Fixing LED Christmas Lights - Half/Full Strand Out - EASY! - No Special Tools - Works Every Time!

Fixing LED Christmas lights that are totally out or half the strand works. No special tools required. Works every time, super easy.

[@CallieCEntertainment]

Out of all of these I've watched, you are the only one who's mentioned the difference in bulb socket sizes.

[@georgef8855]

Hey man, I was ready to throw away 4 strands of lights. This method worked! They are all back up and fully operational! Thanks for being the hero I needed today! Haha

[@luludesjardins]

Thanks so much. Yours is the 4th video I’ve watched on the subject, but the first to talk about the possibility of more than one bulb causing the problem.

[@westvalley411]

Bless you. It worked. The whole time I was checking each bulb I was saying it won't work, but after I found and replaced first bulb, I found another one with broken lead..drum roll, the "out" half lit up!!!!! Thanks for well narrated vid, saved $9.00 and another thumbs up!

[@sarahmariah100]

I had no idea how to fix mine, and I watched this, and I fixed them! I was about to fix mine by tossing them and buying new ones, so this vid was definitely a good deed.

[@rachandraf06]

Thank you for doing this! You help me avoid sending three strands to the landfill. I used to use a voltage tester, but it was a hit or miss proposition. This method is simple, yet fool-proof.

[@GregIllig]

I wasn't able to find the problem with my string of 75 C9 LED Christmas lights but the video was still very helpful! Learned a lot and hoping it will help with future issues. Thanks!

[@ericalas93]

Ready to throw my lights out, only half we’re working, I did not realize that the first ones were bigger than the rest and that one was the culprit, thank you very much! I now know more about Christmas lights that I ever thought necessary 😅

[@cfnature5]

By far, this is THE most helpful and informative video! Thank you! I saved 3 strands for my workplace because of this video!

[@KGB.83]

Do they still shit on you? 😆

[@cfnature5]

@@KGB.83 huh?

[@custardfudge]

Thank you for helping me fix two strands of half lit LED Xmas lights!! They are only a couple of years old and when I noticed the 2 sets on my tree each had half the lights out about 3 weeks after I hung them, I immediately wanted to fix rather than replace. These sets are not cheap!! I appreciated your tip about the 1st bulb being bigger, but on both of my sets, it wasn’t the 1st light. It was bulb 14 and 17, respectively. Tedious, but hell, it saved me a trip to the store during the crazy holiday season and probably saved me about $40, if I was to replace both sets. Great tutorial…great appreciated 😊

[@92clintonr]

Only needed 4 minutes of this video for me to be able to repair two Christmas light strings that have been half lit for 3 years. So they were sitting in the basement about to be tossed in the landfill. Thank you very much.

[@Saved-qv2ow]

Geez, use to do that years ago; it was the only way to fix light strings; a real pain in the butt and took forever. Now they have led light and iridescent light testers. The one I got is 'Light Keeper Pro'; bought it for 12 bucks a few years ago, best 12 bucks I ever spent.

[@petefarkas703]

You are a rockstar. Just found a burned out bulb in less than 10 mins and saved my strand. Simple, but effective. Thank you!

[@mossy9227]

If you want to test the fuses without a tool you can also just plug a working set into the back of the non working sets plug. If the set plugged into your non working lights work, then it’s not fuses.

[@S_Lancaster_222]

That’s true. I’ve done that.

[@ericthibeault1979]

⁠what to do if the string doesn’t work but the the current at the end of it works (daisy chain other lights works)?

[@dgilvani]

This works 100% The only problem for me was half of the bulbs were literally bad. So I fixed the old strand to 100% but now have a half working repair strand 🤣🤣 Its good for testing your troubleshooting metal. I rode it out to the end and have a perfectly good repaired strand after replacing 50 bulbs. 😊

[@devineutsler7286]

Thank you for this video. One this I noticed with my particular lights is that there is a little stem that comes all the way out the back end of the housing, where the wires go in. You can look and see if the stem has been pushed in a little and causes the bulb leads to not make contact inside the housing.

[@tazznelson]

Glad I found this video! I tried everything prior to testing bulbs from another set. Naturally, It was the last bulb that worked 🤦‍♂️🙂.

[@dngriffiths8105]

The best, most practical, video on the subject, complete with tips that others seem to not know. Thanks for your clear, step-by-step instructions.

[@belenmontanez6766]

Thank you for the detailed instructions. Wish they gave me a bulb in the replacement pack that is for the first light…

[@bradleycharlton7406]

Thank you for that valuable information, one other thing to note, is that those bulbs are directional, and one side is shorter than the other, which means you always have to put the latching side on the side of the socket with the other half of the latch.

[@jitneyskater]

This is an EXCELLENT video. 💡💡💡💡💡 I award you a 5 bulb video. Thank you.

[@marie-helenefluet8974]

Thanks, brilliant way to know if your bulbs work, Find more thant 40 faulty ones. Thanks again!

[@kathys9218]

The only video that walks you through, step by step, using logic and a second working string of lights to detect defective parts of the light strings. May be useful to save old identical light sets to cannibalize for parts since they don't supply a spare 1st bulb.

[@moonverine]

Those hands let you know this guy's for real.

[@S_Lancaster_222]

I do thank you for this video tho bc I didn’t know about where the fuses went lol! Glad there are smart ppl in the world!! 😅

[@JamieReynolds42]

Great video! I'm off to try your techniques and save myself a few hundred bucks!

[@JerseyShoreJim]

Definitely learned a few things here, learning about the larger socket was worth watching the video.

[@wendytube007]

Thank God I found the right video first, I really hope this gets a lot more views and likes 🇨🇦

[@jimcolbert138]

Very helpful, thanks!

[@martiewyckoff4539]

Thanks! Your tutorial worked perfectly, saving me $$.

[@KaizokuShinobi]

Great video! Such a great solution, bummed I didn’t think of it ha. Thanks!

[@thesteveshowfoodfestroadtest]

Best vid out there on this!

[@MzJenJenLynn]

Thank you!!! You just saved me tons of money!! 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

[@FLhippychick]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I was able to save my lights!

[@axl60]

Great video! Thanks for the help!!

[@QcLander]

salut du quebec!!!! merci cela ma aider a reparer mes lumiere cetais les fusible merci a vous

[@savagepete1983]

Thanks a lot for this helpful video! This is a very good method for troubleshooting. Merry Christmas! 🎄

[@canadagirl2742]

Thank you! I am going to give this a try.

[@viralexotics8031]

Great video best one out here on Christmas lights 😂

[@RobSweigard]

LED and mini lights are both wired in "series". When one quits the circuit becomes open, and will not work. Exchanging bulbs will accomplish the same thing in either type, except LED's have a positive(+) and negative(-) lead. When the LED bulbs are replaced you have to make sure the positive is in the same position as the one that was removed. If you have actual factory replacement bulbs they should be in the correct position. If you change all the lights and it still doesn't work you have another problem creating an "open" circuit. It is possible that a wire has been cut or broken, possibly inside the plastic covering. However; most likely it is the small contact brass/copper tabs that the bulbs touch to complete the circuit have somehow moved from the proper position. Make sure the tabs for each socket are in the plastic slot in the holder, and at the same level, sometimes they are not completely in the molded slot. and over time they slide down creating an open circuit. It can take patience but being methodical is imperative. ☺♥†♪♫ 12-22-2023 Merry Christmas !

[@gymnastic1975]

It worked!!! Thank you

[@joreemmcmillan7145]

Which one worked for you---changing the fuse? checking the bulbs?

[@mikeignatoski7890]

Rudi, Thanks a lot for the helpful video. I have a similar situation with (I think) are the same kind of lights in your video. Can you please share the style and brand of the lights so I can find some replacement bulbs? Also, when inserting bulbs from the "bad" strand into the working strand, some bulbs do NOT light up, but the rest of the good strand does light up? Is this a bulb polarity issue and I should reinsert the bulb after rotating it 180 degrees? Thanks again for this helpful video, it's much appreciated!

[@tiberius0469]

my fuses are ok, bulbs are ok ,inline resisters need changing but i don't know the specs,no one has addressed this issue, there are two inline resisters. each lights up half of the set

[@Ponka25]

Awesome video!! Unfortunately we have Noma LED 2nd Generation string lights - and their website says they cannot be replaced! They only lasted 2 years! 😢

[@dlipp23]

Thanks!

[@jblz505]

Just out of curiosity, what are the small bulbless diodes(?) that are on the strand? They look like a splicer or bridge of some sort? Could these ever cause an issue?

[@juliedurrett757]

That is a rectifier, it keeps LED lights from flickering. It’s my understanding that if that is broken the strand is not fixable

[@kylet3589]

Got my lights fixed 👍🏽 Was about the toss them

[@willgreen5023]

Good video for finding a bad light. But isn't it also possibe the connections in the thing the lights snap into have a break?

[@daviddavis7878]

thanks that was vert helpful, happy holidays

[@gardenstateflatlandb]

So you started with one working set, and one half working set. Used the bulb from the working set to fix the half working set, but still ended up with one working set and one half working set. 😂 Only watched this to see if there'd be anything about an LED string that suddenly went dim. I can't stop laughing tho, cuz thought you'd end it with 2 working sets, and just ended up back at the original problem.

[@littleghillies6616]

I have two strands where half light up. Do you want to fix them for me?! 😆 thanks for the info on video!

[@phill8504]

Great video, I have out door LED C9 light that use have 3 wires from plug to plug. There are 100 LED on a 66 ft strand. I plugged two of these strands together, and have removed 25 LEDs. Everything was working fine for about 2 hours, then I noticed one LED stopped working and about an hour later 1/2 of the second strand stopped working. What is strange is first LED light that went out, and all lights back towards the male connector. All lights toward the female connector (furthest away from the power source are good)…is it possible that the first light that went out is causing my issue?

[@organikpnw]

I have same situation

[@billmichaelson2055]

So you've got me wondering if there is a way to use an ohmmeter to do a binary search to find the first dead spot. Iterate? With 50 lights, shoulld take about 6 tests. ??

[@SylwiaTrninic]

Very helpful video. Anyone know where to buy the bulbs with resistors?

[@jeepjen34]

Thank you! Explanation was simple and to the point.

[@kentcolumber2176]

If you use these outside, they are not weatherproof. Sometimes the wires to the led bulbs will rust and break. The wires are steel not copper and not made to last. May need to clean corrosion in the socket also.

[@masonmiller9907]

Thanks man I figured it out but not sure how to fix it the actual socket for the bulbs is burned and won’t light up my good bulb so I’m not sure how to fix that besides cut it out and just continue on

[@barrynovak9458]

Thanks for sharing.

[@alceja3522]

Does this work with C9 screw on bulbs ?!

[@geoffrey_b]

Thx for the vid. I have this identical problem on two newer strands that I think are only a year old. Back half of the stand plugged into the outlet on each arw inoperable. There's no fuse door on the plug and the bulbs appear to be clipless and really no way to pull them out. If I plug an operable strand into the female plug end just beyond the inoperable segment the 2nd strand works fine. Any ideas? I forget the naming of the gauge (C7 or C9) but they are outdoor. Thx.

[@sweetbl0nde]

This is my issue too. Power runs to the next coed but no lights on first strand work

[@rudijones]

It is an issue with an individual build in the first strand. If you cannot pull the bulbs there is no easy easy to fix the set. The only way to fix is to use a contact voltage tester to see where the voltage stops running though the affected socket and then cut the socket out and wire it together. I’m making a video on this soon.

[@regularguyfixes3142]

@@rudijones so if power passes to the next plugged in set the fuses are usually good and it’s most likely a bulb in the first strand stopping that set from working?

[@retathompson6141]

@herbgirlrt My bulbs look exactly the same with some working and some not except there is no latch mechanism ( saw that after purchasing replacement bulbs) and I can't pull the bulbs out the sockets. I unplugged the strand and used a plyers with no success. I wonder if they make strands wired the same as mine so that the whole circuit isn't affected and also with latches to replace the bulbs that don't light up.

[@candacehassard274]

awesome. thx. well done.

[@lizseguin]

Any idea where I can buy the bigger socket bulbs? I have one not working and I must have tossed it last year so I can't just change the led.

[@S_Lancaster_222]

Does this work for non LED lights as well? I have a strand that is brand new & now only half the lights are working & half the strand or part of the strand, (which is a lot maybe it’s more than half), are completely out. I’m talking about the little lights you put on a Christmas tree. How do I fix without having to take the lights off bc I’ve already put ornaments up?

[@ladyfame1430]

That won’t blow your whole light strand? Pulling in and out like that? As soon as I fixed half of my light strand the other section shorted out when trying to replace a “dull” bulb. Lol. Such a headache.

[@gabessupremelyrics7457]

wow it worked thanks

[@maryhawker5003]

Could you help answer a question? I bought some vine led lights off Amazon, it came with a 2 prong circular Dongguan Rico brand plug and a tiny black LED converter/driver box to go into my American style outlet. The voltage says 100-240v 50/60Hz .2A input, and output is 31V 193mA 6W. I’m not sure the voltage that my American outlet has but it was plugged into an extension cord that I’ve used for 2 years with no problems. The lights stopped working after 2 weeks. The driver/converter box still works with a different brand of string lights with nearly the same input/output so I know the driver still works but the lights on the vine don’t light up. Can I do or buy anything to fix it? Or did the bulbs short out or it’s a fuse issue? It was probably cheap and it says on the black box it’s made in China, which I’m sure they weren’t doing their due diligence to handle American outlets and it overloaded. If you could let me know a way to fix it that would be great, I love the vine lights and they were a pain to put on the wall!

[@carlogagliardo23]

Thank you

[@ManMak6]

ThTs great but no body got time foe this!

[@user-wt7mj9xn3v]

What if random sections are out? On one strand, the first 3 feet or so are out, then say 6 feet are lit then 6 feet or so are out then the last 6 feet are lit. Why does that happen and how do you fix it?

[@tiktokmashupyoyo3541]

This video is Great!!!

[@cherylbarbusca1932]

Thank you....sure hope I dont have 3 bulbs that dont work!

[@bymitten1]

Is there a trick to removing the outer bulb casing so I can replace the bulb? Aaaaaaand I figured out how. Needle nose pliers on the green stem, other on the bulb. Then pull apart as hard as you can.

[@jewelbriard5444]

At video 5:54 where do you buy the actual led to replace ? Not sure what name or where to look on amazon ?

[@billj5645]

LED lights flicker on and off quickly at the frequency of the alternating current from the wall. Your video camera also takes photos at some frequency and puts them together to make a video. So if the video camera is taking its pictures when the lights have flickered off, you won't see any light. Similarly taking video of rotating things can look a bit funny.

[@paulettebayle6181]

How do you remove the colored blub from the socket? Led is out on the bigger bottom plug.

[@rudijones]

Fold the wire prongs straight and pull led out

[@robertgraves939]

If you don't have a second set of lights and half of your lights work, can you use the half of the strand that does work to perform the test with?

[@rudijones]

Yes you can

[@chrisgraham2904]

No spare fuses supplied with my LED Christmas lights and no fuses in the plugs. Solid plastic molded plugs.

[@cyndycyndyfinnell1537]

Thank you for such a great explanation.

[@raymondhuynh25]

Thanks Dude =)

[@deanjagger1190]

I have a string of LED lights, half of the bolbs are bright, and the other is week. I can't figure it out. Do you have any idea what it could be? Do they all have fuses?

[@rudijones]

If they are weak then one or multiple bulbs has a corroded or poor connection (causing dim light) Follow my video as if half the strand were burnt out and will likely solve the problem.

[@joanmclean3380]

oh gez yu have no idea how long my Christmas light strand is hahaha take me a frikin week. lol

[@regularguyfixes3142]

So I’ve got a set of the large old style bulbs but they are new led. The entire line is out. But I plugged in another light in at the end of that strands female socket and it works. This means power is passing through the entire bulb line. So does that mean the fuses are good most likely? And it’s pretty certain to be a bulb that is out?

[@rudijones]

Yes, one or more of the bulbs is not completing the circuit need to keep the whole strand lit. Power can still pass though the whole thing to power additional strands

[@regularguyfixes3142]

@@rudijones yeah I been working trying to find the bad bulb no luck yet…

[@austinl.2703]

I had old C7 lights on our house for years and years. Now my back hurts and it's getting more difficult and dangerous to change bulbs. I got the LEDs because I thought they would require less work. BOY WAS I WRONG ! 3 times the cost and even less reliable than the C7 incandescent bulbs. I gave up...........No lights this year

[@brettdeadrick524]

This is where you get the laser light projectors and just point them at the house :-)

[@jrsupstateny]

ty!

[@zanejoy3939]

What if 11 lights are not working, i replaced it with 11 new bulbs, still nothing.

[@alceja3522]

We’re u able to fix it?! Same with my C9 strands

[@calculigirl03]

The remedy they didn't recommend is to simply cut off the bad part and put electrical tape on the wires. Good enough is good enough!

[@wardraven8755]

Just so you all know it was probably a broken wire on the one led because the lights are wired in parallel so when a led burns out the strand will keep working.

[@robertbrandywine]

How is a broken wire different from a burned out bulb?

[@michaelteninty3307]

Did it today and saved a string

[@vickper7173]

Great video fuck this shit is annoying thank you bud

[@coryernewein]

I never noticed the socket sizes before🤦

[@brtv9909]

How about they just manufacture LED Christmas lights in parallel like they used to with the old Christrmas lights, which also cost way less.

[@santiagobenites]

Of course none of this worked for me. After spending 45 frustrating minutes checking the little fuses, then going through each bulb the strand (twice!), I ended up throwing out the string and purchasing new lights.

[@phamryder]

I literally sit down, smoke a bowl, then test each lightbulb until I find the broken one.

[@J21C412D0]

The whole strand is out changed the fuses and no luck..

[@harvestmaid5669]

STOP!!! burn in fire pit..BEAUTIFUL!!!! Purple , Blue, Green. go buy new ones at thrift store .50🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@JustStopPlayingGames]

Just spent ten minutes watching this video looking at the bulbs on my light string just to find out that there was a burnt bulb that my wife replaced.... ....without making sure the new wires lined up to the copper receivers... Problem solved boys. 🤦‍♂️

[@pianonine]

Ummm just get a tester and save the tedium of removing every bulb.

[@DBro54]

Too tedious, mine time is worth more than that since new strings are cheap. Will test the fuses but not the lights.

[@fishbowl7098]

stop buying those junk retail grade sets with replaceable bulbs.

[@Sarahccc]

Can you suggest anything good? I’m So frustrated they dont even last more then a year

[@tinaknutsen]

@@Sarahccc 8 months later and the prices are about doubled….even the so called commercial grade or” if 1 light goes out the rest stay lit” is all sales pitch to get you to keep replacing every year. Prices on toys / gifts just hard especially when you also have several birthdays around the holidays. It rained today and I put up 5 boxes of Costco’s Christmas lights $26.99 each -3 various settings (2 sets per box) all of them went out and there is no way I am going through that many strands…I am going to try and return them.

[@claytongoodall6370]

Going through this 3 years in a row has me thinking we’ll go Jehovah’s Witness this winter