Christmas Light Repair

[MossRoad]

Hee hee! I get to play with mine in a couple days. It pays for itself pretty quickly. :thumbsup:

 

[dakotagun]

the only repair I make when a section goes out, is take the string down and throw it away. it's not worth my time to try to find/fix the issue. this attitude makes it nearly a rule to buy new stuff every year, cuz most of it is crap and wont light more than one season (yes, I roll them and organize them neatly and store them in a large bin...it doesn't matter). cheapest junk on the market. but I like the twinkling little buggers, and have 20-30 strings going as we speak...

 

[Bird]

it's not worth my time to try to find/fix the issue

I don't blame you. I had a hard time deciding whether to buy the Light Keeper Pro myself, since I also bought several new 21.5' strings of 100 bulbs each for $1.73 each, plus tax, but I have lots of spare time and thought it would be interesting learning something new. To satisfy my wife, I also bought 3 LED net lights to put on 3 shrubs. Of course the LED lights were much more expensive and I don't know if or when I might buy the Light Keeper for LED lights.

 

[MossRoad]

If I'm sitting around watching TV, I have time to poke the Christmas lights. I've repaired more sets than I care to remember.... well over a hundred. We have a 35' tree out front that gets about 20 strings of 300 each year. Been doing it for over 18 years. Funny thing is, they mostly work when you put them away, but when you get them out, the problems show up. :confused2:

 

[/pine]

FWIW...And I know it is late for this season...but if anyone is interested in making their own cheap automated computer programmed holiday light/music display...send me a PM...

hardware required:

Old computer...i.e., 386, 486, pentium etc.etc... it must have a parallel (printer) port...

8 channel 110V/10A relay controller card ($50) this card will control 8 different light circuits independently or simultaneously... on/off/delay

To add broadcasted (choreographed) sound/music (that can be heard on any FM radio) add $20 for the FM transmitter...

some misc. electrical wire and gang type receptacle boxes...

All the required software is 100% free, open source releases...

You can write your own programs as easy as posting to TBN...simple "system language" is all that is required and in less than 5 minutes you can learn all the command and function strings needed...

Again...FWIW...