Check Your Christmas Lights Before You Put Them Up
RDN ELECTRICAL & TESTING SOLUTION ·
Same box, same lights, every December. But a strand that worked fine last year might not be quite right this year. A few minutes checking before you plug in can save you a tripped circuit, a binned strand halfway up a ladder, or worse. God forbid.
What to Actually Check
→ Frayed wires or exposed copper. Run your hand gently along the full length of every strand. Any crack, cut, or bit of exposed wire means that strand gets binned, not reused. No exceptions.
→ Damaged, missing, or discoloured bulbs. A dark or blackened bulb usually means a burnt-out filament, which can affect the whole strand depending on the wiring type.
→ Cracked sockets or connectors. Check where each bulb meets the strand, and where strands connect to each other. Cracks here are a common source of faults.
→ The fuse in the plug. Most strands have a small fuse behind a sliding door on the plug. If it looks blackened or cloudy, it's blown and needs replacing before the strand will work properly again.
→ How it's been stored. Lights left damp, in a shed, or anywhere pests could get at them are worth an extra close look. Damp and chewed wires are a common combination nobody wants to discover once it's plugged in.
Quick Checklist Before You Plug Anything In
➡ Unplug and inspect every strand fully. Don't just glance at the plug end.
➡ Test each strand indoors first, before it goes up on the roof or through the garden.
➡ Bin anything with frayed wire, cracked sockets, or exposed copper. Don't tape it and hope.
➡ Replace blown fuses rather than forcing a strand to work without one.
➡ If a strand trips a circuit on a simple indoor test, don't take it outside "to see". That's your answer already, you don't need a second opinion.
When It's Time to Just Replace the Strand
If a strand needs the fuse changed every year, has bulbs that keep going, or you're not fully sure why it stopped working last January, that's not bad luck, that's the strand telling you it's done. LED replacements are cheap, use a fraction of the power, and save you the yearly gamble.
FAQ
How do I know if my Christmas lights are safe to reuse?
Check the full length of every strand for frayed wire or exposed copper, inspect bulbs and sockets for cracks or damage, and check the fuse in the plug. If anything fails that check, it gets replaced, not reused.
Is it normal for Christmas lights to stop working after storage?
It's common, but the cause matters. A blown fuse is a quick fix, while frayed wire or damaged sockets mean the strand should be replaced.
Should I test lights indoors before putting them outside?
Yes. Always test a strand indoors first. If it trips a circuit or doesn't work properly on a simple test, that's the time to deal with it, not once it's already up outside.
When should I call an electrician instead of just checking the lights myself?
If the problem isn't the lights themselves, if the circuit trips regardless of what's plugged in, or you notice warmth, smell, or damage near the socket or consumer unit, that's beyond a lights check, and worth having a qualified electrician look at rather than guessing
Circuit acting up even with lights that check out fine? Get in touch. Better a proper check from a qualified electrician than a guess from anyone else.