Christmas Light Question

[slowrev]

I'm not frustrated, nor am I going to spend $$ on "good" lights. There has to be a simple explaination as to why that one socket keeps blowing bulbs.

As for how Christmas light strings work, I have a pretty good handle on that...

All the bulbs in a section are wired in series.
All the bulbs have a shunt inside them.
If the filimant blows, the shunt lets voltage through.
If half your lights are out, you probably have TWO sections.
One of the bulbs probably has a bad shunt.
Finding the bad bulb can be a problem.
A product like the Light Keeper Pro can find and repair bad shunts without having to hunt for the bad bulb. It sends high voltage down the line and snaps the shunt back on. Then you just look for the bad bulb and replace it.

However, I know where the bad buld is. I just can't get any bulb to work in that socket.

the little mini series type bulbs have different operating voltages. A 100 light string will have a much lower voltage bulb than one from a 35 light string. If you put the 100 light blub in the 35 light string it will blow.

 

[chucko]

cut out the offending scocket and splice in the good part

 

[ronjhall]

I just picked up a Lightkeep Pro at Lowes for $8.50 about 20 minutes ago. Everything Christmas related is on 50% clearance. I'll let you know how it works tonight.

You must have alerted the whole TBN network. They were sold out at the local Lowe's.

 

[KubotaSteve]

After messing with those stupid lights in the freezing cold a couple years ago, I've been transitioning over to the C-9 bulbs and the rope lights. My wife has one of those pre-lit Christmas trees that rotate. She told me a section of lights were out. After she showed me, I turned the tree on until it rotated to where the unlit lights were back against the wall and turned the rotating thing off and said problem fixed .
I love decorating outside for Christmas but I hate dealing with those little bulbs.

 

[mwechtal]

O.K. I have tens of strings of 100 mini lights. You know, just like everybody else's. Nothing special. One socket on one string blows a bulb as soon as power is applied. I can't figure it out. I've disassembled the socket, looked real close, etc... what causes this? Any thoughts? I'm using the replacement bulbs that come with the sets, so that shouldn't be the problem.

MossRoad,
Maybe the bulbs they gave you are the wrong ones. You could tell with a multi-meter. Measure the resistance of a known good bulb, then one of the replacements.

Otherwise, I'd bet that you have several bulbs burnt out and shunted in that string. When they shunt, they have less resistance than a good bulb. This causes all the bulbs in the string to see a bit more voltage. You'd probably have to run the lights at a reduced voltage to find the bad ones. I'd use a Variac (variable voltage transformer) to run the string, but you probably don't have one.

Mike

 

[MossRoad]

The new Lowes on Ireland road had about two dozen left this morning.

 

[MossRoad]

The new Lowes on Ireland road had about two dozen left this morning.

That's in South Bend, Indiana, for those of you that are going to make the drive!

 

[Dusty]

MossRoad..... by this time a week from this Thursday you won't care, and will have another year to fix the problems.

 

[MossRoad]

MossRoad..... by this time a week from this Thursday you won't care, and will have another year to fix the problems.

Whadda you mean? I leave them up year round. They decorate the cars that are on blocks in my front yard. I sit on my porch recliner and watch them as I burn the trash in the barrel every evening.

 

[3RRL]

Well,
After reading this thread and downloading that Light Keeper Pro video, I jumped in the truck and went to Lowe's. Guess what? My Lowe's has never heard of it. I asked around and they told me to look in the seasonal Christmas section and there was nothing there either. Bummer! I live in Southern California, so is it just a back East thing?