#CHRISTMAS ICYCLE LIGHTS FULL#

The problem was likely a loose connection somewhere and not a bad bulb. I ended up going through the tedious process of testing each suspect bad bulb (by placing each in a lit string) and randomly ended up getting all the strings lit up. So 2.5V is good for 50 bulbs (and multiples wired in parallel), 3.5V for 35 (and multiples), and 6V for 20 bulbs. 120V divided by that number is your bulb voltage.

To determine the bulb voltage, you need to count your number of bulbs in each SERIES section. The bulbs donвЂ™t include the plastic base so donвЂ™t throw those out. I found some 2.5V mini replacements at an independent dollar store though it looks like Canadian Tire and Rona is also a good source for bulbs. It was difficult to find replacement bulbs at both drug stores and hardware stores. A third of the lights going out will indicate you have three sections. If half the lights go out, you have two sections. To determine how many sections your string has, you need to pull a bulb from a good string. So even if both strings have a disconnect, power will pass to the next string. In my 100 light string, there are two sets of series 50 light strings which are wired in parallel. There is a tool called the Lightkeeper Pro that sends high voltage into your string to force bulbs where the shunts have failed to fuse together. Sometimes, the shunt fails causing the string to stay dark. The higher voltage caused by the burnt out bulb should cause the shunt to fuse together. Research indicated that the bulbs have a shunt so if the filament burns out, the bulb should short circuit so the string stays lit. Mini lights are wired in series so that if one bulb goes out, the whole string will be out. It is difficult to trace the wiring to see how they are wired.

#CHRISTMAS ICYCLE LIGHTS FULL#

After putting up icicle lights at the parents, quite a few of the strings had half or full sections with no light.

Christmas icycle lights