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I hope someone can help me with this issue because I'm pretty bummed about it. I was really looking forward to using the new LED mini light strands I just bought for my tree this year. I just got everything set up and was decorating the tree and ran into a problem. A couple of my older, very collectible ornaments have to plug into the light set. Of course, LEDs weren't used when they came out, so they will only plug into the light socket of a normal mini light strand. I have already had to return my brand new tree topper for the same reason. Is there any work around for this? Maybe there is some kind of light adaptor or something just to be able to plug in one single light. I don't understand why the new light sets aren't made to accomodate these things, as they are pretty common. Any suggestions? Thanks!
____________________ "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."
--Charles Dickens | A Christmas Carol
I have the same problem....I ran a small string of traditional mini-lights through the tree - The issue was then the bulbs didn't all match (little detail, but drove me BATTY!) I took black electric tape and wrapped it around the lamps that are not lit....The dissapeaer into the tree, and my ornaments all work fine!
Yes, that's what Chuck mentioned. He said traditional lights run on AC and the LED lights run on DC power. The old ornaments and even the newer items can not be used with LED strings.
I just purchased a Hallmark Tree Topper only to find out I can't use it with the LED strings. The topper needs to be plugged into the light string instead of plugged into an outlet. Who's "bright" idea was that? Now, I have an angel that plugs into an outlet.
I have Hallmark and Kinkade ornaments that can only be plugged into traditional strings. Chuck also mentioned you can purchase blackout caps for the sockets, if you would like to remove the bulbs and keep only the ornaments plugged into a single traditional string. The LED lights will be on their own.
I'm just testing the LEDs this year. I'm not crazy about the color being too cool and not warm, so I'm either going to try a different LED brand or replace some of the blue bulbs with other colors to try and get that warm look. *sigh*
____________________ "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."
--Charles Dickens | A Christmas Carol
well i have about 300 led lights and i needed to run 1 more strand of 100 incadescent lights at the end and they have been working together without any problems.
Bumble67 wrote:
I'm just testing the LEDs this year. I'm not crazy about the color being too cool and not warm, so I'm either going to try a different LED brand or replace some of the blue bulbs with other colors to try and get that warm look. *sigh*
Are you using the "icy white" (color temperature 5000 to 6500 K) LEDs then? "Warm white" LEDs are available and their color temperature is around 2500 - 3000 K (similar to incandescents), but if that is the look you are after you might just stick with clear minis to keep your plug in ornaments happy. The clear incandescents "sparkle" and they are brighter, so you can use less, which partially counters the LEDs power savings. LEDs are excellent for making pure colors but much of the advantage is lost when you want warm white.
Why not buy one of the mini light strings that have the micro chips in each socket so if a bulb(s) go out the rest stay lit. Drop the string untill all the bulb filaments are broken so it wont light up anymore then plug in all your ornaments without having unwanted lights?
Just a thought
I bet getting all the bulbs not to work is harder than it sounds.
____________________ Keeping static alive for another year anyway
I'm using multi-colored LEDs on the tree. Wow, I didn't realize there were different color temperatures. Apparently, the strings I'm using are very cool and not warm. It had loads of blue lights, so I replaced many of the blue lights with other colors to try and warm it up a bit. It helped some.
____________________ "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."
--Charles Dickens | A Christmas Carol
Color temperature only applies to white lights, not colors. It could also apply to the aggregate output of a bunch of different color lights though, and I'm guessing that's what you are referring to. The overall output of a multicolor LED string will contain more blue than a multicolor incandescent string because incandescent blues are either dim or not very blue while the LED blue is just as bright as the other colors and is a pure blue color.
Your approach of using less blue LEDs and more red and yellow LEDs is the best way to make the overall color "warmer" (lower color temperature). Keep in mind that different color LEDs have different voltage drops and replacing the blue LEDs in a string with red or yellow will reduce the total LED voltage drop and increase the current. Changing a couple won't make much difference, but replacing more than about half of the high voltage drop green and blue LEDs with low voltage drop red and yellow LEDs might not be a good idea.
I have already had to return my brand new tree topper for the same reason. Is there any work around for this? Maybe there is some kind of light adaptor or something just to be able to plug in one single light. I don't understand why the new light sets aren't made to accomodate these things, as they are pretty common. Any suggestions? Thanks!![:]](/images/emoticons/big_grin.gif)
Now, I have an angel that plugs into an outlet.
