Christmas light bulb burns out immediately

Christmas light bulb burns out immediately

Christmas tree lights are one of the most iconic Christmas decorations. Unfortunately, they are also known for their lighting problems. Fixing problems with plugged-in Christmas lights or illuminated artificial trees can take longer than necessary. Read on to find out how to fix Christmas lights quickly. Get the tips and tools you need to catch problems before they happen.

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1

Identify the problem

Whether you use traditional incandescent lights or LED lights, your Christmas lights may be failing for one of the following reasons.

The circuit is not energized.

A fuse has blown.

A bulb has blown, causing a series disconnect.

The cable is defective.

One or more bulbs have not been installed correctly in their sockets.

A bulb has blown and its branches no longer conduct electricity.

If you are using a battery-operated lamp, you must first replace or recharge the batteries.




Follow the steps below to identify and fix these common Christmas light problems.

2

Test the circuit

If you plug a cord into your chosen outlet and it doesn't work, check the main circuit board first. Make sure the circuit breaker is open and has not tripped.

If it does not work, try the plug. You can plug in a cord that you know works or use a circuit tester. If the plug still doesn't work, consider replacing it, calling an electrician to fix the faulty plug, or skip to step 3.

3

Check the fuse

Traditional and LED Christmas tree light strings usually have a fuse box in a small compartment in the socket behind the sliding door. The fuse is a small glass cylinder covered with metal on both ends and a metal wire in the center. Sometimes you can see with the naked eye if the fuse has broken; the metal wire inside the glass cylinder breaks. Replacing the Christmas tree light fuse is simple.

Open the sliding hatch and remove the fuse.

Replace the blown fuse with another of the same size and rating.

If you cannot see with the naked eye that a fuse has blown, check each fuse. Replace one fuse at a time with a new one until the light comes back on.

If all the fuses work and the light still does not come on, go to step 4.

Tip: If your light string does not appear to have any fuses available, continue to step 4.

4

Checking the chain

Completely unhook the light chain and check the wires and plugs for damage. Note that not all of the "wires" in the chain are electrical; some are there for aesthetic or ancillary reasons and are not part of the circuit board.

If there are damaged sections that do not appear to have wires, they may not affect the lighting.

If there are wires protruding from the break, discard them. Save the bulb and use it as a spare for other light strings.

If the chain appears to be OK, check the individual bulb sockets and bulbs.

5

Checking each bulb

Fairy lights often come with extra bulbs. Christmas bulbs are available in several voltages, including C9 replacement bulbs and C7 replacement bulbs. They are also available as colored and clear replacement bulbs.

Make sure each bulb is mounted correctly and completely in its holder.

A blown bulb should be easy to detect, as the glass surrounding the broken filament will be dark.

Disconnect the wires and replace the broken bulb with a new bulb of the same size and voltage.

If you do not detect any blown bulbs, or if a large number of bulbs are still not working, continue with step 6.

6

Testing the bulbs

Use a Christmas tree lighting tester to test each bulb individually. Sometimes, bulbs that do not work appear to be normal. Therefore, a light tester is the most effective and reliable way to detect faulty bulbs. Both conventional bulbs and LED bulbs can be tested. Replacing a bulb that no longer works.

How to test a light bulb without a tester.

Find a socket on the wire that you know will work and mark it with a piece of tape.

Remove all the bulbs from the non-functional part of the wire.

Place them in the untested bulb container. Use a separate container for the tested and working bulbs.

Connect the light strings and begin testing each bulb by plugging it into the designated socket.

If it lights up, you know the bulb is working. Place it in the working bulb socket.

Continue this process until you have tested all the bulbs. Replace the bulb in the working bulb socket.

Discard any bulbs that do not light.  

7

Other troubleshooting tips

Keep the following points in mind when attempting to repair a fairy light.




Modern fairy lights have a shunt to redirect the current flow. If one bulb burns out, only that bulb will be affected. When an entire string of lights fails, it is usually not a single bulb that has blown. Purchasing replacement bulbs for Christmas lights should always be the last step.

Replace blown bulbs quickly to avoid a string of electrical failures. When a bulb goes out, the bypass transmits power to the next bulb. This causes each bulb to glow brighter and brighter until it finally burns out. If a major power failure has occurred, replace the first blown bulb and all subsequent bulbs.

Change lights regularly. A typical string of lights lasts between 1,000 and 1,500 hours, or two to three seasons. LED holiday lights last much longer, typically 10 times longer than conventional lights.

8

How to care for Christmas lights

Christmas lights are fragile. Take care of them.




Be mindful of the holiday atmosphere.

Turn off and unplug Christmas lights when not in use and before bedtime.

Hang ornaments on the branches of your tree. Never hang them on a string of lights.

Keep your natural trees well hydrated, as dry branches and needles burn more easily.




Storage after the season.

Remove Christmas tree lights carefully, don't pull or twist them.

Plug the lights in before storing them to make sure they still work.

Replace faulty bulbs and fuses in preparation for next season's lighting.

Loosely coil strands and secure them with cable ties so they don't tangle with other strands during storage.

Store the wicks in their original packaging or similar container in a dry, safe place away from children and pets.

9

Troubleshooting Pre-lit Artificial Christmas Trees

A pre-lit Christmas tree is the ultimate holiday comfort. However, if your pre-lit artificial Christmas tree isn't quite lit, the following tips will have it glowing in no time.

Make sure your pre-lit Christmas tree is plugged into a working outlet (see step 1).

If your tree is equipped with a remote control, try replacing or recharging the batteries.

If you have never used the tree before, you may need to remove the plastic tabs from the remote control housing.

Check the connections between the unconnected sections. Make sure each part is firmly connected to the adjacent part.

Look for faulty or burned out bulbs. Replace them.

If the zone is only half lit, check the fuse. The fuse is usually at the plug end.

If there is a foot pedal, step on it and release it.

Check the cross section again. One of the plugs may be partially or totally disconnected. Larger trees have two or three branches and the main plug may not be at the base of the tree.

Knowing how to fix Christmas lights will help you better enjoy the holidays. From checking fuses to replacing bulbs, there are several steps you can take to keep your Christmas lights in good shape. Are you ready to buy new blower lights, LED Christmas lights or other lights?