Testing for Faulty Bulbs

9' TruTip Fraser Fir Christmas Tree

Occasionally a bulb will die out in your Artificial Christmas Tree and go unnoticed long enough for additional lights to begin a cascading effect, at which time it will become necessary to test and find the faulty bulb. Many tree owners find themselves lost as to how they should operate their light tester, and are unsure as to exactly what they need to look for. Below is a basic guideline to help you test for faulty bulbs.

1. Inspect all light strings for damage to the insulation on the wire and loose wires around the sockets and electrical plug. Also check for damaged sockets and electrical plugs. If you find a damaged string, do not attempt to use it as it may cause an electrical shock or the potential for a fire, discard it.

2. Individually plug each string into a power source to begin testing. It's easier to isolate a bad bulb if only one string is connected rather than multiple strings.

3. Carefully replace any bulbs that do not light up avoiding twisting of the bulbs and possibly damaging the bulb wires.

4. Ensure all bulbs are firmly seated in their sockets to prevent an open circuit causing no lights in the string to light.

5. Check to see if the string has a fuse in the power plug. If the entire string is out you could possibly have a blown fuse.

6. If none of the above steps correct your problem, purchase a light bulb tester.

Light Tester

7. Bulb testers are available in a variety of prices. In most cases, the basic tester is adequate for the small home job when a few bulbs or light strings need to be tested. The advantage of the basic tester is portability and its ability to run off a battery. Christmas Lights Etc. includes a basic light tester with every tree we sell. The light tester performs very well in testing light strings, fuses, and individual bulbs. Simply install the probe at the end of the tester in a perpendicular manner between the two wires at the base of bulb socket and press the green button. If the light lamp is bad you will see a red light come on or green if the bulb is good.

8. A commercial tester can save you a lot of time in troubleshooting multiple strings in larger commercial applications but requires an AC power source. Commercial testers have a few more functions and can more quickly identify bad wiring, bulbs, sockets, and fuses. The commercial versions allow you to plug your light string directly into the unit for testing. They include a power source which sends a surge of current through the light string to quickly identify which bulbs may be bad. They also can diagnose if you have faulty wiring and can identify where an interruption in the flow of current in the light string exists.

We advise everyone to test for faulty bulbs before storing their artificial Christmas tree for the year. It is easier to deal with faulty bulbs before the Christmas rush begins, so knowing in advance that you will need to purchase replacement bulbs or fuses will allow you plenty of time to find what you need, before the onslaught of shoppers depletes the inventory. Clear mini light replacement bulbs are extremely difficult to find once the holiday season hits and everyone begins assembling their trees and rushing to stores to get replacement bulbs.