How to Repair Christmas Rope Lights
Christmas rope lights that are defective can be repaired by troubleshooting. Generally, most rope Christmas lights can be salvaged without having to replace the whole set. Lights that flicker unintentionally or a string of lights that don't work at all may be best remedied through replacement bulbs. Keep in mind, however, to handle lights gently to preserve their longevity. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Check for loose plugs. Movement from branches holding up heavy ornaments or unnecessary pulling and tugging on lights can cause the plug to loosen from the socket.
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Repair Christmas rope lights that are not working by replacing the fuse. Unplug the lights from the electrical socket before repair. Remove the lights’ fuse (the small box generally located on the plug of the lights) with a screwdriver. Slide the new fuse into the tab and close the tab. Plug the lights in the socket to test.
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Check for missing or damaged bulbs. Remove the string of lights from the tree and place it lengthwise on a flat surface to better examine each light bulb. Even one missing bulb can be the culprit for a string of lights not to work. Use a replacement bulb to fill in all bulbs that are missing or appear to be broken or with no filament connecting two wires inside the bulb. Place the bulb in the socket, twisting it until it cannot move, to ensure that the bulb is secure.
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Correct lost wire connectivity by replacing old defected bulbs with new ones. Unplug the lights from the outlet and remove the light bulb from the strand with a light bulb puller (or gently pull on the light bulb’s base to release the bulb from its socket). Take the replacement bulb (that most likely came in the Christmas light package) and set it in the socket, twisting it in place so that it is not loose (loose bulbs will not light). Plug the lights back into a power source to test.
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References
- Photo Credit christmas lights image by Cindy Haggerty from Fotolia.com
