires from movement and prevent debris from working its way into the crimp.
Can you splice Christmas lights together?
Warning. Never splice multiple strands of Christmas tree lights together unless you are sure the wire is rated to carry the voltage safely. If the wires for your Christmas tree lights have a damaged portion, you may want to cut the wire to remove that portion and splice the good pieces of wire back together.
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How Christmas Lights Work
Examining Christmas lights is a great way to understand how the flow of electric current works. In a simple circuit, including one in an incandescent bulb, the electricity passes through a closed circuit and over a filament, which causes it to glow.
How to Shorten Christmas Lights
Whether your lights are LED, incandescent, or any other, you always want to make sure that they are plugged OFF before you begin any work. Never tinker with live wires. Always use caution when you’re working with exposed wires and don’t plug the lights in until all of the exposed wires are covered with wire connectors.
Materials Needed
The tools and materials that you’ll need to cut your Christmas lights to length are as follows:
Removing an Entire Section in a Series
To remove an entire section in a string of Christmas lights wired in a series, you first need to find where the series of connected lights begin and end. With these types of lights, there will often be multiple series of lights joined together. To find where a series begins and ends, simply remove random bulbs across the string.
Removing a Few Bulbs in a Series
If you want to remove one or two lights from a strand that’s wired in a series, this is possible but not always ideal. Christmas lights that are wired in a series distribute 120 volts from the plug across the lights. The table below outlines how when bulbs are removed and the volts increase, the lights become brighter:
Cut Christmas Lights Wired in Parallel
With Christmas lights that are wired in parallel, they are designed so that each bulb receives all 120 volts from the outlet and each bulb has a direct route to the power source. This means that you can remove as many bulbs as you desire and cut the lights to any length without the risk of overloading or burning out the bulbs.
How do I repair a Christmas tree light?
Christmas tree light repair is actually really simple. First, slide back the plastic covering on the plug to check the Christmas light fuse. Pro tip: Some Christmas light strings have more than one fuse, in which case they'll be next to each other. Replace any blown Christmas light fuses.
How do Christmas light testers work?
Some Christmas light testers work by sliding each Christmas light bulb through a hole. Pro tip: Usually, changing a problem bulb (or tightening it) will fix the entire strand. Second, test the Christmas light bulbs with an inexpensive tester. The Christmas light tester will indicate which bulbs are bad and need to be replaced.
How long do holiday lights last?
Also, be aware that most holiday light bulbs have short life expectancies, about 1,000 to 1,500 hours. This means the lights are designed to last one to three seasons, depending on your usage.
Troubleshooting Christmas Lights
String lights can fail for a great many reasons, but with this primer on Christmas lights and their failures, you’ll be able to identify your string lights’ issues. Learning how to fix Christmas lights that don’t work is somewhat of a lost art, but knowing how could save the festivities someday.
How to Repair Christmas Lights
Repairing Christmas lights can be a thankless job, but if Walmart is sold out of lights for the season and you have to make do with what you have, fixing a strand or two might be a reality. The following tips will explain how to repair Christmas lights (without you having to do your best Clark Griswold impression).
Caring for Your Christmas Lights
By the end of the holiday season, Christmas lights go from harbingers of cheer to a chore to clean up. If you want to avoid damaging your lights while putting them away, follow these tips:
FAQs About How to Fix Christmas Tree Lights
You might be feeling a bit more enlightened about how to repair Christmas lights, but some new questions might also be popping up. This section aims to answer those queries, as it’s a collection of some of the most frequently asked questions about how to fix Christmas tree lights.
