I have a quandry and would like some help on this matter. I need to
shorten christmas light strings to fit certain decorations but have no
idea how this is done. What I am using are the mini light sets with plugs
on both ends. Cutting the end off is not a problem. That is pretty
straight forward. I just need to shorten the length.

ukwildcatfan wrote:
I have a quandry and would like some help on this matter. I need to
shorten christmas light strings to fit certain decorations but have no
idea how this is done. What I am using are the mini light sets with plugs
on both ends. Cutting the end off is not a problem. That is pretty
straight forward. I just need to shorten the length.
Hi,
You can't. If you shorted the length with less number of lights they'll
burn up from over voltage condition.

ukwildcatfan wrote:
I have a quandry and would like some help on this matter. I need to
shorten christmas light strings to fit certain decorations but have no
idea how this is done. What I am using are the mini light sets with plugs
on both ends. Cutting the end off is not a problem. That is pretty
straight forward. I just need to shorten the length.

You can't shorten the length without increasing the voltage on the
remaining bulbs, which will cause them to burn out quickly. What you can
do is cover the unwanted bulbs with "black out caps;" or if you can't
find those, then get some black plastic tape (like electrical tape) and
cut a 2 inch strip and fold over each bulb. Good luck.

--
Grandpa

Grandpa wrote:
ukwildcatfan wrote:
I have a quandry and would like some help on this matter. I need to
shorten christmas light strings to fit certain decorations but have
no idea how this is done. What I am using are the mini light sets
with plugs on both ends. Cutting the end off is not a problem. That
is pretty straight forward. I just need to shorten the length.

You can't shorten the length without increasing the voltage on the
remaining bulbs, which will cause them to burn out quickly. What you
can do is cover the unwanted bulbs with "black out caps;" or if you
can't find those, then get some black plastic tape (like electrical
tape) and cut a 2 inch strip and fold over each bulb. Good luck.

Good advice. I would add that if you like a lot of work, you can cut
and reduce the distance between the lights, but just think of all those
connections and how many are going to fail because you did not do a perfect
job of joining the two ends.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

In article om,
"ukwildcatfan" wrote:

[shorten string of mini-lights]

The desire to shorten the length indicates you are outlining something.

In the case of a roof peak, attach the end of the light string at one end of
the feature and repeat with the other end.

The "overlap" (slack) of lights at the top of the peak can be neatly arranged
by back/overlapping so that portion of extra lights appears to be a "topper"
(finial?) or extra "snowpack" at the peak. (keystone?)

You will not find "dangling ends" of extra minis on a well done house outline
display.

Since minis are such a piece of crap, I won't use them in inaccessible places
such as those that required a LADDER to reach. On the house, I have always
used C9 intermediate base lights. The length of those strings are easily
shortened (or lengthened) and are MUCH more reliable than miniature lights.

The only thing I know about LED lights are that this is the FIRST time I've
seen them on store shelves and that they are (naturally) more expensive than
the incandescent equivalent that has been around for DECADES. If LED strings
are more reliable than minis, they might have a chance to make it as a viable
decoration technology.
--

JR

ukwildcatfan wrote:
I have a quandry and would like some help on this matter. I need to
shorten christmas light strings to fit certain decorations but have no
idea how this is done. What I am using are the mini light sets with plugs
on both ends. Cutting the end off is not a problem. That is pretty
straight forward. I just need to shorten the length.

.................................................. .................................................. ......................

Reading other posts;
..
We all seem to be assuming that the lights are those series strings.

But OP mentions "Plugs at both ends". In other words the input voltage
goes right to the far end so another set can be plugged in beyond it.

That suggests the light strings may 'not' be the type where all the
bulbs are in series and if one goes pop they all go out?

But a word of warning some types have at least three wires and while
the bulbs are in series the input voltage is also carried to the far
end. Some of the 'hanging icicle type lights' seem to be of that type?
Tracing for dead bulbs in those, for my neighbour, last year, was a
nightmare!

Another common type of light strings uses bulbs (115 volt in North
America) that are each individually connected to 'both' wires. In that
case it wouldn't matter if you had one bulb or fifty on a string!

If they 'are' that type it may not be a big job to cut the strings into
shorter lengths of a few lamps each. .......... PROVIDED the cut end
which will have 115 to 120 volts AC across the cut off wire ends can be
properly insulated. Safety and insurance would be issues!

I would suggest that just using electrical tape on the end would not be
safe or acceptable. Perhaps some kind of plastic liquid; the sort into
which you dip the handles of tools, several times, to give them a
coating would work and it must thoroughly adhere the cut end of the
wire?

In article .com,
"terry" wrote:

I would suggest that just using electrical tape on
the [cut] end would not be safe or acceptable.

Agreed.


Perhaps some kind of plastic liquid; the sort into which you dip the
handles of tools, several times, to give them a coating would work
and it must thoroughly adhere the cut end of the wire?

I have used heat shrink tubing with good result.
--

JR

On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 11:21:25 -0600, Jim Redelfs
wrote:

In article .com,
"terry" wrote:

I would suggest that just using electrical tape on
the [cut] end would not be safe or acceptable.

Agreed.


Why not just pull the inter-bulb wire into
a loop, and tape it?

On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 03:45:44 GMT, Tony Hwang wrote:

ukwildcatfan wrote:
I have a quandry and would like some help on this matter. I need to
shorten christmas light strings to fit certain decorations but have no
idea how this is done. What I am using are the mini light sets with plugs
on both ends. Cutting the end off is not a problem. That is pretty
straight forward. I just need to shorten the length.
Hi,
You can't. If you shorted the length with less number of lights they'll
burn up from over voltage condition.

You can shorten a string if you do it in the right place. Most light
strings use separate series of 50 lights. A simple string of 100
lights is 2 series. You can cut the string in the middle with no
problem. Note that you will see only 2 wires at that point, rather
than 3. Icicle lights are usually 3 series.
--
26 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Unlike biological evolution. 'intelligent design' is
not a genuine scientific theory and, therefore, has
no place in the curriculum of our nation's public
school classes." -- Ted Kennedy

On 29 Nov 2006 05:51:21 -0800, "terry"
wrote:


ukwildcatfan wrote:
I have a quandry and would like some help on this matter. I need to
shorten christmas light strings to fit certain decorations but have no
idea how this is done. What I am using are the mini light sets with plugs
on both ends. Cutting the end off is not a problem. That is pretty
straight forward. I just need to shorten the length.

................................................. .................................................. ......................

Reading other posts;
.
We all seem to be assuming that the lights are those series strings.

But OP mentions "Plugs at both ends". In other words the input voltage
goes right to the far end so another set can be plugged in beyond it.

That suggests the light strings may 'not' be the type where all the
bulbs are in series and if one goes pop they all go out?


They are series. I included a wiring diagram of a typical string in
another post. There will be hot and neutral wires running straight
between the ends. The series of bulbs is connected to hot at one end
and neutral at the other. Fuses are in the male end.

But a word of warning some types have at least three wires and while
the bulbs are in series the input voltage is also carried to the far
end. Some of the 'hanging icicle type lights' seem to be of that type?

As well as most ordinary miniature light strings. Note that 2-series
are common. You will notice a point in the middle of the string where
only 2 wires are present. That's the point between the series. Icicle
lights often have 2 such points, since there are 3 series.

Tracing for dead bulbs in those, for my neighbour, last year, was a
nightmare!


It helps a LOT to use one of those $5 testers (that sense 120V across
a bulb, which happens only if it's bad).

Another common type of light strings uses bulbs (115 volt in North
America) that are each individually connected to 'both' wires. In that
case it wouldn't matter if you had one bulb or fifty on a string!


Have you actually seen any MINIATURE lights connected this way?

If they 'are' that type it may not be a big job to cut the strings into
shorter lengths of a few lamps each. .......... PROVIDED the cut end
which will have 115 to 120 volts AC across the cut off wire ends can be
properly insulated. Safety and insurance would be issues!

I would suggest that just using electrical tape on the end would not be
safe or acceptable.

Electrical tapes tends to come loose with age and exposure to weather.

Perhaps some kind of plastic liquid; the sort into
which you dip the handles of tools, several times, to give them a
coating would work and it must thoroughly adhere the cut end of the
wire?
--
26 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Unlike biological evolution. 'intelligent design' is
not a genuine scientific theory and, therefore, has
no place in the curriculum of our nation's public
school classes." -- Ted Kennedy

Mark Lloyd wrote:
On 29 Nov 2006 05:51:21 -0800, "terry"
wrote:


ukwildcatfan wrote:
I have a quandary and would like some help on this matter. I need to
shorten Christmas light strings to fit certain decorations but have no
idea how this is done. What I am using are the mini light sets with plugs
on both ends. Cutting the end off is not a problem

Have you actually seen any MINIATURE lights connected this way?

Understand your question:

Not necessarily; but what may be referred to as Mini in one culture may
not be so elsewhere.
..
And to OP says "Plugs on both ends". That suggests three wires one of
them to carry the live lead past all the lamps, which are themselves in
series, to the far end to allow something else to be plugged in!

With a true series string there is NO far end with a plug on it. A
series string starts and ends at the plug (on THIS end).

As usual insufficient info!

Mark Lloyd wrote:
On 29 Nov 2006 05:51:21 -0800, "terry"
wrote:


ukwildcatfan wrote:
I have a quandry and would like some help on this matter. I need to
shorten christmas light strings to fit certain decorations but have no
idea how this is done. What I am using are the mini light sets with plugs
on both ends. Cutting the end off is not a problem. That is pretty
straight forward. I just need to shorten the length.

................................................. .................................................. ......................

Reading other posts;
.
We all seem to be assuming that the lights are those series strings.

But OP mentions "Plugs at both ends". In other words the input voltage
goes right to the far end so another set can be plugged in beyond it.

That suggests the light strings may 'not' be the type where all the
bulbs are in series and if one goes pop they all go out?


They are series. I included a wiring diagram of a typical string in
another post. There will be hot and neutral wires running straight
between the ends. The series of bulbs is connected to hot at one end
and neutral at the other. Fuses are in the male end.

But a word of warning some types have at least three wires and while
the bulbs are in series the input voltage is also carried to the far
end. Some of the 'hanging icicle type lights' seem to be of that type?

As well as most ordinary miniature light strings. Note that 2-series
are common. You will notice a point in the middle of the string where
only 2 wires are present. That's the point between the series. Icicle
lights often have 2 such points, since there are 3 series.

Tracing for dead bulbs in those, for my neighbour, last year, was a
nightmare!


It helps a LOT to use one of those $5 testers (that sense 120V across
a bulb, which happens only if it's bad).

OK you sound like you have a pretty good handle on how these work.
What I want to know is, if they're in series (which sounds right since
if you remove a bulb, the whole string or whole section goes out) how
come if one burns out, the rest stay lit? (Which they advertise on the
box.) -- H

Heathcliff wrote:
[...]
OK you sound like you have a pretty good handle on how these work.
What I want to know is, if they're in series (which sounds right since
if you remove a bulb, the whole string or whole section goes out) how
come if one burns out, the rest stay lit? (Which they advertise on the
box.) -- H

Google could be your friend:
http://www.rain.org/~mkummel/stumpers/07jan00a.html

--
Grandpa

On 1 Dec 2006 10:37:53 -0800, "terry"
wrote:


Mark Lloyd wrote:
On 29 Nov 2006 05:51:21 -0800, "terry"
wrote:


ukwildcatfan wrote:
I have a quandary and would like some help on this matter. I need to
shorten Christmas light strings to fit certain decorations but have no
idea how this is done. What I am using are the mini light sets with plugs
on both ends. Cutting the end off is not a problem

Have you actually seen any MINIATURE lights connected this way?

Understand your question:

Not necessarily; but what may be referred to as Mini in one culture may
not be so elsewhere.
.
And to OP says "Plugs on both ends". That suggests three wires one of
them to carry the live lead past all the lamps, which are themselves in
series, to the far end to allow something else to be plugged in!


That is, TWO wires that extend to the far end. The third wire exists
only between the first and last bulbs on THIS string.

With a true series string there is NO far end with a plug on it. A
series string starts and ends at the plug (on THIS end).


I noticed that the OP had a string with connectors at each end. That
is, a series string with a connector in parallel.

As usual insufficient info!

A situation which could be responded to by providing the missing info.

I'll repeat the diagram I made of a typical miniature string. As
usual, this diagram will look right with a fixed-width font.

male end female
(with fuses) end
----------*-----------------------------------------X-----------
|
|
\--bulb------bulb-----bulb-----bulb---\
|
|
------------------------------------------------*----X----------
--
24 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Unlike biological evolution. 'intelligent design' is
not a genuine scientific theory and, therefore, has
no place in the curriculum of our nation's public
school classes." -- Ted Kennedy

On 1 Dec 2006 12:37:31 -0800, "Heathcliff"
wrote:


Mark Lloyd wrote:
On 29 Nov 2006 05:51:21 -0800, "terry"
wrote:


ukwildcatfan wrote:
I have a quandry and would like some help on this matter. I need to
shorten christmas light strings to fit certain decorations but have no
idea how this is done. What I am using are the mini light sets with plugs
on both ends. Cutting the end off is not a problem. That is pretty
straight forward. I just need to shorten the length.

................................................. .................................................. ......................

Reading other posts;
.
We all seem to be assuming that the lights are those series strings.

But OP mentions "Plugs at both ends". In other words the input voltage
goes right to the far end so another set can be plugged in beyond it.

That suggests the light strings may 'not' be the type where all the
bulbs are in series and if one goes pop they all go out?


They are series. I included a wiring diagram of a typical string in
another post. There will be hot and neutral wires running straight
between the ends. The series of bulbs is connected to hot at one end
and neutral at the other. Fuses are in the male end.

But a word of warning some types have at least three wires and while
the bulbs are in series the input voltage is also carried to the far
end. Some of the 'hanging icicle type lights' seem to be of that type?

As well as most ordinary miniature light strings. Note that 2-series
are common. You will notice a point in the middle of the string where
only 2 wires are present. That's the point between the series. Icicle
lights often have 2 such points, since there are 3 series.

Tracing for dead bulbs in those, for my neighbour, last year, was a
nightmare!


It helps a LOT to use one of those $5 testers (that sense 120V across
a bulb, which happens only if it's bad).

OK you sound like you have a pretty good handle on how these work.
What I want to know is, if they're in series (which sounds right since
if you remove a bulb, the whole string or whole section goes out) how
come if one burns out, the rest stay lit? (Which they advertise on the
box.) -- H

The bulbs are made so they're SUPPOSED to short when the filament
breaks. This means the other bulbs in that series are operating on
higher voltage, and will burn out sooner.
--
24 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Unlike biological evolution. 'intelligent design' is
not a genuine scientific theory and, therefore, has
no place in the curriculum of our nation's public
school classes." -- Ted Kennedy

In article ,
lid says...
On 1 Dec 2006 12:37:31 -0800, "Heathcliff"
wrote:


Mark Lloyd wrote:
On 29 Nov 2006 05:51:21 -0800, "terry"
wrote:


ukwildcatfan wrote:
I have a quandry and would like some help on this matter. I need to
shorten christmas light strings to fit certain decorations but have no
idea how this is done. What I am using are the mini light sets with plugs
on both ends. Cutting the end off is not a problem. That is pretty
straight forward. I just need to shorten the length.

................................................. .................................................. ......................

Reading other posts;
.
We all seem to be assuming that the lights are those series strings.

But OP mentions "Plugs at both ends". In other words the input voltage
goes right to the far end so another set can be plugged in beyond it.

That suggests the light strings may 'not' be the type where all the
bulbs are in series and if one goes pop they all go out?


They are series. I included a wiring diagram of a typical string in
another post. There will be hot and neutral wires running straight
between the ends. The series of bulbs is connected to hot at one end
and neutral at the other. Fuses are in the male end.

But a word of warning some types have at least three wires and while
the bulbs are in series the input voltage is also carried to the far
end. Some of the 'hanging icicle type lights' seem to be of that type?

As well as most ordinary miniature light strings. Note that 2-series
are common. You will notice a point in the middle of the string where
only 2 wires are present. That's the point between the series. Icicle
lights often have 2 such points, since there are 3 series.

Tracing for dead bulbs in those, for my neighbour, last year, was a
nightmare!


It helps a LOT to use one of those $5 testers (that sense 120V across
a bulb, which happens only if it's bad).

OK you sound like you have a pretty good handle on how these work.
What I want to know is, if they're in series (which sounds right since
if you remove a bulb, the whole string or whole section goes out) how
come if one burns out, the rest stay lit? (Which they advertise on the
box.) -- H

The bulbs are made so they're SUPPOSED to short when the filament
breaks. This means the other bulbs in that series are operating on
higher voltage, and will burn out sooner.

It also means that the keep burning. It's a *whole* lot easier
replacing burned out bulbs if the rest are still lit. Good idea,
no?

Come on, for a penny or two a light and when they last five/six
years, it's a good deal.

--
Keith

Grandpa wrote:
Heathcliff wrote:
[...]
OK you sound like you have a pretty good handle on how these work.
What I want to know is, if they're in series (which sounds right since
if you remove a bulb, the whole string or whole section goes out) how
come if one burns out, the rest stay lit? (Which they advertise on the
box.) -- H

Google could be your friend:
http://www.rain.org/~mkummel/stumpers/07jan00a.html

--
Grandpa

Oooh, good site. Thanks Gramps, now I get it. -- H

Hi everyone. I'm the wife of the poster to this question and know nothing
of home repair. I'm a travel agent, that's what I do, not a Mrs. Fix It.
However......I do understand enough about it to realize my husband didn't
really explain his question well enough and so I'm going to give it a
shot:
I'm making Christmas decorations for friends and family this year as I do
every year. This year, I decided to make what are called Glass Block
Lights. You take a glass block (like the kind builders use to make
decorative walls with), drill a 1/2 inch hole in a corner of one of the
sides, put Christmas lights in it, a bow on top with ribbon wrapping
around the block, plug it in and voila, you have a lit up "Christmas
present" that make beautiful decorations. Our problem wasn't with drilling
the holes: it was in finding one-ended strands of 35 Christmas lights. All
we could find were the ones that have plugs on both ends to enable you to
connect strands to strands. Thus, he thought he could get online and get
some advice on how to cut one of the ends off a 50 strand double-ended
string to use.

This is a really helpful site and we both appreciate every response we've
gotten. I apologize that he didn't explain what he needed well enough. Any
ideas, all you fix-it men out there? I know someone has to know what I'm
trying to make and tell me how to do it. Or, it may just be I need to get
the 20-light one-ended lights and be done with it. It just won't be as
bright as I'd like.

Thanks so much in advance for any advice and Happy Holidays!

Tara

Well, there definitely are light strings
without an add-on plug. But, you
could just cut it off and tape each of
the 2 wires so they don't touch each
other inside the block. Also, you could
push in all the lights leaving the
add-on female plug outside along with
the male plug. Basically, the string
is then folded in half. A FEATURE, you
now have an add-on plug for
2 glass blocks!

tarabree wrote:
Hi everyone. I'm the wife of the poster to this question and know nothing
of home repair. I'm a travel agent, that's what I do, not a Mrs. Fix It.
However......I do understand enough about it to realize my husband didn't
really explain his question well enough and so I'm going to give it a
shot:
I'm making Christmas decorations for friends and family this year as I do
every year. This year, I decided to make what are called Glass Block
Lights. You take a glass block (like the kind builders use to make
decorative walls with), drill a 1/2 inch hole in a corner of one of the
sides, put Christmas lights in it, a bow on top with ribbon wrapping
around the block, plug it in and voila, you have a lit up "Christmas
present" that make beautiful decorations. Our problem wasn't with drilling
the holes: it was in finding one-ended strands of 35 Christmas lights. All
we could find were the ones that have plugs on both ends to enable you to
connect strands to strands. Thus, he thought he could get online and get
some advice on how to cut one of the ends off a 50 strand double-ended
string to use.

This is a really helpful site and we both appreciate every response we've
gotten. I apologize that he didn't explain what he needed well enough. Any
ideas, all you fix-it men out there? I know someone has to know what I'm
trying to make and tell me how to do it. Or, it may just be I need to get
the 20-light one-ended lights and be done with it. It just won't be as
bright as I'd like.

Thanks so much in advance for any advice and Happy Holidays!

Tara

tarabree wrote in message
om...
Hi everyone. I'm the wife of the poster to this question and know
nothing
of home repair. I'm a travel agent, that's what I do, not a Mrs. Fix
It.
However......I do understand enough about it to realize my husband
didn't
really explain his question well enough and so I'm going to give it a
shot:
I'm making Christmas decorations for friends and family this year as I
do
every year. This year, I decided to make what are called Glass Block
Lights. You take a glass block (like the kind builders use to make
decorative walls with), drill a 1/2 inch hole in a corner of one of the
sides, put Christmas lights in it, a bow on top with ribbon wrapping
around the block, plug it in and voila, you have a lit up "Christmas
present" that make beautiful decorations. Our problem wasn't with
drilling
the holes: it was in finding one-ended strands of 35 Christmas lights.
All
we could find were the ones that have plugs on both ends to enable you
to
connect strands to strands. Thus, he thought he could get online and
get
some advice on how to cut one of the ends off a 50 strand double-ended
string to use.

This is a really helpful site and we both appreciate every response
we've
gotten. I apologize that he didn't explain what he needed well enough.
Any
ideas, all you fix-it men out there? I know someone has to know what
I'm
trying to make and tell me how to do it. Or, it may just be I need to
get
the 20-light one-ended lights and be done with it. It just won't be as
bright as I'd like.

Thanks so much in advance for any advice and Happy Holidays!

Tara

I found them at Wal-Mart last year. I was making a Christmas tree out of
baby food jars, using the same principle as the glass blocks. I haven't
looked for them this year, so dunno if they have them this year. Have
you checked there? Good luck.

Cheri