Aaaagh! Tree lights not working! Don't tell me I have to check them all....do I?

[olivo]

Do i have to take out each bulb and try a new one in it's place? They came with a little tool thing and a few spare bulbs. i've tried the white tipped one but nothing.
B and Q cheapies are looking appealing.....

First go along the length of the lights and give each bulb a gentle tighten, sometimes they get knocked loose, if that doesn't work you'll have to take them out one by and and check the little copper wires and make sure they're all aligned right. Any that look dodgey at the bottom you need to replace. Usually half way through one of the above steps the lights will pop babck on miraculously.

I had 3 strings of lights cause me problems this year... spent all day monday fighting with the blasted things

oh hell! will have to wait till the kids are in bed then! will let DD just decorate the tree and do the lights after.

thanks SR!

I learned the hard way never to attempt to do the tree with the kids about... far too stressful

good luck

Horrible Christmas lights. We have a set like that, and an LED set. I'm considering ditching the plug-in ones and getting another LED set.

Was going to say similar.

Unplugged them last night to go to bed - fine.

Plugged them in this morn and nothing.

Have checked extension works, DH has fiddled with a few bulbs, have checked wire has not been chewed at all (kooky old house) and am thinking about trying a few more, but I refuse to take the blasted things off and start again.

How do LED one work? Do you not have any of this hassle with LED lights?
My dh has a yearning for multi coloured kiddies christmas tree lights rather than the white ones we have. He saw some round ones like little cherries in the local garden centre and now he has a hankering...

As I understand it, you don't get this problem of half or all the lights failing with LED lights. They are also much cheaper to run, though I don't know how much the average family spends on Christmas tree light electricity....

Just found a comparison here actually which includes running costs.

The LED ones are great money wise and in terms of hassle but the type of light they give off takes a bit of getting used to... much harsher than old fashioned bulbs

Our set are red, so I'm not sure about the type of light. The flashing programmes are much nicer than the traditional ones though as they include dimming rather than than just on/off for each bulb, so it's a bit less frantic - I'm not one for a frantic Christmas tree .

LED are so much easier.

Get LEDs, much less hassle. Go for warm glow/gold/whatever they're calling it if you want the same kind of glow as traditional lights - the white can be a bit harsh, but depends what you like!

we have a set of holly shaped LEDs and the green is very neon so i'd suggest avoid any with green lights

for how much lights costs these days i'd just bin them and get new ones.

If you have the money like previous posters have said get LED ones