Custom length light strings?

[brandnio]

Hey, would it be possible to cut down the length of say 100 count string of incandencents mini-lights to something shorter? I'm haning lights around the borders of my windows, but the string is to short. If I go longer I'll have to double up on some sides and I'm not sure if that will look good. So is it possible or safe?

[George Simmons]

As far as I know, your only options with a 100 ct string of incandescent minis is cutting it in half. (This is done beteen bulb 50 and 51 where it is only two wires.) Anything else will increase the voltage through the remaining filaments and cause them to burn out much more quickly. The other option is to use black electrical tape of black-out caps to "hide" the bulbs you don't want seen.

[Brian Mitchell]

Go ahead and double up the lights to use up the excess. No one will notice.

[WhitePlainsNY]

I string of 100 mini lights is too long for my windows. I think it looks best if it can't wrap around a second time, go back and forth along the bottom edge of the widow to take up the excess. The extra lights will give the impression that more light (or snow if you're using white lights) has piled up on the bottom window ledge.

[dakotasbub]

i have single strands around my windows and they go around 1 and 3/4 times and they look fine, from the street you cant even tell that they are doubled up.

[jim6918]

If it's a real concern, as it is with me, use blackout caps made especially for mini's. They are a black rubber cap that slides over the bulb to black out the light.

You might have little bit of a hard time finding them this time of the year, but I usually see them at Hobby Lobby There are a few places that you can order them on-line, but might have to buy in large quantity.

They really come in handy for cleaning things up .

[brandnio]

Actually, I discovered it doesn't look bad if I doubled up on a few things. Thanks for all the replies. Hopefully I'll get video of this up sometime soon.