How to fix icicle Christmas lights. Icicle lights are harder to fix than single strings. This shows how to almost always fix a set by a clever method to chec... Video Rating: 4 / 5
Thanks very much for posting this. I'm an electronics savvy guy myself but was stumped by the "non-working section" problem. I have two non-contact voltage testers including the lightkeeper which i agree only works about 10% (or less) of the time. I went so far as to insert pins into the wires at the head of each icicle and use a contact voltage tester, which i now know was a waste of time since both wires in each icicle will show some voltage. Trying your method next!
This is great information. Light keeper Pro doesn't work 100%. Once you get past the click you may as well not waste time and buy new sets. $22.00 can buy you peace of mind with several new sets. You can thank shoddy Chinese quality control and importers who have created endless resupply market. My time is worth more than to fix these lights. Seems to me time to diagnose costs more than the lights.
Cool, have you gotten the LightKeeper pro since? This seems a bit dangerous when you got shocked! I really recommend the lightkeeper pro. let me know what you think! Merry Christmas!
I usually just cut the problem section out and replace it with a one that is working. You can cut it at the section of the lights that have only two wires leading to the next section.
Thanks for the video, you inspired me to take the string down and inspect it indoors. With the voltmeter I was able to narrow it down to one 'icicle' and found the next to last bulb had burned up, damaging the socket. I bypassed it with a butt connector and heatshrink, now it has 299 lights.
Excellent. I repaired 1 string using your method. The 2nd string was really tricky. A 50 bulb section (150 total) was not lighting. After exhausting everything else, and determined to salvage good bulbs, i began testing bulbs from the bad section in the good, and discarding any that did not light or complete the circuit. I found 1 then broke the circuit. I rounded up some spare bulbs. Put all 50 back in place, and it WORKED.
You are THE most patient man on planet Earth. I have the same problem with my lights and found your video, hoping for an easy fix. Watched your video and tossed my strings in the trash. I'm headed to Walmart, like, RIGHT NOW! Thanks dude, you saved me several hours of troubleshooting and much cursing.
Great Job!! The average person does not have a chane with tree lights or icicle lights and without a mutimeter forget it! Thanks for a great video.. I happen to have both a snifer and several mutimeters and have been baffeled more than one. Not now!!! Thank You!! I'm off to fix about 15 strings I have piled up over the past few years!!! GREAT A+++
How would you know if its broken or not. We have a whole bunch of icicle lights, and certain parts would light up and some wouldn't. It'll be one whole strand of the lights would go on, and maybe 3 or 4 pieces on the same wire would be out. How would you know.
Great video. Thanks for taking the time to share your method. I've used the Lightkeeper before but it can be hit or miss. The multimeter method looks more straightforward, especially with your technique. I may try using both tools. Btw, don't you hate when a section goes out after they're already hanging on the house :) . Thanks again.
Fantastic... this was just what i needed. I went through every bulb one at a time before finding this video, but your instructions helped me narrow it down to the real culprit. Thanks!
Since I always start putting up my Christmas lights in November, since October is pretty far along I decided to get out the Christmas lights and check and see if they were all working. What a PAIN!!!!! I have been working on one set for about 6 hours... at a cost of 15 bucks I think maybe I'll just go and buy new... I hate to waste it though
Seriously?? What about looking at each lightbulb to see if the coil is broken and just replacing it instead of buying silly equipment to fix a set of lights that are worth nothing anyway!! This is also stupid as it is dangerous!
That device checks if that cable has potential, if it does then around that wire there's electromagnetic field. If there is a electromagnetic fiend then nearby metals will be in idk the right word but they will be on some potential, and this device measure that potential and alarms you
Whoa! You said a lot of words there. I had a hard time understanding your
ReplyDeleteconclusion.
Thanks very much for posting this. I'm an electronics savvy guy myself but
ReplyDeletewas stumped by the "non-working section" problem. I have two non-contact
voltage testers including the lightkeeper which i agree only works about
10% (or less) of the time. I went so far as to insert pins into the wires
at the head of each icicle and use a contact voltage tester, which i now
know was a waste of time since both wires in each icicle will show some
voltage. Trying your method next!
This is great information. Light keeper Pro doesn't work 100%. Once you get
ReplyDeletepast the click you may as well not waste time and buy new sets. $22.00 can
buy you peace of mind with several new sets. You can thank shoddy Chinese
quality control and importers who have created endless resupply market. My
time is worth more than to fix these lights. Seems to me time to diagnose
costs more than the lights.
Cool, have you gotten the LightKeeper pro since? This seems a bit dangerous
ReplyDeletewhen you got shocked! I really recommend the lightkeeper pro. let me know
what you think! Merry Christmas!
I have the Pro Light keeper & to find it The Home Depot & many other
ReplyDeletehomestores or try QVC on your cable box.
I usually just cut the problem section out and replace it with a one that
ReplyDeleteis working. You can cut it at the section of the lights that have only two
wires leading to the next section.
God bless you. I don't have the patience to do all that. Much less a
ReplyDeletevoltmeter!
you have a lot of patients...thanks for the info,good post :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the video, you inspired me to take the string down and inspect
ReplyDeleteit indoors. With the voltmeter I was able to narrow it down to one 'icicle'
and found the next to last bulb had burned up, damaging the socket. I
bypassed it with a butt connector and heatshrink, now it has 299 lights.
Excellent. Thank you very much. Saved me a lot of trial and error.
ReplyDeleteExcellent. I repaired 1 string using your method. The 2nd string was really
ReplyDeletetricky. A 50 bulb section (150 total) was not lighting. After exhausting
everything else, and determined to salvage good bulbs, i began testing
bulbs from the bad section in the good, and discarding any that did not
light or complete the circuit. I found 1 then broke the circuit. I rounded
up some spare bulbs. Put all 50 back in place, and it WORKED.
You are THE most patient man on planet Earth. I have the same problem with
ReplyDeletemy lights and found your video, hoping for an easy fix. Watched your video
and tossed my strings in the trash. I'm headed to Walmart, like, RIGHT NOW!
Thanks dude, you saved me several hours of troubleshooting and much cursing.
It really bugs me to pitch outdoor lights so I don't ... now I might be
ReplyDeleteable to get them to light up again... thanks,
Great Job!! The average person does not have a chane with tree lights or
ReplyDeleteicicle lights and without a mutimeter forget it! Thanks for a great video..
I happen to have both a snifer and several mutimeters and have been
baffeled more than one. Not now!!! Thank You!! I'm off to fix about 15
strings I have piled up over the past few years!!! GREAT A+++
How would you know if its broken or not. We have a whole bunch of icicle
ReplyDeletelights, and certain parts would light up and some wouldn't. It'll be one
whole strand of the lights would go on, and maybe 3 or 4 pieces on the same
wire would be out. How would you know.
This guy is awesome.
ReplyDeleteGreat video. Thanks for taking the time to share your method. I've used the
ReplyDeleteLightkeeper before but it can be hit or miss. The multimeter method looks
more straightforward, especially with your technique. I may try using both
tools. Btw, don't you hate when a section goes out after they're already
hanging on the house :) . Thanks again.
Great tutorial. Now if I could only find my multimeter!
ReplyDeleteFantastic... this was just what i needed. I went through every bulb one at
ReplyDeletea time before finding this video, but your instructions helped me narrow it
down to the real culprit. Thanks!
Brilliant! I have 3 very long strings of lights I've been tasked to repair
ReplyDeletefor a friend. Thank you for your excellent instruction!
4:47 Can't say no to binary search!
ReplyDeleteI represent your pain! hehehe
ReplyDeletegreat job!
ReplyDeleteSince I always start putting up my Christmas lights in November, since
ReplyDeleteOctober is pretty far along I decided to get out the Christmas lights and
check and see if they were all working. What a PAIN!!!!! I have been
working on one set for about 6 hours... at a cost of 15 bucks I think maybe
I'll just go and buy new... I hate to waste it though
shock protection level 100 :D
ReplyDeletefixed but... not safe for kids and youre tree will burn down :D
ReplyDeleteitll still get a shorter lifespan if you just remove one instead of
ReplyDeletereplacing it
you know what your doing thanks
ReplyDeleteAnd what is the name of the tool/alarm?
ReplyDeleteVoltage tester pen or something check on google u can find sorry for my
ReplyDeletelate replay
I use the same method.
ReplyDeleteYou should replace the lamp. In this way you overstress the remaining ones.
ReplyDeletemagnets, how do they work... too complicated for me!
ReplyDeleteSeriously?? What about looking at each lightbulb to see if the coil is
ReplyDeletebroken and just replacing it instead of buying silly equipment to fix a set
of lights that are worth nothing anyway!! This is also stupid as it is
dangerous!
Should replace the entire light strand altogether.
ReplyDeleteThat device checks if that cable has potential, if it does then around that
ReplyDeletewire there's electromagnetic field. If there is a electromagnetic fiend
then nearby metals will be in idk the right word but they will be on some
potential, and this device measure that potential and alarms you
Y u never tlk
ReplyDeleteWhat does that tool do?
ReplyDeletedo your kids fly across the room now when they try to unwrap their
ReplyDeleteChristmas presents on Christmas morning? lol :)
dude... there's like 100 bulbs, their stress just increased like 1% its not
ReplyDeletegonna make a difference.