Dr_Aplet Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 I have a set of led mini lights that has sections and in between each section is a thing that looks like a capped off socket. I believe this is a capacitor to smooth out the flicker. there are no sections with 2 wires how do i shorten these lights. I need to cut this set in half but cannot find the usual 2 wire section. see the picture below. I am hanging lights on my gable and would like to cut them to fit. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XZ7pysFiNqKRMXiUhQ-lBFmP4FzdiyPz/view?usp=sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 As that thing is in series with the bulbs, it's probably a resistor. In your picture, it appears the 2 wire section is in your palm. Can you cut it there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Aplet Posted September 12, 2022 Author Share Posted September 12, 2022 9 minutes ago, Steven said: As that thing is in series with the bulbs, it's probably a resistor. In your picture, it appears the 2 wire section is in your palm. Can you cut it there? Wow, I was so focused on what side to the "resistor" to cut i completely missed that. I will throw a couple vampire plugs on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDucks Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 12 hours ago, Dr_Aplet said: Wow, I was so focused on what side to the "resistor" to cut i completely missed that. I will throw a couple vampire plugs on it. That device can be anyplace in the segment. Only cut at the 2 wire on the Original strings plug end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Aplet Posted September 12, 2022 Author Share Posted September 12, 2022 8 hours ago, TheDucks said: That device can be anyplace in the segment. Only cut at the 2 wire on the Original strings plug end what is that does anyone know? I would think something to smooth out the ripples from the LEDs only using half the wave. Perhaps a rectifier?? i am not strong enough in component level electronics to know what they are doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDucks Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 25 minutes ago, Dr_Aplet said: what is that does anyone know? I would think something to smooth out the ripples from the LEDs only using half the wave. Perhaps a rectifier?? i am not strong enough in component level electronics to know what they are doing. I suspect it is just a rectifier. The ripple is not a big thing to most people (there are a few that can see the flicker) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted September 13, 2022 Share Posted September 13, 2022 23 minutes ago, Dr_Aplet said: what is that does anyone know? I would think something to smooth out the ripples from the LEDs only using half the wave. Perhaps a rectifier?? i am not strong enough in component level electronics to know what they are doing. It is definitely a resistor. Here is what those "blobs" in an AC LED string are: If it has 2 leads (and is in series with the LEDs) then it is a resistor. If it is a plug or socket and has 2 wires, then it is half of a full-wave rectifier (2 diodes). (The other half will be on the other end.) If it is in the middle of the string and has 3 wires on both sides, then it is 2 halves of a full-wave rectifier. (The other half will be on the plug or socket). Some off-brand strings will have a full-wave rectifier on the plug end, with 2 wires, and send rectified AC down to the end of the string. If you really want to know (and one of your strings doesn't work), then cut it open. For a less destructive investigation, unplug the string, stick 2 pins into the wires on each side of the blob, and measure its resistance with multi-meter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godney Posted September 13, 2022 Share Posted September 13, 2022 PM Sent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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