Fixing Broken Christmas Lights Repair Guide

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Easy

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Time Required

                          5 - 10 minutes

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Fixing Broken Christmas Lights
6 steps

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Introduction

Before attempting any part of this repair, make sure that the lights are completely unplugged from any electrical socket.

Common Issues:

Blown FusesDefective BulbCorroded SocketBad Socket or Wiring

What you need

Step 1

              Blown Fuses

Blown fuses are one of the biggest culprits of broken Christmas lights — especially if the entire chain of lights is non-functional. The good news is that they can easily be replaced!
With the plug in hand, slide the door marked “Open” in the direction pointed by the arrow.
Remove the two fuses, and inspect them by looking at them up against a bright background (such as the sky). If the fuse is good, you should see an unbroken strand of wire running between the two metal contacts.
Replace all blown fuses with new ones.

Blown fuses are one of the biggest culprits of broken Christmas lights — especially if the entire chain of lights is non-functional. The good news is that they can easily be replaced!

With the plug in hand, slide the door marked “Open” in the direction pointed by the arrow.

Remove the two fuses, and inspect them by looking at them up against a bright background (such as the sky). If the fuse is good, you should see an unbroken strand of wire running between the two metal contacts.

Replace all blown fuses with new ones.

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Step 2

              Defective Light: Manual Instructions

If a specific section of the lights isn’t working, there might be a bad bulb, or a bad connection between the bulb and the socket.
Bulbs are generally made to not break the whole chain if the bulb burns out, but sometimes a manufacturing defect will prevent the bulbs from maintaining the electrical connection for the rest of the lights.
Gently grasp each bulb, and pull away from the socket. Inspect it and ensure that the two bulb copper leads are in their proper location, and not twisted or missing.
Continue with each non-functional bulb in the chain, up until you find the culprit(s). Replace the bulbs as necessary.

If a specific section of the lights isn’t working, there might be a bad bulb, or a bad connection between the bulb and the socket.

Bulbs are generally made to not break the whole chain if the bulb burns out, but sometimes a manufacturing defect will prevent the bulbs from maintaining the electrical connection for the rest of the lights.

Gently grasp each bulb, and pull away from the socket. Inspect it and ensure that the two bulb copper leads are in their proper location, and not twisted or missing.

Continue with each non-functional bulb in the chain, up until you find the culprit(s). Replace the bulbs as necessary.

Step 3

              Defective Light: Light Keeper instructions

You can also use a Light Keeper Pro or similar continuity testing device to pinpoint burnt out bulbs.
Plug in the strand of lights, and remove a bulb to connect the Light Keeper Pro to an empty socket.
Pull the trigger on the Light Keeper several times to bypass the bad bulb and light the whole strand, leaving the bad bulb dim.
Replace the bulb you used to test the strand, then remove and replace any bad bulbs. You can use the Light Keeper to test the new bulbs before you install them.

You can also use a Light Keeper Pro or similar continuity testing device to pinpoint burnt out bulbs.

Plug in the strand of lights, and remove a bulb to connect the Light Keeper Pro to an empty socket.

Pull the trigger on the Light Keeper several times to bypass the bad bulb and light the whole strand, leaving the bad bulb dim.

Replace the bulb you used to test the strand, then remove and replace any bad bulbs. You can use the Light Keeper to test the new bulbs before you install them.

Step 4

              Corroded Socket

Make sure the lights are completely unplugged from any electrical sockets before proceeding further.
Over time, the contacts inside the socket can become corroded or filled with dirt and grime. This can prevent proper contact between the bulb and the socket, which often results in no power to the bulb.
Use a small file or scratch brush to clean the wire contacts of the socket.
Once the socket is clean, insert a new bulb into the socket.

Make sure the lights are completely unplugged from any electrical sockets before proceeding further.

Over time, the contacts inside the socket can become corroded or filled with dirt and grime. This can prevent proper contact between the bulb and the socket, which often results in no power to the bulb.

Use a small file or scratch brush to clean the wire contacts of the socket.

Once the socket is clean, insert a new bulb into the socket.

Step 5

              Bad Socket or Wiring

Make sure the lights are completely unplugged from any electrical sockets before proceeding further.
If all else fails, the bulb socket may be broken beyond repair. Removing it is a cinch though, and should restore functionality to the rest of your lights!
Don’t do this for more than one or two sockets, cause it’ll raise the voltage on the rest of the strand and may cause other bulbs to burn out.
Use a wire cutter to remove the defective socket from the light strand.

If all else fails, the bulb socket may be broken beyond repair. Removing it is a cinch though, and should restore functionality to the rest of your lights!

Don’t do this for more than one or two sockets, cause it’ll raise the voltage on the rest of the strand and may cause other bulbs to burn out.

Use a wire cutter to remove the defective socket from the light strand.

Step 6

Strip about 1/2" of insulation from both wires.
Twist the wires together and insert them into the twist-on wire connector. Turn the connector several times until the cap feels secure, and you can tug on it without it falling off.
After testing the lights and making sure the bad socket fixed the problem, consider putting in some silicone sealant (or museum wax) into the cap in order to keep moisture out and prevent the wires from corroding.

Strip about 1/2" of insulation from both wires.

Twist the wires together and insert them into the twist-on wire connector. Turn the connector several times until the cap feels secure, and you can tug on it without it falling off.

After testing the lights and making sure the bad socket fixed the problem, consider putting in some silicone sealant (or museum wax) into the cap in order to keep moisture out and prevent the wires from corroding.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                    Geoff Wacker

Member since: 09/30/2013

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Shawn - Nov 25, 2015

Good article, but like almost every other instructional topic on fixing busted Christmas Lights there are no instructions on how to actually get those little darn fuses replaced. What I mean is its easy enough to get the male electric cord plug compartment door open and the old fuses out, but getting the new Christmas light fuses to fit into the slots in many cords I’ve had is d@m near impossible. I have searched high and low throughout the internet and never found a video or article or any other webpage reference to issues getting the replacement fuses to properly seat into the fuse compartment slots. If someone could write about this subject and provide solid instruction on the best tools and methods to get those pesky little fuses to fit into the slots it would be a gem of a resource for those that do not want to throw strings of christmas lights away simply because the new fuses are so difficult to get to fit into the fuse slots in the electrical plug of the christmas light string.

Autumn Ruby - Sep 15, 2016

I use paper clips to pry on one end and change them like batteries

Max Power - Dec 4, 2017

My preferred tool is a small flathead screwdriver, such an eyeglass screwdriver. Use the flathead to push open the fuse panel in the plug, being mindful to hold the plug in a way that you won’t be injured if the screwdriver slips. That means holding the plug behind where you’re applying pressure with the screwdriver, and always pushing away from yourself rather than toward yourself. Holding the plug in a vise or with pliers also protects your hands.

Then pry up the fuse from the end, like you’re using a crowbar. Never apply pressure to the glass part of a fuse. To insert, push the fuse into the metal clips as far as you can by hand, then apply pressure with the flathead screwdriver to seat the fuse. ALWAYS push on the metal caps, and never push on the glass.

These are my preferred methods with everyday tools. If there are specialized tools for small light-strand fuses, a google search will yield info on those.

Mary - Nov 28, 2015

Agreed. If someone could help with this, I would be grateful. The rest of the task is a breeze, but removing the old fuses is hard and I am having no success getting the new ones in!

Danny Sullivan - Nov 29, 2015

Mary/Shawn - this video explained it well for me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBFfvse4…

If you have the right tool aka a micro-sized screwdriver with a flat head, it was easy.

Hope this helps.

Danny

Introduction#

What you need#

Introduction

What you need