As the holiday season draws closer, my husband and I have already started our Christmas preparations from last week.
The arrangements begin well before the big day, and you can pretty much assume that the festivities last a long time. Hence, my husband and I went to the market and bought a medium-sized Christmas tree to place in the garden.
Getting the tree is just the start, however; without the right decorations, a Christmas tree doesn’t seem complete. Therefore, I went to the shed and brought out my old set of Christmas lights. Now, these are standard lights and continue to burn in one definite glow.
However, this year I decided to change things a little and remembered a trick my father taught me to make any light blink. So, I got to work with my husband and showed him the simple steps for how to make Christmas lights blink.
It wasn’t too tricky, and when we put the tree outside, all the neighbors started enquiring about the lights. That’s when it struck me that I can pass on my knowledge of blinking lights as a gift this holiday season.
Hi! I’m Stacy Smith, and let’s get started.
How To Make Your Lights Blink
Type of Wiring
The secret to making ordinary lights blink lies in the wiring, and for that, we must know how Christmas lights are wired. There are several ways in which it can be done, but one of the most common techniques is to have the lights linked in a series. The entire row of lights is considered one circuit; a simple design, but losing even one light disrupts the entire circuit.
Another procedure is to form a parallel circuit whereby each light stands on its own, and they aren’t dependent on each other. However, you should know this type of wiring can appear complicated and costs higher, which is why many people refrain from using it. In that regard, modern lights come in handy as they use both techniques effectively.
You’ll find they are wired in short substrings, which are then connected in a parallel circuit. As a result, it provides more security, and even if one section blows, you won’t have to worry about the other lights malfunctioning.
In some cases, high-quality incandescent lights include a built-in fuse system or shunts, which have a significant benefit. If one light stops working, the fuse helps create an alternate path for the electricity and ensures the other bulbs continue to work.
Quick Inspection
Now, we come to the steps you need to follow to give your ordinary lights a magical appearance. Here, it’s best to understand that any set of lights come with a few extra bulbs to keep the circuit in working condition. You can easily replace the damaged bulbs with spare ones for an uninterrupted experience.
Interestingly, a particular type of bulb called the blink bulb is entrusted with making all the other lights in the circuit blink. It has a red or silver tip for identification, and to get your standard lights to blink, you must inevitably add it to the circuit.
For this reason, I discussed wiring, and you need to begin by checking whether it’s in series or parallel. All you need to do then is add the blink bulb to the correct point and watch the lights flashing away. In case the lights are divided into multiple substrings, you’ll need a blink bulb for each sub-section.
Inserting The Blink Bulb
Before you begin, please remember to check the bulbs to ensure they are in working condition. You don’t want to complete the circuit, only to find that one of the bulbs was faulty, causing you to start all over again. Then proceed to unplug the lights from the series and move on to the remaining steps.
You need to choose a light at the start of the series and remove it to make way for the blink bulb. To do so, you can unscrew the bulb, and if that doesn’t work, you need to pop the bulb from the base by pushing it.
To do this properly you must find the gap between the base and the receptacle to pull out the bulb in its entirety. You don’t want to pull out the light and leave the base intact, which doesn’t serve the purpose. Now, fix the blink bulb and replace the remaining lights to complete the series.
After everything’s in place, switch on the circuit and wait for a couple of minutes. It usually takes some time for the blink bulb to be fully functional, and once it begins working, the lights will start to glow.
I must mention that it may so happen that the light series doesn’t work, but there’s no reason to be disheartened. All you need is to replace one of the standard bulbs with another blink light and power up the series. You’ll have to keep going until the lights are flashing just the way you want.
Some Other Effects
Blinking isn’t the only thing you can use your lights for, and I thought I should discuss what else you can do. Some people prefer to change the tempo at which the lights blink or sync the flashing to music, for which you’ll need a particular controller.
You can purchase a controller along with lights from the supermarket, while DIY enthusiasts can make one themselves. Needless to say, having sufficient knowledge of electronics is a prerequisite, and you can also use a 555 timer for a small series.
Apart from that, please be aware of the hazards involving electrical components and always undertake adequate safety measures.
Final Words
I’ve reached the end of my guide, and hopefully, I’ve been able to explain how to get standard lights to blink.
So, spice up the festivities with this cost-effective method and enjoy a pleasant holiday season with your family. That’s all the time I have today as I need to go shopping for presents.
Take care and ho ho ho!