Anyone ever been frustrated trying to troubleshoot icicle lights? One thing I have learned is that you should replace the bad bulbs often because as each bulb fails, it shorts, and raises the voltage on the rest of the string until they all go in one swell foop and vice versa. Now where do you get new bulbs? Just cannibalize an old string, buying them 5 at a time would cost about $60 for a 300 light string. A tester would be handy as well, but you can make one of those.
Also, a tool to pry out the old bulbs saves your fingernails. Just cut a V shaped notch in a very thin putty knife and use it like a nail puller. Works fine if the bulb base has a shoulder on it.
Of course no one is going to pay you $100/hr to do this!
Also, a tool to pry out the old bulbs saves your fingernails. Just cut a V shaped notch in a very thin putty knife and use it like a nail puller. Works fine if the bulb base has a shoulder on it.
Of course no one is going to pay you $100/hr to do this!