Christmas is a beautiful time when preparations start well ahead in advance. With meticulous planning, you want everything to go well, but there can still be unexpected failures and breakdowns that can be fixed sooner. Christmas is incomplete without lights; when half of them go down, you will not want to waste time looking for tedious solutions. The key is to keep some information handy and educate self-regarding the instructions to be followed when half of the Christmas lights go out on an unfortunate day during the holidays.
Circuit breaker inspection
The problem: If you feel that all the lights in one section of the house have gone out, there is a chance that the circuit breaker has been tripped off. It may be the case of an overload in the electric circuit, which means the disruptions have occurred with more electric demand placing a load on the outlet, more than it can handle in a go. It is a common but not a severe issue.
The solution: Reset the circuit breaker by checking for it in the metal circuit box, which must be located in the basement, room, or garage of your property. The switch must be moved to the “off” position and then to the “on” position. It is easy to find the particular switch that has been tripped off, as it would be slightly “off-alignment” than the rest.
A circuit breaker is an electrical safety device designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by current in excess of that which the equipment can safely carry (overcurrent). Its basic function is to interrupt current flow to protect equipment and to prevent fire.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_breaker
Fuse replacement
The problem: If you feel power has been coming from the main line but the bulb is not illuminating, this can be an issue with a blown fuse. Replacement fuse can be purchased from stores, and they are also available with the original pack of lights when you purchase them.
The solution: The fuse can be replaced by sliding and opening the lid at the back of the plug that is to be inserted into any outlet. When the bulb is fused, it will have black burn marks, or the bulb itself may appear black in color. The new fuses must be pressed gently inside, the cover closed, and the lights should be plugged in thereafter.
fuse, in electrical engineering, a safety device that protects electrical circuits from the effects of excessive currents. A fuse commonly consists of a current-conducting strip or wire of easily fusible metal that melts, and thus interrupts the circuit of which it is a part, whenever that circuit is made to carry a current larger than that for which it is intended.
https://www.britannica.com/technology/fuse-electronic-device
Replacement of bulbs that have burnt out
The problem: When there is a problem with an individual bulb not illuminating or a certain portion of the strings that are not working, it can be worked out. If the problem is not with the fuse, there can be an issue with the bulb itself.
The solution: Burnt-out bulbs can be fixed by untangling all the string lights and looking for damaged sockets, frayed wires, and broken bulbs. Make sure you replace the bulbs and use the ones with the same wattage so that they work well with the other bulbs in the string.
Bulb testing for potential damage
The problem: Finding the faulty bulb is important to maintaining illumination throughout the string. When half of the bulbs go down, there is a chance that the other half will go down as well.
The solution: If you can’t see the damaged bulb and find that the lights are still not working, make sure to use a bulb tester. When you find the faulty bulb, first unplug the lights from the outlet and replace the faulty one/s. Make sure that you have firmly fixed the new bulb (and check for the other bulbs, too) into the socket in the process of DIY bulb replacement.
Inspection of lights later
Now, when you are done with the holiday, make sure you have rigorously checked for the bulbs and the strings of lights to prevent potential issues in the future. Testing all your lights after the holiday’s end is always recommended. Replace any faulty or burnt-out bulbs while taking down the string of lights. Strands that have frayed and broken cords must be discarded with utmost care. When you plan to trim your lights for the following holidays, all your lights must work fine.
Final takeaway points!
- A blown fuse can be identified by blackish or burnt-out bulbs in the string of lights. Fused bulbs can be replaced in smaller plug compartments.
- Broken and loose bulbs must be carefully inspected from the section where lights are not working.
- Look for damaged or frayed wiring. The problem can be fixed by replacing the particular strand where the lights are not working.
- Look for the shunt failure. The shunt normally closes the circuit so that the rest of the bulbs can continue to illuminate well. When the shunts have failed, the broken circuit can be a problem, which can be resolved by looking for the faulty bulb and replacing the strand.
To sum up!
Christmas is a happy time when you don’t want to be bothered by unusual and unhappy mishaps in the electric section or lights in your house or office. Closely inspecting the issue can help fix smaller issues that otherwise appear to be bigger problems. DIY techniques can help cut down on higher expenses and mental trauma during the holidays, which may be common with Christmas lights going out and spoiling the festivity.
