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Christmas lights seem to be made to be single use and disposable
Posted on 12/11/24 at 1:29 pm
Posted on 12/11/24 at 1:29 pm
Does anyone else have the problem of Christmas lights stop working for no apparent reason? It does not seem to matter the cost of the sets, or the brand or age. I can check a set prior to hanging them up only to have some critical whole section just go dark the next day without being touched, rained on or otherwise fooled with. I’ve tried checking each and every bulb, their connections, wires for cuts or shorts and almost never find out why some section stop working. I end up throwing them out and resolving to buy heavy duty ones next time that are more expensive. But often even those will do the same thing. The new light sets and not the series kind that should cause the whole set to go out if only one burns out- individual lights should burn out by themselves and not affect other bulbs. That would be fine and easily correctable or acceptable. But for what ever reason whole sections are prone to stop working without apparent reason. It’s very frustrating to say the least.
This post was edited on 12/11/24 at 1:45 pm
Posted on 12/11/24 at 1:37 pm to otowntiger
I bought 4 sets of C9 lights at lowes last year for something like $55 per strand. Got them out this year to hang up and one strand was a no go. Did all the trouble shooting, replaced fuses, etc. called the company (GE) and they said send them back and they’d send me a new strand because they were under 5 year guarantee. May seem like a lot of work but for $55 strand of lights they should last more than one christmas season.
Posted on 12/11/24 at 1:42 pm to Doofus
That’s ridiculous!!! $55 per set?? And they still don’t last?! That’s exactly what I’m talking about, except admittedly I’ve never paid that kind of money for one set.
This post was edited on 12/11/24 at 1:43 pm
Posted on 12/11/24 at 1:52 pm to otowntiger
Yeah i was pissed when they didnt light up.
Posted on 12/11/24 at 1:55 pm to otowntiger
They are all shite. If you want something to last get the tube lights. Don't look as good but they last.
Posted on 12/11/24 at 2:10 pm to otowntiger
Im on year 8 with my set. I keep them stored on their original reels. I sacrificed an entire reel for use in spare bulbs sockets wire etc. I use LED keeper every year and replace items as needed. There were some poorly connected sockets snd wiring. LED is notorious for outtage if incorrect voltage. This will be the last year with this set, not because of outtages but that the UV light and age has eventually made the bb housings dingy yellow warm white color.
This tool has a bit of learning curve and you must have additional proprietary PODs from them, but its a must have.

This tool has a bit of learning curve and you must have additional proprietary PODs from them, but its a must have.

Posted on 12/11/24 at 3:20 pm to otowntiger
I just go buy a new strand of the mini lights from Hobby Lobby when one goes out. They're only $5 and typically will last a few years if I'm careful putting them away after the season.
Posted on 12/11/24 at 4:14 pm to otowntiger
Every year my hardware store sells Christmas lights for 75% off immediately after Christmas and I buy like 3-4 long strands. I now have too many, but will continue to stockpile

Posted on 12/11/24 at 4:24 pm to otowntiger
I bought all the stuff for c9 led lights a few years ago and have had success. Maybe 3-5 lights burn out yearly. Biggest issue is the clip on the light housing breaks off easily so I’ve had to add aftermarket clips. Bought extra wire to make extensions that jump down to windows and what not. Easy.
Posted on 12/11/24 at 7:26 pm to poochie
I have a massive display with about 69k lights. A Light Keeper Pro, one for incandescents and especially one for LEDs is absolutely necessary. I repair 20-30 strands of LEDs each year, which saves hundreds of dollars each season. It’s one of those gadgets that actually works.
Posted on 12/12/24 at 11:06 am to CatfishJohn
quote:
Every year my hardware store sells Christmas lights for 75% off immediately after Christmas and I buy like 3-4 long strands. I now have too many, but will continue to stockpile![]()
The Lowes near me already have theirs on sale so check now before everything is gone.
quote:
Christmas lights seem to be made to be single use and disposable
Depends on how you store them. I store them in my attic which gets really hot but added an attic fan when I got a new roof so it's a lot cooler; still hot tho.
Posted on 12/12/24 at 1:42 pm to otowntiger
I was about to throw some away then I went to Lowe’s and saw the price of new one. frick that I traced the bad bulbs and changed them. Also sometimes it’s just the fuse. Should come with extra. Found a bunch in my storage boxes.
Posted on 12/12/24 at 2:33 pm to otowntiger
I've given up on any form of string lights outdoors. I have only 600 but it feels like I'm down to 500 after a year. LED too. Eventually I'm going to switch over to underlighting for my soffits so that I can have themes throughout the year, although I'll miss having icicle style lights.
Posted on 12/12/24 at 9:48 pm to Art Vandelay
quote:the first thing I do is check the fuses, and that is almost never the problem. Also one bulb burning out should not/ does not cause the outages. It’s usually a short or bad connection that is almost impossible to find.
I traced the bad bulbs and changed them. Also sometimes it’s just the fuse. Should come with extra. Found a bunch in my storage boxe
Posted on 12/14/24 at 11:46 am to otowntiger
Update - Came home on Thursday night and one strand that was working well and hung up on my house were lit up very dim. Friday night they did not light up at all. Replaced fuses and still nothing. I just dont understand these things. Could I be putting the new fuses in incorrectly?
Posted on 12/15/24 at 9:15 am to otowntiger
My outdoor lights were a problem. Even after going to LED. About 4 years ago I started storing them inside the house instead of the attic. In a large tub, open with no lid. No big issues since. Pulled lights out and 1 section of 1 string didn’t work this year. Happened to see a bulb in the bottom of the storage tub and sure enough it was from the section not working. Put it in and everything is good. Those attic temps and outside humidity seem to cause the problems.
Posted on 12/17/24 at 1:04 pm to otowntiger
Posted on 12/17/24 at 8:02 pm to otowntiger
The cheap ones last the longest
Posted on 12/18/24 at 10:08 am to otowntiger
I buy stringers then install screw in LED C9s
They look good and tend to last. When one burns out, unscrew it and replace single bulb. About 95 cents per bulb on Amazon.
They look good and tend to last. When one burns out, unscrew it and replace single bulb. About 95 cents per bulb on Amazon.
Posted on 12/19/24 at 4:11 pm to otowntiger
I have never in all of my life changed a fuse on the light strand and had it fix the problem. 

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