[Shop-talk] xmas lights that don't suck?

[Bill Rabel]

The incandescent 'mini-lights' have driven me crazy for years. The  
packaging assures you that if one bulb burns out the whole string will  
stay lit. However, the problem arises from a broken or intermittent  
contact where the bulb plugs in. This WILL extinguish a section.

I have converted completely to LED strings, as suggested by another  
response. Every joint is soldered, so there are no fluky contacts.  
They run cool, use less power, and seem to be more durable than the  
old incandescent strings. Strangely, they come labeled with the same  
warning to limit plugging more than three in series. This seems too  
conservative, as they draw far less current than the old-style bulbs.

Fortunately, I have a self-imposed rule to not begin decorating for  
another couple of weeks.

- Bill Rabel
   Anacortes, WA


> Something that's durable enough to actually work fairly reliably,  
> and where a burnt light doesn't take out the whole strand / section  
> would be good.  Seems like something that had taps for the bulb off  
> a common power vs. depending on the bulb to conduct to the next bulb  
> would be a good start.