Christmas lights are a staple decoration during the holiday season, allowing people to add festive flair both indoors and outdoors. However, dealing with a tangled mess of Christmas lights each year can be frustrating and time consuming. This is where Christmas light testers come in handy! Christmas light testers are devices designed to check if your Christmas light strings are functioning properly or if they have any broken bulbs or faulty wires. But do Christmas light testers actually work? Let’s take a closer look.
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What are Christmas light testers?
A Christmas light tester is a device that allows you to easily check if your Christmas lights are working properly before stringing them up. There are a few different types of Christmas light testers:
Plug-in testers
Plug-in light testers are likely the most common and convenient option. They have an electrical outlet on one end that you plug the light strand into, and a power switch you flip to turn the lights on. This allows you to easily check each bulb without having to string the lights up first. The tester shows you exactly where the issues are in the strand.
Probe testers
Probe testers have pointy metal probes on each end that you touch to the metal contacts on each light bulb socket. This completes the circuit and lights up the bulb so you can check if it works properly. Probe testers are useful for checking each individual bulb.
Continuity testers
Continuity testers are usually pen-shaped devices that detect electrical continuity in the wire. You run the tester along the length of the light strand wire and it will light up or beep if it detects any breaks in the copper wiring inside. This allows you to detect wiring issues.
Do Christmas light testers really work?
The short answer is yes – Christmas light testers definitely do work and can save you a lot of hassle! Here are some key reasons why they are effective:
Saves time
Testing your lights with a light tester before hanging them up saves so much time. You can identify any problem bulbs or wires in just minutes rather than stringing up the whole strand just to find issues.
Finds burnt out bulbs
One of the biggest benefits of using a Christmas light tester is finding those broken or burnt out bulbs ahead of time. Nothing looks worse than hanging up your lights to find dark spots from dead bulbs. Testers let you locate and replace dead bulbs first.
Detects wiring issues
Faulty or frayed wires are another common issue, usually resulting in whole sections of unlit bulbs. Light testers can quickly pinpoint breaks in wiring so you can repair or replace strands.
Easy to use
Christmas light testers are designed to be very easy to use for the average homeowner. Plug-in and probe testers especially require no special skills. Just plug in a strand or touch the probes to bulb sockets and you can see which bulbs light up.
Affordable option
Considering the time and frustration they save, Christmas light testers are very affordably priced, often between $10-$50 depending on the style. A worthwhile investment that will bring peace of mind for years.
Tips for using Christmas light testers
To get the most out of your Christmas light tester, here are some handy tips:
Check each bulb
Be sure to systematically check each individual bulb socket with plug-in or probe testers to identify any failed bulbs. Don’t just plug part of the strand in.
Evaluate the whole wire
Use a continuity tester to evaluate the entire length of the light strand for wiring issues, not just sections. Move it slowly along the wire.
Replace batteries
For testers requiring batteries, make sure to replace dead batteries before each holiday season for accurate results.
Clean contacts
Use rubbing alcohol to clean corrosion off the metal contacts on light bulb sockets before testing. This improves conductivity.
Compare strands
Test different light strands to compare and see if one strand has more issues than another. Replace worse performers.
Don’t use on live wires
Only use testers on unplugged strands to avoid getting shocked by live wires. Never use light testers on plugged-in strands.
Common problems found by Christmas light testers
Here are some of the most frequent problems and issues located by Christmas light testers:
Burnt out bulbs
Dead, burnt out bulbs are obvious to spot when you use a tester. Save money on replacing the whole strand and just swap burnt bulbs.
Frayed or broken wires
Testers easily identify wires where the internal copper conductor is broken. This is a fire hazard so these strands should be replaced.
Loose bulb connections
Some bulbs won’t light up due to looseness or corrosion in the socket. Testers detect bad connections to troubleshoot.
Short circuits
Shorts in the wiring cause whole sections to not light up. Testers help pinpoint shorts quickly.
Voltage drop
On very long strands, voltage can drop, causing dim bulbs. Testers identify these voltage issues.
Wrong bulb size
Sometimes a bulb from another strand with a different rating gets swapped in. Testers detect wrong bulb wattages.
Types of Christmas light testers
There are a few popular styles of Christmas light testers, each with their own pros and cons:
Plug-In Light Testers
Pros:
- Very easy to use – just plug in lights
- Instantly see bulb issues
- Models for indoor and outdoor lights
- Affordable prices around $10-$20
Cons:
- Only test portion of strand plugged into tester
- Can’t detect wiring issues
- Bulky for storage
Probe Light Testers
Pros:
- Test individual bulbs
- Small and portable design
- Inexpensive $5-$15 price range
Cons:
- Need to touch probe to each bulb socket
- Doesn’t catch all wiring problems
- Require batteries
Continuity Testers
Pros:
- Quickly find severed wires
- Detect overall wiring issues
- Audible beep indicates wire breaks
Cons:
- Won’t identify bad bulbs
- More expensive around $30-$50
- Require battery power
Conclusion
Christmas light testers are extremely handy for checking your holiday light strands for any problems that could put a damper on your decorative display. The ability to quickly pinpoint dead bulbs and faulty wires can save you from frustrations later on. The tester helps you repair or replace strands so you can avoid unsightly dark spots in your lights. Today’s light testers are easy to operate, inexpensive, and greatly improve the Christmas lighting experience. So go ahead and grab a tester this season – it’s an investment that will save time, money and hassle for years to come!