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have a multimeter
and several non-working strings (so hopefully there are plenty of spare
light bulbs).
For one who has the time but is low on funds ... how does one fix those
strings of Christmas tree / colored lights that have the bulbs in series -
presumably, if one bulb blows they all get knocked out?
Suggestions? |
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I have an electrical tester that I picked at the dollar store. If you hold
it next to a plugged in extension cord, it will light up when held next to
the hot / live wire, but won't light up when held next to the neutral /
ground (even if there is nothing plugged into the extension cord). If you
could find this tool, you could use it to trace the line, and find where it
breaks, then replace that bulb, and continue till you get a working set.
I think the tester is called DEET or something.
If you just have a multimeter: set it to continuity test or resistance test.
Remove a lightbulb and test the two contacts. If it beeps on continuity, or
registers a resistance (near zero), then you know that bulb is good. Plug
that bulb in and test the next one.
If all the bulbs work, then you might have screwed up sockets or wiring,
which is a little harder to test. You remove a bulb, test continuity from
both the prongs on the plug to the contacts in the socket, replace the bulb,
and continue to the next socket till you find a problem. It's actually pretty rare to have a "one bulb blows, the whole strand goes out"
anymore. It _is_ still true in most sets though that if "one bulb is not fully
seated the whole strand goes out". That being the case you usually only have to
go through the set looking for the loose bulb(s) to get the strand to light up.
Once the strand lights, the bulbs that are actually burned out are easy to spot.
Except for the very deluxe sets I only give them about 20 minutes worth of
dicking with them. After that, they hit the trash and I buy another set. There
just not worth more effort than that. |
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