I want to put lighted garland around my outside doors for the
holidays. The garland is approximately 17-18' long. All the lights
I've found to wind into the garland are ~25' long.

I tried doubling back some of the lights so I had triple lights on
part of the garland and it looked OK but it was unwieldy.

Then I tried cutting the lights back (that is, shortening the
string). But some of the lights were brighter than others and blew
out in a half hour or so. I understand that's because there are 3-4
segments of lights in series in the string and by shortening the last
one, I lowered its resistance and increased the current through each
one. (I have a EE degree.) I supposed I could even out the
brightness and reduce the likelihood of blowing the lights by taking
2' out of each of 3 segments instead of 6' off the end but that's a
lot of work and leaves all of the lights with somewhat too high
current (2' of 8' means there would be 3/4 the bulbs (resistance) and
they'd get 4/3 the current (or something like that)).

I considered bundling the last few feet up in an opaque plastic bag or
something but I'm not sure how well that would work.

Any other solutions come to mind? Are there sources for light by the
foot?

"Christopher Nelson" wrote in message
...
I want to put lighted garland around my outside doors for the
holidays. The garland is approximately 17-18' long. All the lights
I've found to wind into the garland are ~25' long.

I tried doubling back some of the lights so I had triple lights on
part of the garland and it looked OK but it was unwieldy.

Then I tried cutting the lights back (that is, shortening the
string). But some of the lights were brighter than others and blew
out in a half hour or so. I understand that's because there are 3-4
segments of lights in series in the string and by shortening the last
one, I lowered its resistance and increased the current through each
one. (I have a EE degree.) I supposed I could even out the
brightness and reduce the likelihood of blowing the lights by taking
2' out of each of 3 segments instead of 6' off the end but that's a
lot of work and leaves all of the lights with somewhat too high
current (2' of 8' means there would be 3/4 the bulbs (resistance) and
they'd get 4/3 the current (or something like that)).

I considered bundling the last few feet up in an opaque plastic bag or
something but I'm not sure how well that would work.

Any other solutions come to mind? Are there sources for light by the
foot?

Home Depot, proper size light string, $8.00, done...

Christopher Nelson wrote:
I want to put lighted garland around my outside doors for the
holidays. The garland is approximately 17-18' long. All the lights
I've found to wind into the garland are ~25' long.

I tried doubling back some of the lights so I had triple lights on
part of the garland and it looked OK but it was unwieldy.

Then I tried cutting the lights back (that is, shortening the
string). But some of the lights were brighter than others and blew
out in a half hour or so. I understand that's because there are 3-4
segments of lights in series in the string and by shortening the last
one, I lowered its resistance and increased the current through each
one. (I have a EE degree.) I supposed I could even out the
brightness and reduce the likelihood of blowing the lights by taking
2' out of each of 3 segments instead of 6' off the end but that's a
lot of work and leaves all of the lights with somewhat too high
current (2' of 8' means there would be 3/4 the bulbs (resistance) and
they'd get 4/3 the current (or something like that)).

I considered bundling the last few feet up in an opaque plastic bag or
something but I'm not sure how well that would work.

Any other solutions come to mind? Are there sources for light by the
foot?
Hi,
Cutting is not a good diea. Weave the string or do it as you mentioned.
Gor me I use light rope. It comes in many different color choice. I
twist it with tinsel rope. Looks nice in the dark.

Christopher Nelson wrote:
I want to put lighted garland around my outside doors for the
holidays. The garland is approximately 17-18' long. All the lights
I've found to wind into the garland are ~25' long.

I tried doubling back some of the lights so I had triple lights on
part of the garland and it looked OK but it was unwieldy.

Then I tried cutting the lights back (that is, shortening the
string). But some of the lights were brighter than others and blew
out in a half hour or so. I understand that's because there are 3-4
segments of lights in series in the string and by shortening the last
one, I lowered its resistance and increased the current through each
one. (I have a EE degree.) I supposed I could even out the
brightness and reduce the likelihood of blowing the lights by taking
2' out of each of 3 segments instead of 6' off the end but that's a
lot of work and leaves all of the lights with somewhat too high
current (2' of 8' means there would be 3/4 the bulbs (resistance) and
they'd get 4/3 the current (or something like that)).

I considered bundling the last few feet up in an opaque plastic bag or
something but I'm not sure how well that would work.

Any other solutions come to mind? Are there sources for light by the
foot?

Ouch!

You're an EE and you couldn't anticipate what would happen if you
reduced the number of series connected bulbs?

Wasn't there an instruction sheet with those bulbs warning you to
replace burned out bulbs with closed shorting shunts promptly to avoid
over voltaging the remaining bulbs?

Shoosh fella, did you purchase your "EE degree" from one of those spam
college degree offers.

Peace,

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.

"Jeff Wisnia" wrote in message
eonecommunications...
Christopher Nelson wrote:
I want to put lighted garland around my outside doors for the
holidays. The garland is approximately 17-18' long. All the lights
I've found to wind into the garland are ~25' long.

I tried doubling back some of the lights so I had triple lights on
part of the garland and it looked OK but it was unwieldy.

Then I tried cutting the lights back (that is, shortening the
string). But some of the lights were brighter than others and blew
out in a half hour or so. I understand that's because there are 3-4
segments of lights in series in the string and by shortening the last
one, I lowered its resistance and increased the current through each
one. (I have a EE degree.) I supposed I could even out the
brightness and reduce the likelihood of blowing the lights by taking
2' out of each of 3 segments instead of 6' off the end but that's a
lot of work and leaves all of the lights with somewhat too high
current (2' of 8' means there would be 3/4 the bulbs (resistance) and
they'd get 4/3 the current (or something like that)).

I considered bundling the last few feet up in an opaque plastic bag or
something but I'm not sure how well that would work.

Any other solutions come to mind? Are there sources for light by the
foot?

Ouch!

You're an EE and you couldn't anticipate what would happen if you reduced
the number of series connected bulbs?

Wasn't there an instruction sheet with those bulbs warning you to replace
burned out bulbs with closed shorting shunts promptly to avoid over
voltaging the remaining bulbs?

Shoosh fella, did you purchase your "EE degree" from one of those spam
college degree offers.

Peace,

Jeff

Glad you said that. I really wanted to. No wonder our country is in such
bad shape. A EE that can not get a string of light bulbs going.

On Dec 17, 12:45*pm, Jeff Wisnia wrote:
Christopher Nelson wrote:
I want to put lighted garland around my outside doors for the
holidays. *The garland is approximately 17-18' long. *All the lights
I've found to wind into the garland are ~25' long.
...
Any other solutions come to mind? *Are there sources for light by the
foot?

Ouch!

You're an EE and you couldn't anticipate what would happen if you
reduced the number of series connected bulbs?

The general principle, sure. Considering I have lots of extra strings
of lights and they cost $2 or so if I run out, it was worth an
experiment to see how wide a range of operation there was.

Wasn't there an instruction sheet with those bulbs warning you to
replace burned out bulbs with closed shorting shunts promptly to avoid
over voltaging the remaining bulbs?

You're kidding, right? Instructions with Christmas lights? Even if
there were some, has anyone in the history of man read them?!?

Shoosh fella, did you purchase your "EE degree" from one of those spam
college degree offers.

Lighten up, it's not like I plugged 'em in to 220 and expected it to
be fine.

Christopher Nelson wrote:
I want to put lighted garland around my outside doors for the
holidays. The garland is approximately 17-18' long. All the lights
I've found to wind into the garland are ~25' long.

I tried doubling back some of the lights so I had triple lights on
part of the garland and it looked OK but it was unwieldy.

Then I tried cutting the lights back (that is, shortening the
string). But some of the lights were brighter than others and blew
out in a half hour or so. I understand that's because there are 3-4
segments of lights in series in the string and by shortening the last
one, I lowered its resistance and increased the current through each
one. (I have a EE degree.) I supposed I could even out the
brightness and reduce the likelihood of blowing the lights by taking
2' out of each of 3 segments instead of 6' off the end but that's a
lot of work and leaves all of the lights with somewhat too high
current (2' of 8' means there would be 3/4 the bulbs (resistance) and
they'd get 4/3 the current (or something like that)).

I considered bundling the last few feet up in an opaque plastic bag or
something but I'm not sure how well that would work.

Any other solutions come to mind? Are there sources for light by the
foot?

Here is what I have done and I am not sure that I may be able to explain
it here, but here goes. Start and one end of the garland with the
lights and go about 12", loop back and go about 6", loop back and go
about 12", and repeat to the end. You can adjust the lengths so that the
light strand matches the garland. Works for me.

--

Regards, Ross

Christopher Nelson wrote:
I want to put lighted garland around my outside doors for the
holidays. The garland is approximately 17-18' long. All the lights
I've found to wind into the garland are ~25' long.

I tried doubling back some of the lights so I had triple lights on
part of the garland and it looked OK but it was unwieldy.

Then I tried cutting the lights back (that is, shortening the
string). But some of the lights were brighter than others and blew
out in a half hour or so. I understand that's because there are 3-4
segments of lights in series in the string and by shortening the last
one, I lowered its resistance and increased the current through each
one. (I have a EE degree.) I supposed I could even out the
brightness and reduce the likelihood of blowing the lights by taking
2' out of each of 3 segments instead of 6' off the end but that's a
lot of work and leaves all of the lights with somewhat too high
current (2' of 8' means there would be 3/4 the bulbs (resistance) and
they'd get 4/3 the current (or something like that)).

I considered bundling the last few feet up in an opaque plastic bag or
something but I'm not sure how well that would work.

Any other solutions come to mind? Are there sources for light by the
foot?

Jeeze! Black electrical tape.

Christopher Nelson wrote in
:

On Dec 17, 12:45*pm, Jeff Wisnia wrote:
Christopher Nelson wrote:
I want to put lighted garland around my outside doors for the
holidays. *The garland is approximately 17-18' long. *All the light
s
I've found to wind into the garland are ~25' long.
...
Any other solutions come to mind? *Are there sources for light by
the foot?

Ouch!

You're an EE and you couldn't anticipate what would happen if you
reduced the number of series connected bulbs?

The general principle, sure. Considering I have lots of extra strings
of lights and they cost $2 or so if I run out, it was worth an
experiment to see how wide a range of operation there was.

Wasn't there an instruction sheet with those bulbs warning you to
replace burned out bulbs with closed shorting shunts promptly to
avoid over voltaging the remaining bulbs?

You're kidding, right? Instructions with Christmas lights? Even if
there were some, has anyone in the history of man read them?!?

Yea there usually is:
- Do not use in pools
- Do not wrap cord around neck.
- Do not eat.

Shoosh fella, did you purchase your "EE degree" from one of those
spam college degree offers.

Lighten up, it's not like I plugged 'em in to 220 and expected it to
be fine.