When you dig out your Christmas lights this season, and find yourself plagued by half a string being dead, it is important to know the root causes of such an issue as well as possible solutions. A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO FIXING CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Frequently found causes of Christmas lights half out
In those scenarios, a loose connection or burnt-out bulb is likely your cause. Before 1985, most light strings had series circuits meaning that if one bulb did not operate, the whole circuit in its part would fail23.
Fuses If burned out fuses: A lot of Christmas lights are supposed to have a fuse in their plug. A fuse blowing will cause the string to go off half. Pressing on the fuses in these locations to reset them often restores functionality.
Damaged Wires: WIres, over time, get worn down and chopped through with wear and tear or mishandling. 7) Entire sections of lights going out — a sign that the wire is broken
Step-by-Step Fixes
Step 1: Examine the Bulbs in the Non-Functioning Portion Before you do anything, check each bulb within the non-functioning region. Carefully wiggle each bulb to make sure it is as far into its socket as it can go. In many cases, this step can fix the problem4.
Wiggle a replacement bulbSome might have thought this super easy and that I should get to the good stuff, but it must be said as part of replacing burnt-out bulbsIf wiggling isn’t helping, remove any dark or dinged-up columns.Christmas Lights Repair (ad) Switch out these bulbs to new ones that meet your string lights voltage rating34.
Check your fuses and change them out if necessary: You can access the fuse compartment (in the plug) on your light string. Replace with new ones and discard any blown fuses (burnt looking) 35
Check for damaged wires: If none of the above solutions work, inspect a section length around where your problem is located looking any broken or fraying visible signs in the wire. If you see damages, these may have to be patched up or replaced altogether.
Then: Try a Light Tester — If you remain frustrated, invest in one of those Christmas-lite checker gadgets that usually works fairly well. It helps to identify failed light bulbs faster than visual inspection45.
Preventive Measures
Maintenance: Every year, at the end of your holiday season give a full inspection to make sure all bulbs are working and that no wires have damage.
Storage: Store your lights properly to avoid tangling and damage during the off-season.
With this in mind, we can usually fix our Christmas lights as much of the time by following these steps that will help you avoid having to buy new lights and have your mood shattered.
