Christmas lights are a beloved holiday tradition for many families. Stringing up lights on the tree, around the windows, and along the roofline can create a magical glow during the festive season. However, it can be frustrating when one bulb burns out and causes the whole string to go dark. Fortunately, there are a few different types of Christmas lights designed to stay lit even if one bulb goes out. Keep reading to learn more about the options for Christmas lights that keep shining bright.
Incandescent Christmas Lights
Traditional incandescent Christmas lights connect each bulb in series along a wire. This means that the electricity flows through each bulb to complete the circuit and light up the string. If one bulb burns out, breaks, or falls out of its socket, that bulb will stop the flow of electricity, causing all the lights after it to go dark. Here is a diagram of how a series circuit of incandescent Christmas lights works:
| Bulb 1 | Bulb 2 | Bulb 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ON | ON | ON |
With a basic string of incandescent lights, one burned out bulb will leave you with a frustrating section of darkness. However, there are a couple of modified versions of incandescent Christmas lights that help avoid this issue.
Shunted Incandescent Lights
Shunted incandescent Christmas lights have a special wiring design that allows electricity to continue flowing even if one bulb burns out. Each bulb has a shunt or bypass wire attached to it, which acts like a bridge to carry the electrical current around a broken bulb and light the rest of the string. Here is a diagram of how shunted Christmas lights work:
| Bulb 1 | Bulb 2 | Bulb 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ON | Broken | ON |
With the bypass wire, electricity is able to bridge over the broken second bulb and continue lighting up bulbs three and beyond. This technology allows the rest of the Christmas light strand to remain lit even if one or more bulbs burn out.
Dual-Circuit Light Sets
Dual-circuit or dual-run light sets have two parallel wires running through the string of lights. The bulbs are alternately connected to one wire or the other. That way, if one bulb burns out, only every other bulb will turn off rather than the whole string going dark. Here is a diagram of how dual-circuit lights function:
| Circuit 1 | Circuit 2 |
|---|---|
| Bulb 1 – ON | Bulb 2 – Broken |
| Bulb 3 – ON | Bulb 4 – OFF |
With two circuits, half the lights will remain on when a bulb burns out. The working bulbs can continue shining brightly.
LED Christmas Lights
LED (light-emitting diode) Christmas lights have become increasingly popular in recent years. They are much more energy efficient and long-lasting than traditional incandescent bulbs. But the big advantage of LED lights is that the individual bulbs are engineered to stay illuminated even if one goes out.
LED lights have a series circuit design like incandescent lights. However, each LED bulb has its own built-in shunt. If the LED filament inside an individual bulb stops working, that bulb is bypassed while the rest stay lit. Here is how the LED shunt technology works:
| LED 1 | LED 2 | LED 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ON | Broken | ON |
Similar to shunted incandescent lights, the dead LED bulb will not cause the ones after it to turn off. The electricity flows around the broken bulb and continues powering the rest of the string. That makes LED Christmas lights a great hassle-free option.
Christmas Light Repair Options
Even with shunted or LED Christmas lights, you may eventually end up with sections of darkness if too many individual bulbs burn out. Before you replace the whole strand, there are some things you can try to get your lights glowing again:
Replace Burned Out Bulbs
It sounds obvious, but simply replacing dead bulbs can get your Christmas lights back up and running. Always keep spare bulbs on hand for making quick fixes.
Bypass Sections
If you have a section of lights that are out, you may be able to bypass them with a new wire to connect the working sections of the strand again. This can be a bit tricky but can save you from buying new lights.
Check Fuses
Some light strands have tiny fuses between each bulb socket. Check for any broken fuses and replace them with new ones to restore connectivity.
Check for Loose Bulbs
Loose bulbs that aren???t making good contact in their socket can cause sections of lights to go out. Carefully check each bulb and tighten as needed.
Repair Wire Damage
Exposed or frayed wires can interrupt the flow of electricity. Seal any damage with electrical tape and test the lights again.
Taking some time to troubleshoot and repair can extend the life of your Christmas lights. But if they are still flickering and going out after trying these fixes, it may be time to invest in a new set.
Choosing the Best Christmas Lights
When shopping for new Christmas lights, consider these factors to find the type that will shine bright throughout the holidays:
Light Technology
LED lights are the most durable option and will all stay lit even if one bulb dies. Incandescent options like shunted and dual-circuit lights can work well too but may eventually have more dark sections.
Number of Lights
Buy enough string lights to cover the areas you want to accent without stretching them too thin. Plan for at least 100 lights per foot of coverage.
Indoor vs. Outdoor
Outdoor lights need to withstand cold, moisture, and wind. Make sure to get lights rated for outdoor use in the spaces you???ll be decorating.
Power Options
Many LED light strands can run on battery power or USB which gives you more flexibility on where to display them.
Extra Features
Consider lights with special effects like twinkling, fading, color changing, or sound activated for an extra festive display.
Cost
While LED lights are more expensive upfront, the energy savings and long lifespan make them worth the investment over incandescent options. Look for sales to get the best deals.
Taking these factors into account will ensure you find the right Christmas lights to keep your display shining brightly for many holidays to come.
Conclusion
It can be frustrating to deal with Christmas lights going dark when bulbs burn out. To keep your holiday glow going strong, choose strand lights with shunted wiring or LED technology. These are designed to stay lit even if one bulb fails. For traditional incandescent lights, opt for dual-circuit strands to prevent large sections from going out. With a little maintenance and repair, you can extend the life of existing lights too. Investing in quality Christmas lights will provide many years of bright, hassle-free decoration to light up the festive season.
