Modifying Lights for Villages & Vignettes

In this tutorial, we’ll explore how to modify existing lights to fit your village or vignette layout and make it look way better!
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Wire Strippers:
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Wire:
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Soldering Station:
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[@chantebrown9720]

Awesome display and tutorial Mr. Carl!

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Thank you so much!!

[@kend6359]

I have done away with all my battery boxes! It makes it so much easier. The newer Dept 56 accessories come both ways. Battery box and/or plug in for adaper. The older Lemax and Dept 56 is what I alter. Same way you showed us. Only difference is if the set has only 2 LEDs, like Dept 56 pumpkin street lamps, you'll need to add a resistor or you will blow the LEDs . (which I have !) You can find a resistor in the battery box, pry open (sometimes it is really glued down , if you have strong nails or use a smudger) the back, not the battery section. You'll see a seam all the way around and the wires coming out. Open the back , you'll see a resistor. Use that one, desolder and re solder it to the one of the wires you cut ( doesn't matter which one, there is no positive or negative on resistors) then solder to your power wires and you are all set. Make sure you use shrink wrap or electric tape to cover connections. You'll have to find the right size female plug to connect to the power supply. Lemax is 2.1 mm and I believe Dept 56 is 2.5 . But sure you check your male ends Lemax is different than Department 56. ( power supply is male end accessories are female)

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Awesome and great advice for the newer lights!!

[@benjaminsoto5892]

Thanks for sharing. Excellent workmanship. Just started, watching these videos. Will help us with our spooky town .

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Awesome-glad you’re enjoying!

[@mrlsbennett]

I did it!!! Oh my. Thank you so so much for this tutorial. I think I watched it 4-5 times but time well spent. Shared a picture on the village group. Thank you tons!!! ❤️

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Awesome!!! So proud of you for trying this and so happy it worked out!!!

[@jimmyrants4342]

I really needed to watch this one, and I am so thankful that I did. You're a good teacher. Thank you.

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MarkFloyd7451]

Carl you are definitely TOP GUN! Thank you so much for this very informative tutorial. Very much appreciated!

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Thanks Mark! You’re certainly welcome!

[@angelinaalperin8584]

Great tutorial very easily understood your a great teacher

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Awesome-thank you!!!

[@sharonfox5643]

Thanks!!! Looks great!!

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

You’re welcome!

[@beamer6136]

Ive been waiting on this one.. You can get lights cheap at walmart at Christmas, not too many people know about them.

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Awesome-good to know!!!

[@mrlsbennett]

Oh my! To think I've buried lights because they were too close! I cannot wait to try this out with this video as my guide! I have a Weller that I use for soldering silver jewelry, I guess I'll need a new tip. Is electrical solder different than lead free jewelry solder? You've opened a whole new world. Thank you so much!!!

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Great! Glad you liked it. I can’t speak to the differences in solder for jewelry as I’ve never worked with it!

[@kathysmith6575]

This was great. I think I can do this. I have a question. I have a couple houses that are battery operated n I’d like to change to plug in. I saw on Amazon these things called battery replacement adapters. Basically it’s fake batteries that you put in the battery holder but then runs a wire that modifies it to a plug in. I’m sure I’m not explaining this correctly but would you trust this in your houses?

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

I’ve never used them as I don’t have any houses that are battery powered, but if they have decent reviews on Amazon, then give it a shot.

[@leesautomotive1737]

Great video Carl. Where did you get the pigtail wires?

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

A place called Evan Designs-look them up online!

[@mdweddingplanner]

Hi Carl Do you have a link to the black road you used. Tried looking through your videos, got tired.😁😆😆🤣

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Haha-here you go! Limited-time deal: Grip Tape - Heavy Duty Anti Slip Tape for Stairs Outdoor/Indoor Waterproof 4Inch x 35Ft Safety Non Skid Roll for Stair Steps Traction Tread Staircases Grips Adhesive Non Slip Strips Nonslip Walk Black a.co/d/hce7hgJ

[@heidim6468]

Great tutorial and I can’t wait to do this. I have a dept 56 police car that needs fixing and I will get that done from your video along with my lights. Question can you buy the part your using for the end where the box should be. Some one should sell that part I hope because I would love to get rid of the boxes.

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Sounds good!! I think you can, I’ll post a link to some I’m going to buy and try it out. RIIEYOCA 2.5mm Female Plug to Bare Wire Stereo Audio Cable,2.5mm TS 2 Pole Mono Female Plug to Open End Audio Line, for and Audio Equipment Installed or Replace Repair(4 Pack) a.co/d/3AeSiYO

[@jackietomkins5085]

Thank you for this! I have 2 sets of lemax (5 & 6) and 2 dept 56 large lantern lamps. I need these on a large winter village. It will go over a semi corner fireplace all the way back into the wall corner. For this reason I need to change them from battery to wall socket plug. I'm hoping to put them all on one 3v plug. All wires will go under the base and I'll have to extend most of them lol. I've read through the comments and saw one that said I might need the resistor for the lemax lights... I don't see why, they're made the same and these have dim bulbs (or is that the reason?) So will 1 3v power source be good for 11 of the lemax and 2 of the large street lanterns or should I split to 2 power sources?

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Hey there! Not really sure with the lemax lights, but give it a try and see how it goes before soldering it all together.

[@jackietomkins5085]

@@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl Thank you 😊 I get my supplies on Monday. I'll let you know if it works.

[@mrlsbennett]

Everything is cut and in know all my pos. and neg wires. I didn't notice that you used Flux. Is Flux essential? Can you buy those ac adaptor plugs? Sorry about the questions... just now got my nerve up. Thanks!

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Haha-you’ll do just fine. Flux can certainly be used, but on a small project like this, I don’t believe it really matters. Yes, I picked up the adapters from Amazon!!

[@chrisgaudino7350]

Hey Carl, Love the videos! I've been collecting for quite some time. I've never got around to making, buying a platform for my village as it sits currently on a 6-foot end table. This has worked for me over the years, but I've always struggled with hiding wires and having to turn off all my pieces individually every night before bed. Any thoughts or a possible video in the works about some hacks for this? Thanks!

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Hey there! For hiding cords-I talk about it in several videos. Take a look at some of the Sleepy Halloween videos-I know it’s in there on how I hid the cords. As far as turning everything off individually, I haven’t done that in years! I plug everything into surge protectors and then use smart plugs to have them automatically come on and go off an predetermined times. I can also control them with my phone or though Alexa. Take a look at my Smart Home video for details on all of that!

[@kimberlyhowalt376]

Great tutorial! I have some older pieces that need fixing like this, and now feel I can do it after watching your video. :) I was wondering if you know of any other 2nd-hand sites that you can buy Dept. 56 Halloween village stuff from besides eBay & Offer Up? I am always looking for good deals! Thanks in advance!

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Good to hear-thanks for watching!! I browse Mercari as well.

[@angelinaalperin8584]

I have the Dept56 Spooky street lights. But they are only 2 lights to 1plug. So if I’m lighting a street with 6 lights and 3 power boxes.it’s to much to plug in. Do you think I can run all 6 st lights to 1 power box?

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Yes…think you can run all 6 with one box. I’m running 8 on Manor Row with one box and they work fine.

[@marinarivera8861]

Can you convert battery only lights to power?

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

You should be able to. Just need to check the battery box for the appropriate voltage.

[@kend6359]

Yes but if is only 2 lamps you need to add a resistor. Look at my comment above