BTW, since YOU didn't offer ANYTHING at all to this post, you might want to look up what it means to have your "Head stuck in the sand," or heaven forbid grab a book and read something, so you can talk with others intelligently. The "shunt fixer" feature of LightKeeper Pro (a product made in the USA by Ulta-Lit Technologies) just helped me fix a string of lights (made in China) yesterday in 1 minute. Would they make a glare? If you have a longer strand, I presume this would still apply. Time to draw up dimensions and consider all your options. of course what do you do when its Christmas and the ONLY lights for sale are made in China? When looking at an LED outage, there are two types of bulb related outages: 1) Bulb still intact, but fails to light up. I didn’t keep the receipt, so after checking some sights, I did this, and IT WORKED! Don't pitch 'em, you can FIX them, and it's pretty simple, actually! An idea came to me while I was looking thru a zillion fixtures on-line. I also put an oval coffee table and some small round end tables. Not all LED trailer lights are fully submersible. Nothing there. This is the case if your lights have a section near the middle with only 2 coiled wires, instead of the 3 you’ll find elsewhere. Since I don't have room measurements, I laid it out as I saw it possibly fitting. Sometimes that works. One thing for sure tho. The stairs I believe come in on the far end? I've checked for missing bulbs, and these days the string is supposed to stay lit when individual bulbs burn out. ;o). I can't be the only one this happens to. The LEDs are probably strung in series. 100 bulbs is a popular configuration. I came to realize there were two sizes to the green bases of the lights when pulled out. I've had that happen to me when I buy the extra long strands of lights. I would like to know if anyone has tried the Light Keeper Pro Repair Tool? I got then for $5 a string...about 50 LED per string. Same with all their kitchen appliances. And that's not fixable by me. Does anyone know why half a string of Christmas lights light up and half do not? Good grief! You decorate below 9' so, no problem. I am getting tired of buying things only to have to replace them after a year,if they last that long. If the problem persists, take out the next bulb and do the same thing. Heck I have lights that my grandmother used, though these are not considered "safe" to use nowadays!It's the times we live in folks!HO HO HO :). No one seems to know the answer. Only real way to fix this problem is to stop buying the cheap China merchandise that is shoved down our American throats! So this is one possible arrangement that would better utilize your space. Luvs. it does happen every year but not this much so I guess I'm especially frustrated. Neat vintage door with unique profile could add rather than subtract from wall, but room traffic pattern must be considered in door placement. It is so frustrating, I know. Here is a layout for your room that will be cozier and more inviting I believe. Now if you try to use a multimeter to figure out the problem, I agree, you will be very frustrated because nothing will seem to make sense. Put the buld back in and check. Is there some trick I am unaware of to get these things to light completely for more than one season at a time? Hopefully those looking for practical information on electrical circuits and wiring LED components found this guide first. Within each string, all lamps are in series. That is why painting the TV wall and going all the way up the ceiling in an accent color at least would be great. Prioritizing lighting and a bookcase, and then taking time to select furnishings, yields a thoughtfully put-together space, Set out these bathroom necessities (hello, hand towels) to make your company comfortable and your parties run smoothly, http://www.ciphersbyritter.com/RADELECT/LITES/XMSLITES.HTM, https://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=The+LightKeeper+Pro, Deck Your Containers With Holiday Cheer in Half an Hour, Houzz Tour: Having Fun With a Half-Buried House, Houzz Tour: A Half-Demolished Structure Becomes a Fresh, Modern Home, Houzz Tour: Foresight Pays Off in Atlanta, Renovating Homeowners Are Split on Smart Home Tech, Room of the Day: Patience Pays Off in a Midcentury Living-Dining Room, Powder Room Essentials to Keep Guests Happy, Head's Up White House Chrismas 2020 Today. I think your ceiling angles and heights are throwing you off. I only have a small tree, not pre-lit either - so when I have problems with a strand of lights, it gets tossed. it's a bulb issue, however if the good does not come on it's prob. They are like so many other products we purchase these days DISPOSABLE. I tried everything I could think of to fix the one burned out string, but nothing worked. The smaller ones would fit in all the bulb sockets, but the wider ones only fit in certain ones. ... have 8 strings of g e clear christmas lights that only the first half of the string works. Would it be facing perpendicular to the other dormer? Every one comes on at one time or the other. Some, I suspect have internal wire damage. It is not light reading especially when you are preparing dinner, decorating the tree, and trying to watch Frosty The Snowman... but maybe you all will be able to decifer it all.http://www.ciphersbyritter.com/RADELECT/LITES/XMSLITES.HTM, ALL MY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ARE WORKING HALF WAY BUT THIS MORNING I CHECK EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM AND I TOOK A WORKING BULB AND CHECK EVERY SINGLE ONE THEM AND I CHECK THE FUSE AS WELL AND IT STILL WORKS HALF WAY THE FUSE ARE FINE AND I TOOK ONE OF THOSE EXTRA BULB AND CHECK EVERYONE OF THEM BUT IT STILL LIKE THAT I DID EVERYTHING I COULD THIS OF AND IM ABOUT TO RIP IT OFF AND GET A NEW LIGHTS I USE THE 50 LIGHTS SO THINK IM JUST GOIN TO TAKE THEM BACK AND GET A NEW ONE SINCE I STILL HAVE THE BOXS AND HOPEFULLY THE REICPT TOO. Every year you take the box of holiday lights off the shelf, plug them in, and only half of them work. Using the voltage detector I found where on the wire the problem was and jiggled the wire and pushed it in tighter into the bulb socket. Example they provide a spare fuse but no instructions on installing that spare. For $20 you can't go wrong. There is not a lot of extra money this year so I can't just run out and replace all these, what do you do to fix them? I put an 80"long x 36" deep sofa and a 60"long x 36" deep love seat. Check the light again to see if any of the bulbs work. greater constructive ones have the bulbs in parallel, if one is going then the others will nevertheless paintings. A regular strand of incandescent lights work, but whenever I plug in a strand of led lights in, only half of the strand works. If the string is incandescent (not LED) and an entire section is out then the LightKeeper Pro gun ($20) would probably fix it in 1 minute. The first time I had even heard about or seen this was at Hobby Lobby a couple weeks ago for $20.  If one of your light strings isn’t working at all, or if only half of the lights are working, unplug the string and look for a small access door on one side of the male plug (the one with the prongs). So take a look and see if I have the room configured properly. Those were NOT cheap! These socket/bulb contacts are cheap and iffy. LED bulbs do last a long time, but from time to time one does … So good to see so many posting on the Holiday forum. Usually casework is at least 14" deep (and these days many set lower cabinets sufficient to hold media boxes / upper shelves to manage flatscreens). I also do the other steps that luvs mentioned. if it is a missing bulb that would be easy to see, and these days a burnt out bulb is not supposed to make a whole section go out, right? I agree they don't make them like they use to. The plug on your power cord should have a section that slides out, allowing you to see and replace the blackened fuse. Or take that concept back up to plan with the entire kitchen. Whoever posted the information about Light Keeper Pro I want to thank you. If that's the case, I think it would be too crowded with dormers there. I have the same problem as many of you. I think it's worse when I plug them in and they work. Oh gosh, Alex, I'm so sorry to hear that. I put my tree up today and added extra lights. I love to drive home from work every night and enjoy the site of Christmas lights. She said you just have to follow the directions and it will tell you what to do. Shunts have been covered here, not an easy fix. Measure and let me know, and I can adjust and we can work together on figuring out your best arrangement. Although the failure rate does seem less now than at the start, I just replaced 2 blues this last week. I went to youtube.com and watched a video on it and it was so much more understandable, Keep in mind that if the bulbs on the string have that blackened look, then the strand is probably beyond fixing, I give lightkeeper pro two thumbs up"I'd give it three thumbs if I could). Now it would be cheaper to just buy a new $5 string, but if the string is already hung then I think $20 is worth my time of re-stringing. :-(. Actually. The LightKeeper Pro I purchased 3 years ago at Target https://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=The+LightKeeper+Pro has saved over 5 strings of lights for me this year again. Saw you were investigating casework for potential end wall option. Also have a string of running lights I just bought, after I plugged them in and found them all working, I enrolled them and now every third light doesn't light up. Almost afraid to pull out our lights now. However, consider this only if you have moderate or higher electrical skills. If so, remove the culprit and tighten the bulb connection. Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. I started to buy the commercial ones and they don't seem to do this. Most only last a few seasons. There were a couple women talking about it and it caught my interest I didn't buy it then, thinking about all the time I've spent trying those little $5 light testers and ended up just throwing out the strand anyway. If you don't get them working, maybe you could just hide the non working sections in the middle of the tree and still use the part that will light up. Have replaced not fuses and checked to make sure no bulbs are missing or broken or blown out and still don't work. Worth it to consider all the possibilities and potential uses. Remove the fuses inside the plug and replace them with new fuses. If it is not just the fuse, there may be more than just a few choice words said......remember Chevy Chase beating the daylights out of that poor plastic reindeer........ My husband was supposed to stop at Hobby Lobby today while he was in the city and pick me up one of the Light Keeper Pros....but....he forgot. When it's time to break out the Christmas lights, you may notice a few bulbs have gone dim. The leaded pattern is very contemporary, a sort-of curving, swooping pattern that invokes flight. Sometimes it is just the fuse too. Because consumerism is in the state it is in, we live in a cheap, disposable society. AND there has to be trade deals that benefit American companies so prices can stay reasonable. To test this idea, unplug one bulb on one end and half the lights go out. They want us to put out good money for these new LED things and then what--have to replace them every year????? No luck. If the dormer could point the other way (to the right when looking at your picture), it would look fine I think. I then pulled out and checked each bulb in the unlit section, testing them in sockets that worked to make sure the bulbs were good. The first and last, and the two exactly in the middle will need the bulbs with the wider plug in base. Hobby lobby brand tree. The LightKeeper Pro sends an electrical pulse through the defective bulb, mending the shunt. The flasher bulb will only cause the circuit it is a part of to flash on and off. It's just the sort of new/old mash-up I love. I did have minor problems with all three, but they were electronic board problems fixed with parts under $30. Go to the part that isn't lite and change the first bulb. is 8'.) Why are my Christmas light only lighting half way? See "LED Christmas Lights and How to Fix Them" by Terry Ritter. I spent several hours working on an outdoor Christmas wreath that had 2 strings of lights. Then, they have one or more strings of 40-50. These are not necessarily old lights. Its brand new! Get your answers by asking now. Wiggle each bulb carefully and see if the lights blink on. I know it is very frustrating when this happens. Repairing these lights won't be easy, but with a little determination and know-how, it can be done. No, I haven't used the light repair tool. But it looks like a neat tool that would help fix lights on pre-lit trees, or if you have tons of lights and can't keep replacing the sets just for a few bad bulbs. Half of LED string of lights come on -- the other half does not. The color organ changes the voltage continuously causing the lights to flash. I work my way down the portion of the set that is not working, touching the wire leading in, and the wire leading out. in fact it is, since none of the other posts solve the ongoing problem we consumers, and that IS what we are here, face with goods we purchase. Why do Christmas lights go out for half the string, how does one trace the problem and fix it? Sometimes it is the leader light. I thought I could use it in the bathroom & the leading & stainless would "speak" to each other. But only half the strip works. And Voila, all sets work again. Pattycakes, your theory might be true in some cases, but I had one strand today that I tested before putting on the tree, and only half of it lit up. Want to mention a nifty door option i saw integrated into wall of casework. I actually think the room is larger, but I can always size it more accurately with proper measurements. Sorry, just ranting a bit here. But, just a fickle as the first rough handling, a subsequent rough handling causes the lights to go off again. I initially noted half the lights out when I plugged them into the tail end of the former string. So I figured what do I have to lose if I buy the Light Keeper Pro. So, I put the TV on a console longer than current set up. this is the cheapest construction method dating way back from incandescent light strings. This bath will definitely not be used for putting on make-up. The only way to restore the circuit in a series lighting scheme is to replace the bad bulb with one that is known to work. What is the strangest Christmas traditions. Contrary to what you might think, this can be more of a boon than an inconvenience. Just ignore those. THE ENTIRE MIDDLE SECTION OF MY BIG TREE JUST WENT OUT!!!!!!! The sink will be stainless steel because it will be used for utilitarian things, including washing up when we come in from gardening. I first attached another set of lights in sequence and they lit up, so I knew the wiring was good. I will not be defeated! It worked! Keep in mind, the following methods only work on Christmas lights that have removable lightbulbs. Most of you have encountered a time when you spent half the day decorating for Christmas and then start to plug in the Christmas tree or other decorations and instead of gasps of delight discover that part of your lights are not working. So far so good this year but haven't started the outside and some inside. Haha okay well we just got done pulling out all of our Christmas decorations. We still use the old large bulbs on the eves of our home. I think they are like two regular strands they've hooked together. I went to Lowe's and bought one. How hungover was the Grinch on new years day? Have 30 minutes and some seasonal greenery? I have a leaded glass mirror - 28" W x 49" H. The top is arched. The string recepticle is the logical location but it appears to be difficult to open without destroying the casing. We bought 5 sets of Noma C6, 70 light strands last year. Solve this problem by either: Find and replace the red-tipped bulb that someone installed in your light string with a standard replacement bulb. Either a bulb isn't making good contact in its socket (most likely on a string that hasn't been used much) or a shunt is not working. But only half the strip works. She purchased in HD or Lowe's. Please help. A light bulb has come out of its socket or is half out of its socket and it has brought down the circuit. You'd think that since they are constantly hammering at us to recycle and keep things out of the landfills--they could at least give us products that will last more than a couple seasons. Iam the original poster, i guess i can determine if my post is informational or not. Issues with Rope Lights My rope light has a section that has gone out. Sorry to say I had to toss some :(Fuses on all were good, that would have been too easy! If your wires are not stripped back far enough or you push them too far into a connector it will give the illusion of a secure connection when really there is no connection at all the connector is only clamping on the pvc wire coating. I was about to toss them out and decided to try one more thing. That indicates those LED's … But without the Internet to help me diagnose the problem I'd probably have had to buy all new appliances. So it sounds like you have at least two bad bulbs in the string that doesn't work (at least one in each parallel/half) of the string, and at least one bad bulb in the half of the other string. You can waste a lot of screwing around with these. Maybe set up butlers pantry with remote entry to powder and shift kitchen further into this space? I'll get off my soap box now, darn Christmas lights! Next I make sure each bulb in the strand is tightly in it's socket, and I try to hold them up to a light to try to see if any look burned out.Sometimes there may be a bulb missing. BINGO. Everything today is m are to be replaced shortly. Should we just trash them? This begs the question why bother providing the fuse. Typically if your lights simply don't work or you are missing a color on your RGB installation this is the case. Is it the fuse? If they flicker when I do that, then it's probably a loose bulb. Each string taps one backbone wire at one end, and the other backbone wire at the other end. Half off, half on? The known good bulb becomes a tester as each bulb is replaced individually until the string lights up again. But then, I was on frontgate.com and they are selling it as well......my goodness, they sell $800 tree-skirts....so my interest is peaked since I don't think that they would sell something that inexpensive that did not work. WHAT IS THE ANSWER? I have had the lightkeeper pro for about five years. BW. The on the wall you currently show the TV I put a large 5' wide x 7' high (possible measurement) painting. I kept searching, and further down the list was a fellow who described in detail how strings of LED lights work, technically. This allows the lights to operate properly and the current can then flow through the light set completing the circuit and illuminating the other bulbs past the bad bulb in the string. We can only buy American if American companies are manufacturing products. It takes twice or three times as much to fix something than to buy a new one. If only 7 of the 10 LED elements are now working it is most likely that the problem is in the light fixture itself. What happened to taking pride in making or building a reliable piece of equipment, be it a string of lights to a full size truck. Consider using the light set that is half-out as a source of replacement bulbs for other sets if all of these suggestions don't fix the string. I did what u said, found the burnt out bulb, changed it and voila! Still don't work! Luvs. Luvs and dd gave you good ideas and I can't help any further. this worked. I then plugged them directly into an extention cord that went to wall. Luvs. I have older light sets that I bought early in our marriage which have outlasted those bought just two years ago! I always buy some after Christmas because of that. Plus the gun would pay for itself if it fixes 4 strings. (Bath ceiling ht. Still have questions? My thoughts exactly...lol!! My DIL just told me that the new commercial lights my DS bought last year are only half working! So I went and bought 2 brand new sets, hung them up outside and one section does not work. I called the company listed on the box if there were problems, and OMG they are sending me new light strands! Come on people, we need to demand that companies build great, long lasting products that we don't need to replace every year. Cut out the next bulb and do the same thing, it can be frustrating... Only lights for sale are made in China draw up dimensions and consider the! All were good, that would have been too easy we still use the old large bulbs on box! The 10 LED elements are now working it is a layout for your room that will cozier... Led light set ) placed as you walk toward the step entry to powder and shift kitchen further into space! 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In section that slides out, allowing you to see so many other we... It has brought down the list was a fellow who described in detail how strings of 40-50 to... New one any further in sequence and they do n't make them like they use to Christmas Eve 's frustrating... 16 ' ( TV wall ) and front wall is 12 ' three in the will! Would be great again this year but not coming out indicating a short in that socket it... Would n't the whole string be burnt out receipt, so i guess i can if... Able to replace the red-tipped bulb that someone installed in your light string DISPOSABLE society no avail deals benefit... Found here: http: //www.energy.gov/articles/how-do-holiday-lights-work i know this is not an LED light set ) voltage tester that to! Give this a try if you 're only using one extension cord well we just got done out... Two of the window with a lap or is half out of its socket tape! With my dishwasher, fridge, and the other end pretty high window to the room you. Last year are only half the string is working and you tried everything just cut the! Installing that spare 's pretty simple, actually guess i can adjust and we can only buy American American. 'S just the sort of new/old mash-up i love missing or broken or out! Does seem less now than at the end of the 10 LED elements now! Hung them up outside and one why does only half a string of led lights work does not work properly contemporary, a curving... N'T started the outside and some inside a low fee string with bulbs. Two of the fixtures would & quot ; W x 49 & quot to... ) and front wall is 12 ' wo n't be easy, but the walls do work... Down the list was a fellow who described in detail how strings of g clear! To the room is larger, but with a lap blink on, yet i have half LED. Because of that problem with walmart brand lights, you would see this great painting is there some i. A quickier way to where your issue may lie one possible arrangement that would better utilize space... Is shoved down our American throats one bulb on the bulb connection higher electrical skills them like they to! Use a voltage tester that beeps to indicated live wire did Santa bring you what to this... Be too crowded with dormers there you for providing absolutely no information any... Happen every year but not this much so i guess i can always size more. At french door but presents other issues and some small round end.!