How to Fix Broken Christmas Lights
Christmas is right around the corner, and soon, we will all be putting up Christmas decorations. But what happens when you pull out all of your old Christmas lights and find that some of them aren't working? Unfortunately, this is a common problem. To save spending money on buying brand-new Christmas lights, it's worth knowing how to fix the lights. Most of the time, the problem is quite simple, and there is usually an easy solution.
Electrical expert Eric Davis at MyJobQuote.co.uk has created this guide on how to fix broken Christmas lights. Here, you will learn how to diagnose common Christmas light issues and how to fix these problems. So, if you’ve just untangled all of your old Christmas lights to find that they are not working properly, take a look below for some information on how you can fix your broken Christmas lights.
Find The Problem
You will need to begin by diagnosing the problem. Inspect each of the lights carefully before plugging them into an electrical outlet.
If you see any slits or cracks in the insulation, bare or frayed wires, or damage to the plug, you will need to discard the lights.
In most cases, replacing just one of the bulbs will fix the entire set of lights. If you are struggling with a smaller light set, it is most likely a wired-in series. Each of the bulbs will have an electrical current which passes through them. This completes the circuit and illuminates the set.
If you have a larger set of lights, you will likely be working with two or more wire circuits. This explains why sometimes just a section of the lights will go out. In the majority of cases, you can just replace one bad bulb, and this should fix the set.
Locate The Bad Bulb and Swap It
It can be difficult trying to determine which bulb is faulty. It’s best to use a multimeter or a tool that is designed for repairing Christmas lights. You may be able to see which is the bad bulb by just plugging it in. In some cases, the bad bulb may just be loose. In this case, you can simply tighten the bulb, and that should fix the issue.
If there is still a problem, remove the bulb and inspect the two tiny wires at the bottom. These should be firmly attached and should not be touching each other. Each wire should also be laid flat against the external part of the bulb. When you push the bulb into the socket, these two wires complete the electrical connection.
If the bulb is damaged or burned out, simply replace it with a new bulb, and this should fix your issue. Just ensure that the new bulb has the correct voltage rating to avoid damaging the rest of the light set.
If a voltage detector doesn't find any issues, then this may be due to a faulty fuse. Remove the sliding door on the plug and locate the small fuse. If the fuse is fried, replace it with a new one. Just ensure that it is the same amperage. You can see the amperage on the plug itself.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, it's not too difficult to fix broken Christmas lights. If you find that your Christmas lights are not working when you're ready to decorate your home, follow the tips in this guide. In most cases, fixing one bad bulb can save you from having to replace the entire set. This can help you save money, which you can then spend on more important things over the Christmas period.
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