tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444221130150558371.post6914572490548877045..comments2024-03-29T08:17:22.279-04:00Comments on Sew Many Ways...: My Love Hate Relationship with Pre-Lit Trees…and How I Fixed ItKaren from Sew Many Ways...http://www.blogger.com/profile/05258367030113873230noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444221130150558371.post-71755785970730845042014-11-20T12:06:42.034-05:002014-11-20T12:06:42.034-05:00Karen - the red gun gadget being referred to is Li...Karen - the red gun gadget being referred to is Lightkeeper Pro sold at most home improvement & discount stores. I've had one for 4 or 5 years.Not only does it find the dead bulb, it will also "clear" the circuit. Don't know what that means as I am not an electrician. That's what the company advertises. You simply remove the bulb, insert the socket into the gadget, click the trigger a few times and the lights come on. I did have a Martha Stewart tree where it didn't work because the line had a short in it. So then I replaced the string. It's especially helpful when you already have the tree up or the outside lights on and something goes out. Made a great Christmas gift for my grown children. I highly recommend this tool.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02002221256646200935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444221130150558371.post-25935048038686891122014-11-19T18:31:25.186-05:002014-11-19T18:31:25.186-05:00My pre-lit tree also ended up with a middle sectio...My pre-lit tree also ended up with a middle section that did not light and I ended up stringing lights again too! It truly is a love-hate relationship! We have a new tree (got it last year) so I hope that this year we have no lighting issues! <br />Linda<br />mysewwhatblogLinda Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03812556446959019991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444221130150558371.post-40612401740381748162014-11-18T19:48:08.479-05:002014-11-18T19:48:08.479-05:00I only have one tree Karen but it was a pre-lit th...I only have one tree Karen but it was a pre-lit that stopped lighting in the center section. We did exactly what you did and put lights on that section but the good news is that if you're careful to put them only on the section that is out you can leave them on the tree. We ran an extension cord up near the trunk so that we could just unplug it when we were ready to store it. blessings, marleneStitchinByTheLakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444221130150558371.post-81480462856438733752014-11-18T16:59:28.435-05:002014-11-18T16:59:28.435-05:00Same problem here..however I was lucky enought to ...Same problem here..however I was lucky enought to find the culprit bulb quickly and replaced it...and we are all glowing now....so one more year notched out on the plastic trunk....I do understand why you do not trash them...they are very pretty trees....SheylSheryl Red Tin Innhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03382212337203311053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444221130150558371.post-13387214189678557332014-11-18T16:32:33.512-05:002014-11-18T16:32:33.512-05:00Smiling......I'm had the same problem with our...Smiling......I'm had the same problem with our12' tree. Hated the 'dark' areas. Found a great product that can be found anywhere, even Wal-Mart. It looks like a little gun. It will check not only individual bulbs, but, the string it's on as well. This year the tree was so dark that I broke it down to only 8' high. It took an entire afternoon to check out the problem areas, but I have to say that the tree is now fully lit! Instructions on mine stated that when 5 or more bulbs are out the entire string will not light. I replaced 97 bulbs! Try this thing....Found in the Christmas decor dept.debralboyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01669870389132218336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444221130150558371.post-59705896379002770182014-11-18T10:20:13.426-05:002014-11-18T10:20:13.426-05:00Karen -- I too have a 12 foot tree. I've had i...Karen -- I too have a 12 foot tree. I've had it about 5 years now and the lights gave me a little fuss last year but I did get them working (after I traded out some of the red tipped bulbs). I usually string additional lights on my tree anyway -- you know cause i want the space station to be able to see it -- but I do like this compromise that you have arranged so that the trees don't just get tossed. You might try going to a second hand store like goodwill and looking to see if they have trees like yours and possibly replacing the sections, I've also done this if i didn't feel my trees had enough fullness. Katie https://www.blogger.com/profile/00038688621670404023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444221130150558371.post-69550605306969628412014-11-18T09:31:41.106-05:002014-11-18T09:31:41.106-05:00We have had pre lit trees for years now. they are ...We have had pre lit trees for years now. they are sooo much safer and easier then dealing with the real thing. so far we have been lucky and have not had to deal with burnt out litebulbs but if the tree lasts us for a few years before this problem occurs I would still simply replace it as the price would be worth it. have you checked the prices on the real pre cut trees lately?N.C.Fabric Junkiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17875911080679213052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444221130150558371.post-64253658614442133052014-11-18T09:22:11.905-05:002014-11-18T09:22:11.905-05:00I'm with you on this one sister! In fact, I h...I'm with you on this one sister! In fact, I hauled my tree upstairs yesterday to begin decorating; plugged the tree in and what do you know ... a string burnt out. After fiddling with it for almost a half hour, I got so ticked off that I hauled the tree back downstairs and have decided we will not have any tree this Christmas. BaHumbug!!!Bonnie Weisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855087175554217203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444221130150558371.post-36872450981515426492014-11-17T21:13:12.407-05:002014-11-17T21:13:12.407-05:00Last year our pre-lit tree had a few lights toward...Last year our pre-lit tree had a few lights toward the top and a couple along the bottom....I tried looking for the burnt bulb and replaced the batteries but after spending over an hour trying to "fix" it, I just unplugged the lights and grabbed the wire cutters; I spent hours clipping and yanking out wires but I'm happy to say that we salvaged the tree and it looked beautiful with our newly purchased multi-color lights. <br /><br />Thanks for sharing your story. jdmunder@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13228349827451869998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444221130150558371.post-66907247740309646012014-11-17T20:09:24.531-05:002014-11-17T20:09:24.531-05:00So love visiting your home at Christmas. Thanks f...So love visiting your home at Christmas. Thanks for taking us along.<br /><br />:^Dtvbleakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06239422728138635417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444221130150558371.post-46446537129908698352014-11-17T16:09:10.588-05:002014-11-17T16:09:10.588-05:00Same story at my house the last few years and it&#...Same story at my house the last few years and it's infuriating!!!!!Mindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07247379600555185331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444221130150558371.post-11577274809473243072014-11-17T12:05:37.903-05:002014-11-17T12:05:37.903-05:00And that's exactly why I've never bought p...And that's exactly why I've never bought pre-lit trees! As much as I really, really, really hate stringing the lights on the trees, I'd just rather do that and deal with a string of lights than a tree that won't work. There's just no easy fix, is there? But they sure are beautiful when they're all lit.Frankiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06895662097262186866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444221130150558371.post-81395728215880590932014-11-17T10:55:44.279-05:002014-11-17T10:55:44.279-05:00I just bought the coolest little tool. It's a...I just bought the coolest little tool. It's a little red pistol shaped thing that can be found in the Christmas Dept at Lowes, Home Depot, Wally World...etc. for $20. I purchased an 80% off display tree after last Christmas and two strands we out when we plugged it in last week. This little gadget came with 4 replacement bulbs and tracked down the problem on lights that have flocking on them in short order. Reading the instruction leaflet is interesting...it states that fuses are rarely the problem!Nancie Anne Quiltshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05789749518366473425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444221130150558371.post-24702089498899251942014-11-17T09:57:00.978-05:002014-11-17T09:57:00.978-05:00We got a prelit tree a few years ago, and once the...We got a prelit tree a few years ago, and once the lights stopped working, we donated it (hubby tried to fix it and couldn't). He also said it was looking a little shabby, so we bought a new prelit tree. This one is more expensive, so it had better last longer. I do like the idea of multiple trees, but HATE putting lights on a tree.Arthemisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16241693515905707982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444221130150558371.post-16063973597286890502014-11-17T09:50:27.881-05:002014-11-17T09:50:27.881-05:00Two years ago we bought a new tree and hummed and ...Two years ago we bought a new tree and hummed and ha'd about whether or not to get a pre lit one, but decided against it in case this very thing happened. I have kept with stringing lights, but, I did buy some new lights that have a much thinner wire and are LED's rather than bulbs so that at least if one goes the rest stay alight. I am hoping that will keep us going for longer! I hope that you can sort your trees out, it looks as though your light stringing has done the touch! I love the ladder!! xxAmy at love made my homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17111180584250029433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444221130150558371.post-23451167202573603682014-11-17T09:46:24.569-05:002014-11-17T09:46:24.569-05:00Ours is 4 years old and so far so good....cross fi...Ours is 4 years old and so far so good....cross fingers and dog toes. We have not pulled it out yet this year, I hope you haven't jinxed me.........Glen QuiltSwissyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02663112676927847239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444221130150558371.post-1148510133808524802014-11-17T09:23:15.777-05:002014-11-17T09:23:15.777-05:00Yup!! 1 year several neighbors threw theirs out &...Yup!! 1 year several neighbors threw theirs out & I was shocked!! It drove my Hubby MAD last season when our huge pre-lit did the same. lol. He ordered replacements & hand set each 1.Denise Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09384785194978114337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-444221130150558371.post-43841284924798286352014-11-17T09:22:48.820-05:002014-11-17T09:22:48.820-05:00I have the same issue. My 6 foot tree had the bott...I have the same issue. My 6 foot tree had the bottom portion of lights burn out and I got so frustrated that I just threw out the lower section (after stripping it of the branches to make some wreaths and garland) and now I have a smaller 4 foot tree for our upstairs loft. When the lights burn out on that one, I'll just add strings of lights.Diana @ Red Delicious Lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10157904204372685921noreply@blogger.com