Christmas Lights

[redpoint5]

What are some tips to make Christmas lights less frustrating? I used to think LED lights meant I'd never have problems, but the "outdoor" rated strands still rust the leads to the point they break, eventually causing sections or the whole strand to die. I'd buy replacement LEDs, except colors and voltages are basically impossible to match.

There are testers to help isolate the failure point, but I've never used one. Even if I was able to isolate the bad bulb, I'd have to sacrifice another strand to repair it.

Perhaps the best strategy is to simply purchase an extra strand to use sacrificially so the voltage and color are matched correctly?

I hate throwing something away because a 10 cent LED is bad, but I can't be spending hours every year trying to sort these problems out.

[freebeard]

Are you going for a string of lights along the eave of the front porch, or the full, pulsating technicolor yard?

A string of RGB LEDs with real wiring and power supply cold be a permanent installation, just run them all white the rest of the year.

[ksa8907]

I have half ours up and hopefully finishing the rest this week sometime. But in the future, I might just hire it all out and rent the lights. Then it's not my problem, not a cheap solution but certainly easier.

[Piotrsko]

Wallyworld has 300 light strings for $8.45. I believe they are now required to be LED.

Since I view the $8.45 to be a disposable price, and havent had a string fail........

But since the string is 30-40 lights, the input voltage is line so either replace one bulb or the whole string.

[Ecky]

The last couple of boxes I bought had spare lights with them. Doesn't help if the wiring breaks, granted.