Time flies by fast, and it’ll be the holiday season again before we know it. That means making our homes as festive and cozy as possible. But it could also mean struggling to fix holiday lights. If you don’t want that kind of stress during the holidays, test your lights beforehand and ensure they work before you install them.
If you’re wondering how to test holiday lights, we have easy methods you can try at home. They only take a few minutes and can save a lot of time during the decorating process. However, it’s easiest to leave these tasks up to lighting professionals. They’ll handle the entire decorating process from start to finish.
How to Test Christmas Lights: Six Methods for Homeowners
Imagine spending hours putting up your holiday lights only to find out some strands don’t work. To save yourself the hassle, test your lights before installing them by following these methods.
Check Each Light Strand
The first step in testing your holiday lights is to inspect each strand. Check for signs of damage, like fraying on the wires or cracks and cuts on the wire sheath. Look out for damaged sockets and missing or broken bulbs, too.
Unfortunately, cracked sockets, damaged sheathing and frayed wires are a safety hazard. Even if the lights work, throw away the entire strand and replace it with a new one.
Plug In Each Strand
After inspecting each light strand and discarding damaged ones, plug in the remaining strands individually. The ideal outcome is all bulbs will light up, and you’ll be ready to decorate your home. You may have a few bulbs that won’t light up or even full strands that don’t work. That’s where further testing comes in.
Inspect Each Fuse
Modern holiday lights have one or two fuses in the plug. They are located at the start of each strand, inside a chamber. Unplug each strand and locate the small sliding door on the plug. Use your fingernail or a flat screwdriver to pry the door open, remove the fuses and inspect them. You might spot a dark spot on the glass, indicating a blown fuse.
Use a Christmas Light Tester
Christmas light testers make the testing process much more painless. They come in many varieties, with some even able to repair malfunctioning light strands. Some you have to attach directly to the strand, while others are contactless electricity proximity testers. If you have a massive holiday light collection, you might have to use more than one kind of tester. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for a safe testing experience.
Use a Multimeter
A multimeter is a handy device for various electrical components, including holiday lights. A multimeter can help you identify the problem if you’re dealing with light strands that won’t work. It can locate continuity breaks, indicating you have one or more burnt-out light bulbs on the strand.
To check for continuity in an entire light strand, place one multimeter probe into one of the holes of the female plug and the other probe on one of the prongs on the male plug. There’s at least one bad bulb on the strand if the multimeter reads zero, open or infinite.
Some homeowners find testing their Christmas lights tough, especially if they have little electrical knowledge. Contacting a professional is your best bet. Your professional can bring new LED lights to your home and handle all the outdoor decorating for you. They can also advise you on how long Christmas lights last.
Where Is the Fuse Located on a String of Christmas Lights?
While a string of non-working Christmas lights shouldn’t dampen your holiday spirits, it can still be an eye-sore. If you want your home to look perfect for the holidays, it’s best to leave it to the lighting professionals.
If you have used your holiday lighting professional before, here’s how they will locate their fuses and replace them.
Unplug Your Holiday Lights
Before they tinker with your holiday lights, lighting pros will ensure they’re not plugged into a wall outlet, power strip or extension cord.
Check for Power
The next step is checking if the outlet has power. They may use other items like a lamp to see if it works or test it with a multimeter. If the outlet has no power, your circuit breaker might have a tripped breaker switch. Flipping it back on should solve the problem.
Locate the Fuses
Next, a lighting pro will take your light strand and locate the plug at the end of it. There should be a tiny cover on the plug that may or may not have a label. Using a fingernail or a flathead screwdriver, they will push the cover towards the plug’s metal prongs to slide it open. This is the fuse panel.
Remove and Inspect the Fuses
Then, they will pry the fuses out of their compartment with the screwdriver, making sure not to drop them. Once they’re out, a lighting pro will inspect them with a flashlight, checking for any staining. If they see dark spots similar to burn marks on the glass, that’s a sign of a blown fuse that requires replacing. In addition, they will check if the filaments are intact. The fuse can no longer be used if the filament is damaged or missing.
Why Are My LED Christmas Lights Not Working?
There are many benefits to switching to LED Christmas lights instead of other types of Christmas lights. They don’t overheat and are more durable, able to last many holiday seasons. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t ever break or malfunction.
Here are some possible reasons your LED holiday lights refuse to twinkle for you and what you can do about it.
Bad Bulb
If one bulb burns out, it can affect the entire strand and cause it to stop working. Unfortunately, you’ll have to check every lightbulb to see if the whole strand is out. That means removing each one, replacing it with a working bulb and plugging the strand in. If it lights up, you’ve found the culprit.
Faulty Wires
Damaged or faulty wires can cause a light strand to flicker or go partially dark. Inspect the wires, paying close attention to the part where they meet the base of the bulbs. That’s where they tend to become loose or disconnected. If you see copper filaments jutting out of a base, you’ve found the problem.
Blown Fuses
If the entire light strand refuses to turn on, it likely has a blown fuse. You can check by opening the compartment on the male plug at the start of the strand. You’ll see a fuse or two inside. If they have dark burn stains, they’re the reason for the issue.
Lighting professionals can save the day if you have a bad bulb, faulty wiring or a blown fuse. They will perform the necessary repairs and replacements and have your home shining for the holidays.
Lighting Problems? Leave It to the Pros
The holiday season is a time for family, friends and lots of lights. Ensure your house is ready to shine in time for the festivities. Contact a lighting professional to install your holiday lights for you.