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Got another task as we get set up for Christmas. I took a tree topper that my wife had. It did not work. I asked her if she still wanted it. Of course (!) she did, it was one of the first decorations she bought.
OK, here we go!
10 bulbs on the string, so each is 120/10 of 12 volts. Got a set like this from Amazon:
Nothing I did would make them work. My trusty Fluke would read open. Well, might flash a lower reading, but nothing consistent. So I did a return (they said keep them) and ordered from a different vendor.
Same issue, all open! Well, now I'm doubting myself. So to rule out my meter I stuck one on a 9V battery.
BLINK! Dang thing came on! Why I want to know.
So I look closely at the wires. They seem dark. So I do an exacto knife scrape and retest. FINALLY my meter says GOOD BULB. I suspect this is the thin isolating coating needed for the "string stays on if a bulb burns out" feature.
I skip along the string, checking continuity for each bulb till I reach the end.
IT LIGHTS!!! Oh no, it's off. IT LIGHTS!!! Oh no, it's off. IT LIGHTS!!! Oh no, it's off.
Is there a blinky bulb in there? Yeah, didn't take me long to fond it.
Wife is now happy. My day is complete.
So keep your ends clear!
OK, here we go!
10 bulbs on the string, so each is 120/10 of 12 volts. Got a set like this from Amazon:
Nothing I did would make them work. My trusty Fluke would read open. Well, might flash a lower reading, but nothing consistent. So I did a return (they said keep them) and ordered from a different vendor.
Same issue, all open! Well, now I'm doubting myself. So to rule out my meter I stuck one on a 9V battery.
BLINK! Dang thing came on! Why I want to know.
So I look closely at the wires. They seem dark. So I do an exacto knife scrape and retest. FINALLY my meter says GOOD BULB. I suspect this is the thin isolating coating needed for the "string stays on if a bulb burns out" feature.
I skip along the string, checking continuity for each bulb till I reach the end.
IT LIGHTS!!! Oh no, it's off. IT LIGHTS!!! Oh no, it's off. IT LIGHTS!!! Oh no, it's off.
Is there a blinky bulb in there? Yeah, didn't take me long to fond it.
Wife is now happy. My day is complete.
So keep your ends clear!
