Christmas lights, ugh!

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-15-2004
Christmas lights, ugh!
19
Tue, 11-30-2004 - 9:54pm
Someone please help me out here. I am having one of my "I CAN do this without a man" moments. Jen and I went outside this evening and hung Christmas lights on the house. We tried the roof clips and that stunk so we whipped out the duck or duct tape, whatever it is. That looked really stupid. Then my neighbor came home and offered her staple gun, that was cool. So, we froze out tails off and hung the lights, it took about 6-8 strands to get across the front of the house. Jen held the ladder, that was sinking into the grass because we have had rain lately, while I stapled the lights up. When we were done we wound pine garland around the posts and around the little lamp post in the front yard. I hung a prety wreath on the front door. We turned the lights on and they looked wonderful! We were so proud..
We went in and ate beef stew and warmed up and got ready to go to my nephews birthday party. Yes, I took my young girlfriend to my ex's family event, but thats another story.
Anyway, when we shut the door all the lights went out :(
I tried the outlet and it works. I know because I plugged a radio into it and it worked. Soooo, please tell me I don't have to check all the strands individually, while on the ladder, in the cold. Or worse, all the lights, they are icicle ligts, millions of them. HELP, I have them all up and it took so long and they looked so nice, I am sad now. My neighbors must think I am weird, hanging them and then not turning them on...*sigh*
Sandra

Sandr

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-2003
Tue, 11-30-2004 - 10:04pm
POOOR girls!!! That is why I dont hang lights. I like them but they are a pain in the ...well you know. I love that we have the same "I can do this w/out a man" thing. Brandi and I can di just about everything from fix the car to carry heavy couches up stairs!
Just heared it is gonna be the coldest night so far..below freezing. where in OK do you live? I have family in Meeker- if you know where that is-I dont but I can get there.
Mandi Jewell
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-15-2004
Tue, 11-30-2004 - 10:21pm
We know where Meeker is, I think, Jen played softball there. But she plays so many teams in so many towns, I can't keep them all straight!We live about an hour south of OKC. If you go to Meeker let us know! Sandra

Sandr

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 11-30-2004 - 11:26pm
I have many years of experience in tree lights. I was the designated sibbling, sent out each year to hang and string lights all over the place. Miraculously I never caused a neighborhood black-out, or a fire, or electicuted myself, etc. I can safely say that the problem lies in one of the strings. One faulty string can cause all other attached strings to not light up. So, you're gonna have to test each one of them out. Have fun!

beth

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2003
Tue, 11-30-2004 - 11:27pm
I am thinking you may have stapled through one of the cords and when you shut the door it shook the wire away from it's connection.
Since you did not use the gutter clip on hooks these will be a tos to get down as well.
I would try to jiggle a part of the wires at a time while holding the rest still. If they flicker on and off or come on then for sure you stapled through the wire.
Use something non conductive such as wood to touch the wire because you do not want to get electrocuted if you have a hot wire exposed to the staple etc.
if you find that you have stapled through the wire you can by wire connectors and recconect the wire by crimping it back togather and covering it over with electrical tape for now. Some connectors already come completely covered and you just cut the wire and stick each end in to the connector and simply crimp each end.
If it is a bulb, good luck. lol
I hope this will help,
Hugs,
Laurie
P.S. As an electronics engineer I need to say, "Never ever staple wires!!!"
P.P.S.S.- Make sure all power is turned off to that switch from the fuse box while reconnecting the wire.
I don't know if wiggling the wires will help because the wire would have to be able to shake back in to it's connection. Try pushing up on the wires with a stick or other wooden object.
Laurie

My web pages
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 11-30-2004 - 11:29pm
.....or what she said

beth

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-15-2004
Tue, 11-30-2004 - 11:37pm
OOPs, I accidentally did staple through a couple, ok, alot of wires. Jen and I are laughing so hard right now...so much for the lights. Well, is it going to cause a fire? Or will I just get shocked pulling them down? I don't know how to shut off the main power, Laurie - can you come to my house and help me?
LOL, Hugs, Sandra

Sandr

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-15-2004
Tue, 11-30-2004 - 11:38pm
But I liked your post better. Laurie scared me! Hugs, Sandra

Sandr

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-24-2003
Tue, 11-30-2004 - 11:55pm
LOL! Well, if you want I can give you step by step instructions.
Ok, here goes,
1) Find your fuse box. I hope you have by now.

2) One person switches the fuses off and on (left or right, or up and down.) While the other one stands at the switch with something that works plugged in to the outlet. This is also the person who will be shouting, "Still on," OR No. When you flip the correct switch/fuse, the item plugged in to the outlet will turn off.
NOW IT IS SAFE-
Go to home depot and ask the man for some wire connectors and a crimper and come home and
cut the stapled wire, then cut and pull the wire covering off, about a 1/4 inch to a 1/2 inch, then put one side of the wire in to one end of the connector and the otherside also stripped of the covering into the other end. Crimp each side of the connector as you put the wire in. Give it a gentle tug to make sure it is tight, that will let you know that it is connecting.
Or just tear them down after you find and turn off the correct fuse?switch.
Do not forget to go back and turn the fuse?switch back on.
You will be turning other things on and off wile searching for the right fuse, so do not panic.
If the fuses are not labled already it would be a good idea to do it sometime before you blow a fuse. Make sure the fuse clicks back when turning it back to it's on position, that will let you know that it is reset from the off position.
This should work with no problems.
I would just unplug the lights before you use the outlet if you have not already. Then you can fix them in the day time.
Let me know how it turns out.
Hugs,
Laurie

My web pages
http://homepage.mac.com/lauriedav/PhotoAlbum1.html http://hometown.aol.com/didoangst/myhomepage/photo.html
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-08-2003
Wed, 12-01-2004 - 7:41am

I'm just gonna say... GOOD LUCK! It sounds like a major hassle to me! LOL!


But I bet they looked great :) LOL!


Hugs!


~C

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-16-2003
Wed, 12-01-2004 - 8:10am

Sandra, I applaud you for making the effort. I have absolutely no patience for stuff like that. Getting the lights on my tree is bad enough! LOL


I couldn't help snickering when I first read your post because it reminded me of the scene in "Christmas Vacation" when Clark totally wraps the house in lights, and then they won't come on. Everything in that movie cracks me up! Anyway, I'm glad you found the problem and hope you can safely fix it. Be careful!

Ting

Ting 

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