XMAS frugality

[roosmom]

I recycle strings of xmas lites. Every year I go thru
my lites before the holidays. This means I go thru every
string looking for burnt out lite bulbs, bad connections,
blown fuses and shorts. I rarely buy new lites. This is
a tutorial.
It is good to get a TESTER. PU at hardware store or Walmart
if you so choose. You can pull the bulb and receptacle out
and use the tester. YES EVERY BULBOnce you find
the one burnt out, replace it with a new one from the baggie
that is attached to the string or in the box (that is for all the
newbies here lol).
DONT THROW THE OLD ONES AWAY. Use one of
your tins and put the receptacle in it for later use. Not the
bulb, just the little plastic thingy, lol. You can use tins
for each of the saved objects, lites, fuses and receptacles,
plus your tester, electrical tape and small tweezers can
go in them. A tackle box works well also.
Sometimes it is not a bulb. It is a short or a fuse.
The fact that half the string is lit is a good indication of a
short. Your electrical tape can fix that, IF YOU CAN
FIND IT un . Moving the string around with your hands or
moving each bulb receptacle around with your hands
may reveal it. If you do have a short make sure it is unplugged
before attempting to fix it. If it is a short, you need to cut the
wires (making note of which wire is connected to which wire). You
need to strip the wires back three inches on each side of break
(short) after you cut it.
Twine the wires together that you stripped the covering
off. Once you have the wires twinned, lay them back against
the original wire and apply the tape. Wrap the whole fixed spot
and then some, with the tape.
If it is the fuse, you need to slide the door back that is on the
plug. Pull out the fuse with the tweezers. If it is bad it will be
blackened. If your eyes are better than mine you may even be
able see the break in the wire inside the fuse. Just replace it with
the new fuse that is in the box or attached to the cord. Slide the
door closed and try it. *note....if it is foreign or cheap, it might not have fuses*.
Now for the burnt out bulbs. If you have strings that are beyond
Repairpull the bulbs with the receptacles and pull the fuses (throw away if not good). Store these things for fixing other strands.
When you have a burnt out bulb, grasp the plastic receptacle and pull it out. If you have been outside a long time you will not
be able to do this with your fingers because of the cold. YOU WILL BE TEMPTED TO DO THIS WITH YOUR TEETH , that is okay as long as you remember to unplug it. IF YOU FORGET to unplug it, dont drool on it or stick your tongue on it . When grasping it with your teeth you need to make sure to do it gently so as not to break the bulb...... DONT ASK!!
Once you have it out you can put in a new one. TEST it first to
make sure it works. If it works then put it in. If it doesnt work
set it aside and try another and another until you find one that
works.
If the receptacles are different, you may need to take the glass
bulb out by gently unbending the wires coming out of the bottom
of the one you just took out. Once out, you can replace it with a
bulb that works. Reverse the process. Be careful shoving the two
wires in because they cant be twisted across each other, they have to slide in smoothly into their own slots. Once they come out of the bottom, bend them back up so they make contact with the string once you put the receptacle back in.
GEEZ, I guess I did have something to submit . Sorry about
how long this is. If you have any questions just ask!
See QA, it takes me a long time and now you know why

 

[TanksHill]

Ok, so now I know I am not the only person to sit around all day burried in strings of lights switching little bulbs into diferent sockets.

 

[roosmom]

Nope, kinda relaxing isnt it?

 

[poppycat]

I do this too. I've had the same strings of lights for years on end now. Every year when I'm putting them away I think I might replace a few next year but I never do.

 

[roosmom]

They are expensive. I may add a string, maybe two but no more.

My favorite ones are the ones I filched from my mothers house. They go to FL every year. They are the flicker flame lights. They produce the most gorgeous yellow/orange glow. Yes they flicker like flames too. Those bulbs are almost impossible to fix tho.

 

[keljonma]

I saw the strangest thing this year. A group from our church did a bonfire stone soup evening at someone's home. At the end of the evening, they moved the kettle of soup and threw old broken lights on the fire. They said they did this for the colors made by the burning lights and wires. I thought it was pretty foolhardy, so I moved away from the fire. We probably all breathed in some toxic fumes that night.

 

[sufficientforme]

Ok, that is weird, there is lead in the wiring of Christmas lights, why would you do that? I would not even take the chance. Not to mention glass shards possibly exploding in your eyes. Foolish, but I am a little over protective as my kids would say

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

See QA, it takes me a long time and now you know why

Well, you are excused. You can get your xmas stuff out whenever you want

 

[roosmom]

Why.....Thank you

 

[FarmerChick]

I have had my little strings of lights FOREVER also. I replace, never throw out.....BUT....what kills me, is when I shop I see the NEW stuff that came out....I WANT IT ALL.....I WANT IT ALL, ALL THE PRETTY SANTAS, FANCY LIGHTS, NEW BULBS, lol-lol-lol

But I don't buy....wow it is hard to pull back my hand!

But yes, my stuff is old now. It is time for a FEW dollars maybe of some new stuff. (well maybe, cause since I own all this stuff, I almost can't allow myself to get more)--enough is enough....or is it when decorating for Xmas..HA HA HA