String Lights: Do They Die If One Bulb Goes Out?
Decorating your home is supposed to be a fun experience. But, what happens when you have string lights and one bulb goes out? Do the other bulbs go out too? If so, that could mean a lot of work for you! You will need to fix the light or replace it with a new one.
This may not seem like a big deal but can become very frustrating after multiple times happening. Not all string lights are built the same and this isn’t the case with all types of string lights so let’s take a look at when your whole string may die from one dead bulb vs string lights that only require the replacement of a single bulb but work throughout.
What Are String Lights
String lights are Christmas lights that usually come in long strands. They can be used to decorate trees, houses (exterior and interior), wreaths, garlands, etc., for the holiday season. Some people even use them year-round by hanging them up on their roofs or outside their windows! However, they do have a finite lifespan, so you do have to take care of them properly for them to last a long time.
Strings lights are lit up by individual little bulbs that come together on a single strand and usually, they stay lit when one is broken or goes out. However, not all strands work this way!
Do String Lights Die If One Bulb Goes Out?
Some string lights are made with bulbs that have a shunt. A shunt is an electrical connection between two points on the same circuit to divert excess current away from a lower resistance path, so it can carry more electricity at once. Basically, this means you do not need to replace the entire strand of lights when one bulb burns out because there’s another pathway for electricity flow!
You simply just have to take out the old bulb and put in a new one. This makes replacing them relatively simple if you know what you’re doing. However, sometimes these shunts malfunction, and they short-circuit which ends up blowing off your whole light set! If this happens, make sure it is unplugged before you fix this problem!
Luckily with more current light strings such as LED Light strings, they do not work the same way and only require a single replacement of anyone bulb. This is because LED lights don’t use filaments to glow, so they can continue working even when there’s just one dead light in the string!
How To Replace A Burned-Out Bulb On Your String Light
If you do notice a dead bulb in your holiday lights, you simply need to replace it. Make sure the power is off before you do this! You can either unplug them or turn off your breaker switch if they are on an exterior outlet.
Once the electricity has been cut, go ahead and remove the old bulb by twisting counter-clockwise with pliers until it comes out of its socket. Then, take out the new bulb and twist it in clockwise until you hear a click.
It’s as easy as that! You can plug the lights back in to make sure it works and you don’t have any more issues. If you notice a problem, turn them off immediately because there’s probably something wrong with your outlet or string!
What To Do If Your String Isn’t Working?
If you happen to notice that your light strand isn’t lit up, but all the bulbs are in place, then it’s probably not just one burned-out bulb. If this is the case with your lights, unplug them and let them sit for a few hours, and see if everything resets back to normal!
Sometimes when electricity gets too much or too little, it can mess up your lights. Just give them a break for a few hours and you should be good to go! If not, call an electrician or try out another string.
Get Quality String Lights From LED Lights Unlimited
Quality LED lights are one of the best investments you can make this holiday season! They last longer, they’re energy-efficient, and quite frankly, they look better than regular string lights. Plus, with them being LED (light-emitting diode), there’s no fear of burning out bulbs or having to replace entire strands when there is just a single dead bulb at the end! It’ll save you time and money in the long run so go ahead and give these great deals on quality LEDs from us here at LED Lights Unlimited a try today!
Disclaimer: Our products are ROHS-compliant. This means that we are aware they may contain lead but do not exceed the allowable amounts.