How to Fix a Burned Out Bubble Light

How to fix a Christmas bubble light that has burned out or is experiencing almost any other issue related to the bulb..

[@radiopackrat]

I have been relamping Bubble Lights also and have other tips. If the bulb will not come out, heat the base of the bulb until the plastic just starts to melt and it will come right out. Also add a little clear silicone to the tip of the bulb to improve heat transfer.

[@JordanU]

Thanks, those are good tips.

[@ukewarrior]

How/Why does clear silicone help heat transfer?

[@6Sally5]

@@ukewarrior exactly! Silicone in fact, does not transfer heat...that’s why you can actually bake cakes, etc using silicone bakeware. The silicone itself doesn’t heat up.

[@jaykay18]

Excellent tutorial. You know, high temperature hot glue melts at a higher temperature than low temp glue. Even though you haven't experienced any issues, an extra margin of safety after the lights have been left on for an extended period of time would be a very good thing. Use high temp glue! I have some bulbs that remain lit for about a month straight during the season, so I don't think the low temp would hold up after that duration. Pretty sure you didn't do any real-world, absolute worst case scenario testing as such. Not to mention, this worked with the particular bulbs you have. If someone else does this repair, and finds similar bulbs but from a different manufacturer, they may run hotter than yours.

[@JordanU]

Thanks.. I've repaired plenty of bulbs this way and have yet to encounter an issue.. One of them is currently in operation in this room which has an ambient temperature of 81 degrees.. The bulb has been operating for almost a month under those conditions and has not experienced any trouble.. The base of that Noma bulb in the video is smaller than the Kurt S. Adler bulb (which is very standard for these type of lights) and therefore gets notably hotter.. It has not had any issues with the glue coming undone either..

[@maxmuster3297]

Really nice tutorial! Here in Europe, these lights are very uncommon, but I really like them. Perhaps one day I'll get a set (and a 230-to-120-Volt transformer, of course). What just is a pity: that they weren't designed in a way that the shells could be opened and closed and the bulbs be changed without damage and workarounds. It's a pity that they are designed as disposable items. Finally that makes me enjoying your approach even more. :)

[@JordanU]

Thanks! I too wish they were easier to replace the bulbs in, especially now and they become more and more rare with every season that goes by.

[@lucacolson8804]

I guess it is kinda randomly asking but do anybody know a good place to watch new series online?

[@samdustin6733]

@Luca Colson flixportal xD

[@lucacolson8804]

@Sam Dustin thank you, I went there and it seems like they got a lot of movies there :D I appreciate it!!

[@samdustin6733]

@Luca Colson Happy to help :)

[@KristinaHamilton85]

Thank you so much for posting this. I have a shoebox full of burnt out bubble lights that I was hoping to not have to throw out

[@JordanU]

You're welcome.

[@GenerationalGaming]

Thank you for this. I keep buying them year after year because they burn out. I love Christmas so I leave them on my railing all year. The lights popped right open when I pressed the knife on it. Only issue I have is the bulb is REALLY glued in there. I might try hot water to loosen it.

[@JordanU]

I haven't tried it yet myself, but I've heard of people having good results putting them in hot water to loosen the glue.

[@peggytazelaar6350]

I wonder if you used a red marker and colored the glue that filled the gap would work to make it less obvious. Just a thought. Thank you for the video now I can fix my old string of clear bulbs.

[@AndreaS-kj4rb]

These are not at every dollar store, so I found these at Home Depot query "S6 indicator 6 W" I just ordered these for my bubble lights

[@JordanU]

Thanks for letting me know.

[@krzysztofczarnecki8238]

If you happen to have bulbs where the screw is a bit too short to make contact, you can make a ball of solder at the end with a soldering iron. I currently do it to all new bulbs for my vintage Christmas lights, as the original ones have an unusual glass shape, and the base is shaped around that.

[@JordanU]

That's a good idea.

[@andy41417]

Unplug string then look for the metal center contact in the empty socket. With a tiny screwdriver pull it up a few degrees. That worked on a tulip Noma base.

[@alec4672]

If it's too short for a particular string you could probably put a bit of solder on the base of bulb to extend that center contact a bit.

[@JordanU]

That is a good idea and probably would work.

[@lucysunshine7305]

have used these lights on my tree my entire life and hate that they burn out so quickly and cant replace bulb. watched several video's but I think you're process seems to be the best. like the supplies you used. After watching your process, I'm going to give it a try. thxs for taking the time.

[@JordanU]

Hope it works out for you.

[@cherieiduke1723]

Anyone have a recommendation on a video to replace the bubble candle part

[@mattymattel5482]

what kind of knife are you using? I'm not familiar with the knives you're using.. Also what brand of hot glue are you using? Thank You..

[@JordanU]

It is a utility knife, usually used for cutting boxes and things of that nature. I believe the glue was the AdTech brand.

[@jasonvoss8588]

Thank you. Just found 7 strands of old Nomas, with about 6-7 individuals that have burned out, 1 that has a loose bulb, and 1 that separated(at least I do not have to cut that one apart!). Now I can replace the bulbs and keep the original bubblers, instead of replacing with new bubblers.

[@JordanU]

Hope it works well for you!

[@RWCTY452-5]

I have a crap ton of these they use halogen instead of incandescent

[@jimandteresajohnson]

Good informative instructions. I had an old strand that I replaced the burnt bulbs with new units. A new strand I ordered from Amazon came with a bulb that was not working. I got it open and put in a new bulb. Thanks for sharing

[@JordanU]

Glad it was helpful.

[@cathybrake4635]

Thank you for sharing this information! We have several strands of these lights and quite a few that need to be replaced!

[@JordanU]

You're welcome.

[@bagerton]

Great video Jordon, have you tried using a Dremel tool to cut through the plastic and also possibly use painter blue tape so the glue will not get on the socket. Again great video.

[@JordanU]

I don't have one, but that probably would work well.

[@6Sally5]

We are all sitting here literally watching glue dry! 😂

[@JordanU]

More interesting than watching paint dry.

[@blakestbum]

Figured that's what I had to do, thanks for the upload. Fools wanted just as much money for a replacement bubble light as the whole string cost!

[@JordanU]

The cost of replacement bulbs is absolutely out of control right now.

[@rickprusak9326]

I have a number of bubbler tubes that are dried out. No fluid in them. Can you put together a video on how to replace the liquid bubbler tube? Do you have to buy a new bubbler tube, or can you refill it with out the chemical compound in it? Can you use distilled water with food coloring in a refilled bubbler tube? Please advise.

[@JordanU]

All the ones I've seen are a sealed piece of glass, it would have to be replaced. I'd put the unit in very hot water for a few minutes, that should deteriorate the glue, then you should be able to pull the tube right out. They are not full of water, the boiling point of water is far too high. I believe these are full of some kind of alcohol.

[@WaterDrinker7777]

​@@JordanU some old ones used a type of oil, but the majority use a toxic chemical called dichloromethane its used because it has a relatively low boiling point that can be heated with a lightbulb

[@14889mary]

Where did you buy the replacement bulbs? I'm only finding them on ebay at almost the same cost as buying new bubble lights!

[@JordanU]

I believe I got them from the Amazon. In the past, I've bought them at the dollar store.

[@14889mary]

@@JordanU Thanks, once I searched for 6 volt indicator bulbs I found them. They originally had long shanked 5 volt bulbs- I only found one set of those on ebay.

[@sarahr.trenchard8287]

I wonder if u use q colored glue stick (red) if it would seal it better?

[@JordanU]

It may look better, but the glue probably seals the same regardless of the color.

[@HesterLeaRae]

How did you get it apart without breaking it????

[@JordanU]

Watch the video to find out.

[@stanleygarlick3034]

Thank you so much! You're a great teacher.

[@JordanU]

You're welcome. Glad it was helpful to you.

[@jeff_9074]

Any advice on getting the tube out? We have a Halloween bubble light, and the tube broke at the top. Are those glued in pretty well? Tried pulling on it a little seems to be in there pretty good.

[@JordanU]

I haven't tried it myself, but I've heard putting it in very hot water works well.

[@jeff_9074]

@@JordanU okay, I'll give it a go. Thanks!

[@djbrucebanner9882]

I like it

[@JordanU]

What did you like about it?

[@aprilb6642]

Mine (Nolo) still light up but won't bubble any more. Is there a fix for that?

[@JordanU]

Is there any fluid left in the tube?

[@aprilb6642]

@@JordanU Yes, and one has a white floating thing on top.

[@michaelszczys8316]

" it came apart with relative ease " I don't know what kind of lights you have or what kind of magic knife but any I have ever taken apart or ' tried ' to take apart only came apart with a saw blade. Going all the way back to the old series sets.

[@michaelszczys8316]

" I've been cutting at this one for several moments " Translated means ' all night '. Them things are glued together like Ft. Knox

[@michaelszczys8316]

Gonna use some ' hot glue ' on something that gets hot. Makes sense to me.

[@michaelszczys8316]

I have a LOT of these from a lot of different years, most are burned out. I really wish it was that easy. I'm probably going to make a special tool for cutting them apart.

[@JordanU]

You have a bad attitude. I really don't have much interest in helping people like that.

[@michaelszczys8316]

@@JordanU sorry, I just thought after all the times I have tried taking them apart they were always anything but easy. Your video just makes it look like they put them together with Elmer's glue.

[@jdpinbaytown]

Good to Know, I have a box full of these!, A few don't light, But more won't Bubble or take a long time to do so

[@eelnoops5200]

I don't know if you've already tried this, but when my lights won't bubble. After they have been lighted for a few minutes, or long enough to warm up completely, I shake them kind of aggressively, and they usually start bubbling,. They will work like new from then on.

[@tommeyer3770]

Lee Spoon Well I’ll be damned! I shook my light and it bubbles again. How simple thanks Les!

[@JordanU]

The shaking does work to make them bubble; but using it sparingly as that wreaks havoc on the bulb's filament.

[@eelnoops5200]

@@JordanU I'd never thought of that. Good point.

[@Madness832]

Wonder if you could've opened the Noma by soaking it in very hot water.

[@JordanU]

The Kurt S. Adler one, probably.. But not the Noma, the plastic had melted together and needed to be cut.. If that didn't happen, the hot water likely would have worked..

[@ceilingfansclocksminecraft1226]

My grandparents had those on their Christmas tree over the years.

[@JordanU]

Mine do as well, these two bulbs happen to belong to my grandfather..