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How do Christmas light shunts work?
In incandescent holiday lights, shunts are small wires wrapped beneath the filament. Initially, they are coated with a substance that makes them an insulator. Now the shunt has gone from an insulator to a conductor, and current passes along shunt, keeping the circuit closed, and the remaining lights burning.
What causes a section of Christmas lights to go out?
A light bulb has come out of its socket or is half out of its socket and it has brought down the circuit. For light strings that commonly have over 50 bulbs, they are constructed in 2 or more continuous circuits. If a bulb is missing in a circuit only the bulbs in series of it will go out.
How do I fix my Christmas light shunt?
A faulty shunt may sound like a catastrophic failure, but you can often fix it with the LightKeeper Pro. Simply plug in the light strand and remove a bulb that’s in or near the dark section. Next, insert the tool into the bulb’s socket and squeeze the trigger to activate a piezo circuit.
How does a shunt fixer work?
The LightKeeper Pro Quick Fix Trigger sends a shaped, electrical pulse through the defective bulb, clearing the shunt. This allows it to operate properly. The current can then flow through the light set completing the circuit and illuminating the other bulbs.
Why are half my Christmas lights not working?
If half a strand is working and the other half is not, you probably have a loose or broken bulb. Start with the first unlit bulb and work your way down, wiggling them to check for looseness. If it flickers, that’s your cue to replace it.
How can I fix Christmas lights without a tester?
Pull out one bulb at a time, and stick a piece of folded up foil into the bulb socket. If the lights come on, you know that’s the bad bulb. If they don’t, put the bulb back in and move on to the next one.
How does a shunt tool work?
In incandescent holiday lights, shunts are small wires wrapped beneath the filament.) Simply plug in the light strand and remove a bulb that’s in or near the dark section. Next, insert the tool into the bulb’s socket and squeeze the trigger to activate a piezo circuit.
How to repair a broken Christmas tree light?
Christmas Light Repair: Check the Fuse 1 Christmas tree light repair is actually really simple. 2 First, slide back the plastic covering on the plug to check the Christmas light fuse. 3 Replace any blown Christmas light fuses.
Which is the best tool to repair Christmas lights?
The best option is to use either an electrician’s multimeter or a tool specifically designed for repairing Christmas lights, such as the Lightkeeper Pro. It combines a voltage detector, bulb remover, bulb and fuse testers, and shunt repairer in one compact tool.
What should I do if my Christmas lights are not working?
Take down the Christmas lights carefully, without pulling on or twisting them. Plug the light strands in before storing them, to ensure they are still functioning. Replace malfunctioning bulbs and fuses so that the lights are ready for next season.
How do you use a Christmas light tester?
Pro tip: For the Christmas light tester to work, the lights must be plugged into the electrical outlet correctly — the narrow “hot” blade into the narrow slot and the wide neutral blade into the wide slot. With other Christmas light testers, you simply touch each bulb.