Christmas lights are stunning representations of the holiday spirit, but they can also be a bit annoying. Imagine, you decorate your home with the stunning splendor of Christmas lights. You anticipate the amazing light display with vigor, but when the switch is thrown to show off your masterpiece, nothing happens. This occurs more than we would like to admit, but most often, the culprit is a simple blown fuse. There are other issues that could be to blame, but the first place to start is the fuse.
How to Tell If a Christmas Light Fuse Is Blown
The excitement of turning on Christmas lights for the first time can be masterful, but when the event does not occur as planned, devastation can take over. Some Christmas light decorators can take drastic measures and simply remove lights and throw them out. There are others that may take on the painstaking process of checking each, individual bulb to ensure they are all working as they should because one broken bulb can cause the whole strand to go out. However, the fuse is most often the cause.
Those new to decorating with Christmas lights may not even realize their strand of lights has a fuse, but they all do. It is located at the male end of the plug. For those who don’t know which one that is, it is the one with the prongs that plug into the outlet. The fuse is located on the inside of this structure and can be accessed via the sliding door on the plug. Slide the door open to see the fuse. This area may also contain the backup fuse, so make sure you are looking at the one that is connected to the cord.
Before you learn how to tell if a Christmas light fuse is blown, take out the fuse by simply pulling it out. The fuse has a filament inside. A working fuse will have a solid filament. If the fuse is blown, the filament will be broken. Sometimes it is difficult to tell exactly where or if there is a break in the filament. In that instance, it is better to simply replace the fuse with the backup fuse.
How to Replace the Blown Christmas Light Fuse
Once you know how to tell if a Christmas light fuse is blown, you must want to know how to replace it. Again, simply locate the fuse box located on the male end of your strand of lights. Slide it open to access the fuse. To replace the blown fuse, simply remove the bad fuse and place the backup fuse in its place. Slide the fuse box closed and plug in the lights once again to test them out.
Getting the fuses out is not always as easy as simply pulling them. Often you need a pair of pliers to reach inside the fuse box to retrieve the blown fuse. Needle nose pliers will work best for this. Your strand of lights may also require a small flat head screwdriver to access the fuse panel. It is best to use an eye glass repair kit screwdriver for this as the screw will be very tiny.
Once you have accessed the fuse box area, you will notice the fuses are deep set within the box. They are held in by very small brass fittings. In order to retrieve your blown fuse, you must wedge your small flat head screwdriver between the fitting and the fuse. It should also be noted that the fitting farthest away from the door is easier to access, so do not try to wedge your screwdriver between the fitting and the fuse on the door side of the access panel.
Very gently remove the fuse from the holds of the brass fitting. Once removed, you can pull the fuse out, but if it is still a little tight, simply use your needle nose pliers to help take hold of the fuse and remove it. Make sure you hold onto the silver fitting and never try to remove them by grabbing the center, glass portion. The glass is very fragile and if broken, the fuse is certainly no good.
To replace the fuse, do these steps in reverse. Place one end of the fuse in the slot closest to the access door and push the fuse in as far as possible. Next take your small flat head screwdriver and press the fuse into the brass bracket. Again, remember not to touch the glass, but utilize the metal ends as these are the strongest areas of the fuse.
What If There Is No Backup Fuse
If your Christmas lights are new, you should have a backup fuse either in a small back attached to the light strand or inside the fuse panel. When the fuse is attached to the strand, it usually contains backup bulbs as well as the accompanying fuse. Some Christmas light strands come with many fuses, but if a fuse is not available or you have used all your fuses up, replacement fuses can be purchased.
When shopping for new fuses for your Christmas lights, you need to know the wattage of your lights. Getting a larger watt fuse will not make your lights brighter, but could actually damage them. So, when ordering, order fuses that match the wattage of your lights. Wattage can be seen on the plug where fuses are replaced. Purchase multiple fuses at one time and keep extras in a cool, dry place for later use.
Just because a fuse if blown does not mean you must immediately discard the lights. Although replacing the fuse can be a little aggravating, it is a lot cheaper than buying a whole new strand of lights. Replacing fuses in lights is a great place to begin learning how to fix household items if you are a novice at it.
Components of the lights are generally straightforward and easy to understand. We hope you have learnt how to tell if a Christmas light fuse is blown and replace it. Some lights will even come with instructions on how to change bulbs, troubleshoot the lights, and yes, change fuses, so never be afraid to try it yourself. For your future comfort, always check Christmas lights before hanging them around the house.
