Splitting light strings

[MikeyRo]

OK, so I know I have seen several posts, videos, etc on. Splitting 100 count strings into two 50 count strings. I found the center light, clipped the third wire and removed it. I kept the male plug from the factory. Wen I plugged the 50 lights in, there is one socket, about midway in the string that is considerably brighter than the rest. I tried several different bulbs from the other half of the string and the same socket is still brighter. Any ideas why?

Not that this is a major issue, just curious for my own knowledge.

Mike

[TJ Hvasta]

You are now running 120v thru 50 bulbs but the string was designed for 100 bulbs.. now, I was an English major, =) but 120/50 = 2.4v per bulb instead of 120/100 = 1.2v bulb.. the shortened set is gonna burn out.. um.. this Tuesday.. I'd say, if you want to use a shortened set, you will have to find a dropping resistor value to reduce the voltage to each bulb.. The single bulb that is brighter than the rest is taking the load. Buy a factory 50bulb set or find the resistor value to limit the amount of volts to the string (easier to whip out $3 on a new string)

Edited September 16, 2012 by TJ Hvasta

[MikeyRo]

I was under the impression that the 100 count bulbs were actually two 50 count strings together. With that, each strand was split able without increasing the load on either "set" but you are right, it is easier to plunk down the money for 50 count sets.

[jerrymac]

Easy way to see if you have 2 50 count strkings and find the place to cut is remove one of the bulbs near the end of the string. 1/2 of the string will go out. The spot where the two strings are joined together will be where the last lighted bulb is and the first dead bulb. You will find this is where the wires go from 3 to two wires. Cut (unplug first) the wires just after the last bulb that was lit. Attach a new male plug to the two wires on the string that was dead and you now have (2) 50 count strings that work. You will of course at this point not havea female plug at the end of the first half of the strings.

[shfr26]

OK, so I know I have seen several posts, videos, etc on. Splitting 100 count strings into two 50 count strings. I found the center light, clipped the third wire and removed it. I kept the male plug from the factory. Wen I plugged the 50 lights in, there is one socket, about midway in the string that is considerably brighter than the rest. I tried several different bulbs from the other half of the string and the same socket is still brighter. Any ideas why?

Not that this is a major issue, just curious for my own knowledge.

Mike

The middle of the string would only have two wires not three, or am I misreading what you said????

Edited September 16, 2012 by shfr26

[Ken Benedict]

These techniques work only for incandescent bulbs because they are designed for multiples of 50.

Look along your 100 count string for a section that has only TWO wires. Cut there and nowhere else.

After installing a male plug and installing heat shrink on the open end, you will now have two 50 ct strings.

This will work only for 100, 150 and 300 count strings.

Don't try this with anything smaller; you will get into an over voltage situation and like TJ says, it will burn out Tuesday.

[scubado]

You mentioned you removed a bulb and then added a plug, that was your mistake if I read your post right. What Ken said above is correct.

[Max-Paul]

In my opinion, jerrymac hit the nail on the head with a very simple way of doing it.

[MikeyRo]

In reply to all...

The middle bulb does have 2 wires going into the socket. The third, unconnected wire is the traveler to the other half of the lights. The third wire was clipped and removed from the string. The middle bulb had the two wires cut going from there to the next light. The plug used was the factory plug, still on the originating end. I have not put a plug onto the other half to check those yet.

When I said I tried other bulbs from the other half, that was different bulbs in the same socket. There were 50 sockets in each string when I was done.

Edited September 16, 2012 by MikeyRo

[scubado]

In reply to all...

The middle bulb does have 2 wires going into the socket. The third, unconnected wire is the traveler to the other half of the lights. The third wire was clipped and removed from the string. The middle bulb had the two wires cut going from there to the next light. The plug used was the factory plug, still on the originating end. I have not put a plug onto the other half to check those yet.

When I said I tried other bulbs from the other half, that was different bulbs in the same socket. There were 50 sockets in each string when I was done.

This isn't making sense, every socket has two wires going into it, otherwise it won't work. Some strings will have a couple sockets with three wires, two wires are joined together on one side of the socket. Why is the the third wire clipped and removed? Well, I suppose if you don't need additional lights, you don't need the third wire. On the second half of the string I'm not sure if you can remove the third wire easily. I don't have a string readily available to look.

Edited September 17, 2012 by scubado