On 12/05/2016 08:03 AM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I've been looking at buying some LED Christmas lights but I'm curious about
the wiring harnesses.

I know the bulbs are brighter, last longer, etc.

Also, colors are more intense and don't fade, since the LED actually
produces that color instead of it being filtered by a coating that comes
off.

However, I'm curious as to
whether the wiring harnesses are any different/better than traditional
mini-light strings. Do LED's strings go bad in sections just like
traditional strings or are they wired such that each individual socket is
a stand alone entity?

I started using LED lights in 2005. There are some single-LED failures
(more blue/white than other colors). Most failed LEDs will still conduct
current (just won't light). There are some series (about 30 LEDs)
failures, but not as many as with incandescents.

I have a large number of mini-light Christmas strings. Straight, icicles and
swags. Every January I put away full working sets and every December I plug
the strings in to find bad sections scattered throughout. I try all the
standard bulb tricks and sometimes I can get the sections working, but
sometimes I can't.

I had some (but not much) success with that.

I'm not talking about entire strings being bad, I mean that one or more 4'
section in a 21' string will be out.

Small bulbs are better made for a low voltage, which explains the series
wiring. For miniature lights, I've seen 20,35, and 50-light series.
These use different bulbs. Most of what I had were 100-light strings,
with two 50-light series.

LEDs are low-voltage devices, so are also series-connected. I see series
of 25,30, or 35 LEDs (commonly in 2-series strings of 50,60,70). There
is also a few electronic components (at least the current-limiting
resistor) in one of more bulges in the wire.

Then I have to buy new strings or
combine strings by cutting out bad sections and soldering in good ones. It's
a constant PITA.

I have a few like that, sometimes a short string is useful. Something
I'd like to do sometime is replace the lights (35 mini incandescent now)
in the lighted canes.

Replacing all my strings with LED's would be a huge up-front expense, but
if I knew that I could pull them out every year and they would work, it
would be worth it.


LEDs themselves seem to be very reliable, but there are problems with
the cheap wiring. Also, there's no reason you need to replace ALL those
lights at once. I just had a few in 2005, more every year.

--
20 days until the winter celebration (Sunday December 25, 2016 12:00:00
AM for 1 day).

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do
because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." [Susan B.
Anthony]