Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
We bought a pre-lit Christmas tree that rotates, at Sears on clearance after Christmas last year. The lights have a 1 year warranty; the tree 3 years. A few weeks later we took it out and put it together to check it out and discovered the lights not working on a whole section. After many e-mails and pictures sent to the company it was determined the set of lights was not holding in the control box. There was a little white plug-in thingy not holding on the wire. They sent us a new set of lights that now hold in the control box, but there are still 2 branches on another row where the lights don't work that was indicated on the warranty form that I completed. The company never addressed this and they stopped responding to my e-mails. After realizing how difficult it can be to replace the lights to be like they're done at the factory, I requested they replace the lower section of the tree since the faulty lights are all on this one section, but got no response. I don't believe a regular set of lights can be used if we want the tree to rotate. Anyone else have this issue?
I did go to Sears and talked with an assistant manager about this issue. The man was not interested at all in my report and told me the best they could do was give me extra reward points which I turned down. I also wrote to their headquarters, but of course heard nothing. This tree was on "clearance", but still a "new" tree in its box! Now I wish we had asked to purchase the floor sample! I'm planning on checking to see if Sears has another identical tree to this one this year and demand they exchange it, but I fear that won't work. Needless to say, we are done purchasing anything from Sears! Customer service there is the worst! It's no wonder they're not doing well. Sad they don't see that.
I bought a defected Kenmore product in the past from Sears, and they exchanged no problem (used). However, it did take a little time because they had to find the right person to help me out. They kept transferring employees to help me until finally I requested to speak to a manager as they were wasting my time.
You may want to call customer support or have your issue escalated.
I have a pre-lit tree and noticed that some of the lights are out and have turned black. Does that mean that I need to replace that strand? Can you do that on these?
By pj
I don't know why the bulbs have turned black, or do you just mean they don't light up. If some of them have just burned out, you should be able to replace the bulb. Anyway any pre lit tree that I have had have been that way. I don't know if you can replace the whole string or not, to me they look like they are attached to the tree in places.
I have an artificial Christmas tree that comes in three parts that come together in a pole that powers the Christmas lights that are already on the tree. I've had this tree for about three to four years. This year we put the tree together and I turned on the shifting colors option on the tree and in the line around the section between the middle section and the top section many lights are changing constantly to the wrong colors when the tree changes colors.
Sometimes when it's not changing all the lights at all they are flickering through a multitude of colors. I'm not sure why. Please if someone knows how can I fix this?The lights are out of sync and this could be because of a connection or the way the tree was put together. I have seen this happen if the lights from one section to another are not plugged into the mains socket correctly.
I have been using LightKeeper Pro for several years and have had wonderful success keeping the lights on my pre-lit tree working. Now I have one section that has all the lights out and they all are at least partially black.
I have replaced several of them, but they are all still out. What next?Replacing likes on these trees needs a specific bulb made for this tree. You'll need to replace all bulbs in the section of the tree that are black and burned.
I purchased a Noma Christmas tree with led lights already on it. I set it up last night and only one section did not light up. I was frustrated, so I turned it off and went to bed. This morning I turned it on, one minute later there was a popping sound and all the lights dimmed down to almost off. Turning it off and on doesn't change it. Is it fixable or should I just return the tree?
Might be defected, would return & get a new one if that is an option.
My pre-lit Christmas tree with LED lights is only a few years old. I bought it because it could change from colored lights to warm white depending on my mood. This year the color works, but not the white yet it uses the same bulbs.
I tried changing the fuse, but it still doesn't work. It is very perplexing. Any idea how I can fix it?On color changing lights they use not only a fuse, but a resister on one strand of light. The color changing light use two wire strands of lights to make the color change. On one strand the lights are left alone, but on the second strand a resister is installed in each light so that the lights can go from color to soft white.
I think that one of your sets of lights has a problem with one of the resisters in the strand. This will be very difficult to determine which resister has gone bad.
Is there a certain way to plug pre-lit Christmas trees in.
By liz from Idaho
I'm beginning to hate my pre-lit tree 8). But this year we bought one of those 'guns' that you can use to 'restart' the lights. They have helped with about half of the un-lit strands. It's called a "Light Keeper Pro". Can't remember the cost, but well worth it! Found it at the big box store.
My tree has one row where the lights don't work. I bought the light keeper pro and checked the connection. Four strands have a steady beep, but the other strands don't. I have tired taking out one of the already lit bulbs and putting it in the one that doesn't work but nothing.
Do I need a new tree? How do four strands show electrical connection, but the others don't? Are all those bulbs out?
There are several different kinds of lights on these prelit trees but first question - have you checked the fuses on the string that is not working?
Do you still have the name of the company that made your tree? Sometimes you can contact them and they will have videos to help solve these problems.
Just remember; if you cannot fix this strand of lights, you can add additional line/row with this row as a guide line.
I did find several sites that offer some good suggestions so maybe you can find some help online:
www.ehow.com/
www.christmaslightsetc.com/
www.seasonalspecialties.com/
I have a pre-lit tree and all the lights just went out. This tree has only been lit for 2 weeks (a couple of hours a night), we do not see a fuse to replace and the bulbs do not look burned out.
Any ideas how to fix? Thank you.Contact the manufacturer. If you just bought the tree, I would return it for another.
Check all cords to be sure they are plugged in.
Also try another plug, in case it is not the tree but a blown fuse.
I have a Holiday Living pre lit Christmas tree #0013693 that is a year old. It worked fine last year. It was stored standing up, covered, and out of harms way. When we set it up today, the top of the tree lights started blinking. That was the only place they are blinking.
It did not do this last year. How do I fix this? We have tried removing bulbs. There is not a short in the wiring. We can't find a bulb that is usually clear with a red end for a flashing bulb.I do the same with my tree. This year, the upper and lower parts were out. We found ONE light burnt out ever though. It wasn't supposed to do that. Try checking all the lights one by one. Maybe there is a blinker light that has started to work?
Our pre-lit "Barcana" artificial Xmas tree is 10 years old, and has functioned very well until this year. I just noticed that a section of the lower part of the tree doesn't light, although the rest of the tree does. I also saw that almost all the mini-bulbs in that section are burned out. I replaced maybe 30 of the bulbs, using the correct 2.5 volt bulbs. On the last one, the section lit up, but it was abnormally bright, lasted maybe 3 seconds, then went out.
Most of the new replacement bulbs were burned out. What seems to be happening is, that section of lights is drawing too much current for the bulbs, but not enough to burn the fuse; i.e., the bulbs are acting like fuses. Anyone know what is happening here, and what I can do to fix it?It occurred to me that maybe each section of lights begins with a fuse-bulb, a bulb that is also a fuse. I have had this with older light sets I used to use. If that bulb blew and wasn't replaced with a fuse-bulb (it has a thicker filament inside it), then maybe too much electricity goes through to the rest of the bulbs in the section. If you can find fuse-bulbs to buy, maybe that will solve your problem. Also check the wiring to see if there's a damaged or shorted-out section somewhere.
If you can't find the reason, you could add a short string of lights in that section to replace the ones that won't light, and at least the tree lights will look full again. From what I've heard, you were very lucky the lights lasted without problems for as long as they did.
My dog chewed the wire on the bottom strand of lights on our prelit tree. Can we unplug this strand from the one it's connected to and replace it with a new strand?
Yes you can. My dog didn't eat the lights but the middle section of our prelit tree did not light this year. I bought a matching color bulbs string of lights at the drug store. I unplugged the broken lights at both ends and put the new string in its place. I left the old broken string on the tree. I was afraid I would ruin the tree if I tried to cut it off. When the tree is lit, you don't see the old string.
Christmas tree light manufacturers claim that if one light goes out the rest stay lit, this is not true. I have at least 20 sets with this claim that don't work including 2 prelit trees, why?
By scw
Buy the "Light Keeper Pro!" I thought it first it was a gimmick, but it works fantastically. It's like a little gun and you shoot it into the socket of light strand - it actually clears the current. It is a must especially with these pre-lit Christmas trees. We found ours at English gardens. But check online just Google and you'll be able to find other retailers that sell it ... sometimes drugstores have it too I would not have pre-lit trees or Christmas lights without it. My husband thought it was a joke, until it cleared out areas of lights not working on our pre-lit tree.
We have a pre-lit Christmas tree that has worked for years beautifully, but this year the whole tree has been going out on us. The first time it happened we figured it was the main 5 amp fuse. We bought another and we were right, it lit again beautifully, but only for 1 day.
We again put in a new fuse and have found that the tree will light for a few hours and then everything goes off. As soon as I change the main fuse it goes on again. Obviously we must have some sort of short somewhere but how do I find it?
By Sara from NJ
First and foremost, if I were you, I'd check with an electrician and make absolutely positive that your tree isn't going to short out and maybe cause a fire. If it were me, I'd trash the tree and find a new one. Sorry but the cost of a new tree is nothing compared to what the cost would be if it caused even a small fire. I once had a toaster short out and I was standing maybe 10 feet away. It scorched a spot on my wall about a foot wide and almost twice that up the wall before I could get to the electrical box and flip switches which took probably less than 90 seconds.
I have a pre lit tree. Some of the lights are not working. When I replace them, the new bulbs are very dim. On the same strand, other lights are working fine. Any idea?
By D. Reed
Our tree did same, replacement bulbs very dim. Solution is to use "super bright" replacements according to paperwork that came with tree. We bought, unknowingly, bulbs from Walmart that were "light keeper PRO. Hope this helps.
Can you replace clear bulbs with colored bulbs on a pre-lit tree?
By Hansen
As far as I know, you can use any replacement bulbs that fit.
I have a four section pre-lit LED Xmas tree. After five years, the top two sections remain fully lit. On the bottom two, some branches light up and some don't. If a bulb is removed from a branch that lights up, the rest of the lights stay on. Each plug for each section lights up some branches. I have changed out the fuses in each plug and still some branches don't light up. I have checked the wires and can't find any damage. Any suggestions?
By Randall
When we've had that problem in the past, it has been a burned out bulb or a bulb that was not pushed in all the way somewhere in the unlit part.
I have a female plug at the bottom with no male to plug into it. The tree is 3 sections; the middle has all the outlets.
By Mary D
Have you used the tree before and has it worked. Someplace on the bottom tier there has to be a male plug. When I put my tree together, I always plug in the bottom layer, then when I do the next layer, I know when I get the next layer plugged in just right, etc. Putting these trees together and getting them working, can be a real pain, and there are times I feel like I almost stick my head into the branches to find the right connections, but by plugging in the first tier and then each successive tier after that, it is easier than not plugging it in layer by layer.
I have a pre-lit Christmas tree and the top of the tree keeps blowing the fuse. The tree has three parts. The bottom and the middle are both working. I have changed the fuse four times now and the minute I plug it in the fuse blows instantly. I have plugged it into the tree and straight into the wall and it blows. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.
By Chris
The most likely cause of this is what is called a "dead short". This basically means that somewhere on that specific wire the strands of wire are bare and touching. This allows the electricity to jump between the two wires "sucking" more electricity than the fuse can handle causing it to blow. STOP plugging in this wire before you burn down the house. Just buy a cheap string of lights and plug them in where the tree's light would have gone.
Many of the lights on our 4 year old prelit "constant on" tree do not light. We called customer service and we learned about the white-based fuse bulbs. Where can we buy them?
By Kathy G
Hopefully this isn't too late since I could not find when you post this. The white fuse light is "nonremovable" and "nonreplaceable" or else the warranty is void (rolling my eyes). If your tree is no longer under warranty as is mine, there's a easy fix that does not include buying a new one as ge customer service suggested. Remove the white fuse light by twisting out the bulb from the white socket first then with a tweezer try to pry (not pull) it out. It's not easy to remove. It took a while. Put a replaceable bulb into the white socket and mold back the copper wire then put it back into the green socket.
I have two skinny pre-lit trees, five feet each. One is only lit at the top and the bottom is out. The other is lit at the bottom and top is out. GRRRRRR! I have tried to check each light to make sure none are loose. They are only 2 years old and I hate it. Merry Christmas!
By Tracy
I had a similar issue. Do yourself a favor and find a Lightkeeper Pro. I found mine at Ace Hardware here locally. It as $14.99. Helped me fix my issue in less than 30 min.
I have a Cosco/Kirkland pre-lit 1500 Constant on Christmas tree and two of the branches will not light up. I went through the lights, all are plugged-in and no wires are broken. When I was going through the bulbs I came a cross a bulb that was in a white plastic holder all. The other bulbs are in green holders. I can't get the white one out to check it. Is this a fuse bulb? If so can this be why my lights don't come on the two branches? Help me please.
By Stephanie
I have had the same issue and I'm getting ready to take mine back to Costco. The first year I had the tree it was perfect. The issue you are having started for me the second year where those white encased bulbs started burning out. Why did they make an irremovable bulb that burns out easier than the others? I have no idea.
If you twist and pull on the bulb it will come out and leave the white casing in. This will likely break the copper wiring from the bulb which will stay stuck in there. Get a pair of needle nose pliers and stick one side into the socket (unplug your lights first :)). Try gently pulling or scraping up to remove the white casing. If it doesn't come out easily, apply more pressure. If it comes up a little bit but is still stuck, just try getting a grip on the white casing and pull it out. It will likely tear slightly, but that's okay.
Get a replacement bulb from the little bag that came with your tree. Remove a bulb from the green casing. Make sure any broken wire has been removed from the white casing. Place the replacement bulb into the white casing so that the two wires go through the two holes in the bottom then fold the two wires up and then stick the whole thing back into the tree.
The good news is I think I have replaced nearly all of my white encased bulbs over the last 2 years and the ones I have replaced seem to not burn out.
I also recommend plugging your tree into a surge protector.
If the lights on a pre-lit tree are black, are they bad?
By Deb
Yes, it means that they have burned out.
On the top portion of my pre-lit tree, a small strand of lights went out. I took out the white fuse light. Did I do anything bad to my tree?
By Sarah R.
The problem is in the fuse bulb. It is a very bad design because it is not replaceable and when it blows the entire string goes out and this is a real problem on a pre-lit tree. Why there is a fuse bulb on top off the fuses in the plug itself is beyond me. On my tree, only one year old, five of the fuse bulbs had failed!
GE sent under warranty three new strands but I really didn't want to thread them all in on top of the dead bulbs and wires, so I did this: (1) unplugged the tree (2) pulled on the fuse bulb until it came out (3) carefully, with an ice pick, levered out the white fuse bulb socket enough to use a pair of needle-nose pliers to fully remove it (4) with those pliers, molded it back into shape (5) from the spare bulbs, removed one from its green base and threaded it into the white base (6) put the bulb and white base back into the socket (7) with the needle-nose pliers, pushed it back down fully.
Result: A beautiful tree, fully lit again. Yes, this supposedly violates the warranty, but I already have three free new strands I'm now not going to use, but will keep just in case.
GE really needs to make that fusible bulb replaceable (and provide spares); otherwise, get rid of it entirely.
This year I bought a Lightkeeper Pro, which did a wonderful job repairing several strands of lights on my pre-lit Christmas tree. We were watching TV last night and suddenly one strand (and I think it was one that had been repaired) suddenly blazed significantly brighter. The bulbs were very hot.
I turned it off for a bit, and when I turned it back on, that strand of lights was out. I'm hoping someone has a bit more knowledge of electrical circuits and explain this. I'm hesitant to try the repair again - and the heat put out by those bulbs makes me a little nervous about fire.I would not use those lights. Just cover up that section of the tree with tinsel or different lights. Why risk a fire?
Where can I find replacement bulbs that have a tapered end so they will slide all the way into the socket and fit the string of lights on my Xmas tree? It is a Noble fir purchased from Frontgate.
By Laury
I'm having the same problem, can't find the tampered replacement bulbs for this type of miniature tree lights. Let me know if you find some!
Heavens to Betsy, I have the same problem! The bulb is longer than a mini-light string, and has a ridge (tapered shape) near the wires. It snaps into a plastic base with a "leg" that, when slid into the plastic base (the part that is wired to the tree), fits into a small hole.
I bought my tree in 2006 at American Sale in Illinois, and most of the bulbs are burned out. I have checked at the store, Ace Hardware (which sells the 3.5v bulbs that kinda fit, but are too powerful), and Menard's. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. A reverse image search on google was fruitless. Here is a snap of the two parts:
I have the same problem. We're late getting started with some of the indoor decorations for guest coming through this week but I noticed I have the a similar socket and the exact same kind of bulbs. I've been looking all over the internet and haven't found anything. Let me know if you find a manufacturer that at least sells the bulbs. I only have a few out and would like to replace them. As a kind of band-aid we strung lights around the tree to fill in the ones that are out. If I find replacements before you all I will list all of the information and website or company to get them from. If I can't then next year we may in the market for a new pre-lit tree. If that happens I will make sure the bulbs are close to standard and get extras...
10 Pack 2.5v Slotted Base Clear Replacement Christmas Light Bulbs.....key word is "slotted". You can buy from Amazon.
DONT BUY LIGHTS WHEN IF ONE BURNS OUT THEN NONE OF THEM WORK....ITS A PAIN IN THE A**...........i'll never buy them again....i have 4 strands on my tree, 1st one works but the 2nd doesnt, then 3rd one works but 4th one doesnt......makes no sense to me
I believe the culprit is the male/plug at the bottom of tree. If I wiggle this the lights come back on. The plug has fuses. Can the plug itself be replaced safely?
thx
I have replaced a plug on my vacuum successfully. Cut the plug off. Bring to the store to get a similar plug. Look at the wire where you cut the plug. It will separate into two pieces. Strip the coating from these two pieces until the bare wire is exposed. Bend each end into a U shape. My plug separated as well, revealing screws on each side. Wrap the U shape around each post and tighten. Put the plug back together. You can see
videos on YouTube. It's quite easy. After I replaced the plug I then rewired a lamp. You can do it!
The lights are 99 cents a string at walmart or dollar general. When mine did this I simply pulled the old lights off the tree and replaced with new lights. They are just regular lights, but glued on, easy to swap out.
I accidentally took a light off the tree and realised it's pre-lit. If I screw it back on will it work or do we need a new tree?
We have a 7.5 GE Pre-Lit LED Christmas tree and unfortunately I didn't wait for my husband to put it together; I just did it myself. However, I didn't realize that I wasn't supposed to plug in the tree before having all the sections connected. So now none of the lights work and according to the pamphlet, it can cause electrical issues.
Is there any fixing this? The base of the tree worked before I connected the other sections. Help! I don't really want to spend another $400 on a tree right now. I called customer service, to no avail. Is this fixable somehow, or is this an expensive lesson learned?I found a broken wire on my Martha Stewart pre-lit Christmas tree. Can it be repaired?
When I turn on my pre-lit Christmas tree all the lights light, but within 5 minues one strand of lights goes out and won't come back on. Do you know what the problem is? The next day when I relight all lights are on and again 5 minutes later that same strand turns off.
How do I get my prelit Christmas tree lights in sync?
all lights need power and ground, if you show that you have current flowing but no illumination then you have a bulb out at or near the end preventing the circuit to be complete. try unplugging that string and turn the plug around to reverse the current. you should now see there is no current. now go spend $20.00 on a light keeper pro. you can follow the current to the point it ends, thats the problem bulb.
