how to test lights.

[sirloinofbeef001]

My wife found lights at christmas tree shop for 3.99 /100 and I was wondering how I can test them before I but 100 strands?

[hbomb341]

... Plug them in.   

Harrison




Had to go with the smart a$$ answer - I assume you mean they are LED and want to know if they fade - if you know brand, make, color I bet someone on here has experience with them.   


Harrison

[sirloinofbeef001]

Nope. Incans. I hear ppl talk about cheap lights and I don't wanna buy a bunch of junk. So is there a way I can be sure they aren't just that? Of course if one bulb burns out the others stay lit. Is that all there is to I cans?

[hbomb341]

I have some test sequences I use to "burn in" test my lights - On | Off | Ramp Up | Ramp Down  | ....... run it for about a week to see how the lights do.  But 3.99 for 100 count incandescents that HIGH (but par for off season) - The big box stores (Wal~Mart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe's) put there lights out around Halloween and the past 2 years have been ~$2.50ish for 100 count incandescents - so unless your just itching to buy stuff I would wait but it will put you in a little rush but be prepped for when they go out to JUMP.

Harrison

[SteveMaris]

I have some test sequences I use to "burn in" test my lights - On | Off | Ramp Up | Ramp Down  | ....... run it for about a week to see how the lights do.  But 3.99 for 100 count incandescents that HIGH (but par for off season) - The big box stores (Wal~Mart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe's) put there lights out around Halloween and the past 2 years have been ~$2.50ish for 100 count incandescents - so unless your just itching to buy stuff I would wait but it will put you in a little rush but be prepped for when they go out to JUMP.

Harrison

I agree. That is not a "must have" price by any means.
Here is a post for 1185 sets of lights for 900.00 that is  .76 cents for 100 lights. Not sure if 1185 sets is enough for you though..
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[sirloinofbeef001]

Are you sure about that price?

[hbomb341]

Are you sure about that price?

Prices are always to change but that was my memory - My first year was EXPENSIVE buying lights retail since then I buy I always hit the Dec 26 sale's in prep for next year. But 3.99 is HIGH for Inc by any base line.

Harrison

[sirloinofbeef001]

My only concern is that with the way inflation and everything else is going up I'm not sure I wanna wait. I think 2.50 is the 50 count. Don't quote me on that.

[hbomb341]

My only concern is that with the way inflation and everything else is going up I'm not sure I wanna wait. I think 2.50 is the 50 count. Don't quote me on that.

That why it is called a market - if you like the product and price buy it - for quality everyone has there own base line and like I have said other places test it yourself and see if it is what YOU want.

Harrison

[SteveMaris]

Home depot amd Menards had regular incans. for under 2 dollars for 100 lights BEFORE Christmas.

[sirloinofbeef001]

The lights go up at thanksgiving. Lights Won't be on sale for that price before thanksgiving.lol.

[CB]

Anything you may have purchased since 2009 would be cheaper than today's dollar.  The price for raw copper material has shot up by over 72% in the last two months alone.  Also, with fuel costs going wild currently, copper being the wire core, fuel for the manufacturing of the shielding and then trucking.  The sad fact is the lights you are buying currently were more than likely manufactured one to two years ago.  $3.99 is not incredibly high for the current market, however commodities pricing always spikes mid year (2nd & 3rd quarters) so the price MAY come down after that then spike again when demand steps up.

Like everyone will tell you go slow the first year then save for 12/26 and buy up all the lights you can, then eventually phase out the incans for LEDs as your display grows.