Shedding Light on Solar String Light Issues: 9 Troubleshooting Tips

Although string lights may provide any location a warm and festive atmosphere, they can experience technical difficulties. Here we introduce some causes which leads to the malfunction of solar string lights as well as the solution to make them work well again.

#1, Bulbs Burned Out

If one of the bulbs in your string lights has burned out, your string lights may not be operating. This may occur as a result of regular wear and tear or carelessness during installation or storage. You will have to swap out the burned-out bulb for a new one in order to solve the issue. You'll need to find the burned-out bulb to accomplish this. Depending on how the string lights are constructed, this can need either unscrewing the bulb or just taking it out of the socket. After removing the old bulb, swap it out for a new one that works with your string lights. A fresh bulb should be used in place of a burned-out one. This is simple to accomplish and takes only a few minutes to do most of the time. This task is simple to complete and doesn't call for any particular equipment or knowledge. Handle bulbs carefully during installation and storage to avoid future bulb burnout. Use bulbs that are rated for the correct wattage and are compatible with your string lights. If you observe that several bulbs are going out frequently, it can be an indication of a larger issue with your electrical system or the string lights themselves, so you should think about consulting an electrician.

#2, Contacts Rusted

Contacts that have rusted may be the cause. The electrical connections between the bulbs and the sockets may be harmed by a number of man-made elements, including dampness, dirt buildup, or dust. You will require a contact cleaner that is safe to use on electrical components to solve this problem. Spray contact cleaner on the bulb and the socket as a workaround, then shake the bulb to remove any oxidation. Depending on how serious the corrosion is, this process could take up to 10 minutes. Although it can appear like a difficult undertaking, anyone with a basic understanding of electrical components can complete it. You can maintain the string lights' functionality and lengthen their lifespan by routinely cleaning the contacts and keeping them dry and clean.

#3, Damaged Wire

A damaged wire might be the cause of a string light failure to illuminate. Man-made factors, such as unintentionally pulling, twisting, or excessively bending the wire, may be to blame for this. You'll need wire strippers and wire connectors to resolve this problem. To fix the problem, find the wire's damaged piece, cut it out, and strip both ends. Finally, join the two ends once more using wire connectors. Depending on where the break is and how long the wire is, this operation may take about 15 minutes. Even while it might initially seem difficult, anyone with a basic understanding of electricity can complete the modification. You may stop this problem from occuring again by handling the wires with caution and making sure they are not overly twisted or bent.

#4, Loose Bulb

Another one of the most frequent reasons for string lights to stop working is a loose bulb. Many factors, including unintentional collisions, strong winds, or other external factors, might cause this. Fortunately, replacing a loose bulb is a fairly easy procedure that can be completed quickly and without much difficulty. A few simple items, such as gloves or a cloth to protect your hands, and potentially a ladder or step stool to reach the light are required to change a loose bulb. After you have these items, the issue can be solved easily by hand-tightening the bulb into the socket. Although being careful not to overtighten the bulb and run the danger of breaking it or the socket, this should be done softly but firmly. Fixing a loose bulb requires very little processing time—it only takes a minute or so. Because of this, it's a simple and quick solution that everyone can use. It is also a low-level complexity assignment that just calls for rudimentary knowledge and abilities, making it accessible to just about everybody.

#5, A tripped circuit breaker

A tripped circuit breaker is one of the potential causes of your string light not working. This happens when the circuit experiences an electrical overload, which prompts the breaker to turn off the lights. There are numerous other things that can cause an overload, such as having too many gadgets plugged in, bad wiring, or broken electrical parts. A circuit breaker reset tool, a specialized tool made to securely reset circuit breakers, is required to repair a tripped circuit breaker. For assistance finding the circuit breaker in your electrical panel, you might also require a flashlight or another type of lighting. Locate the circuit breaker that tripped in your electrical panel and reset it using the circuit breaker reset tool. To ensure safe and effective use, this should be carried out gently yet firmly while adhering to the tool's instructions. You can switch your lights back on and make sure they are operating properly after the breaker has been reset. Depending on how quickly you can locate the breaker and securely reset it, the processing time for fixing a tripped circuit breaker is normally 5 minutes or less. It's crucial to use caution and follow the right steps to prevent harm to yourself or damage to your electrical system because this task needs a modest level of complexity and understanding of fundamental electrical safety. It would be best to seek the help of a certified electrician if you are uncomfortable working with electricity.

#6, Frayed extension cord

One potential reason why your string light isn't working is a frayed extension cord. Due to normal wear and tear, accidental damage, or exposure to the environment, extension cords can deteriorate over time. As a result, the cord may snap or short out, cutting off power to the lights. You'll require a replacement extension cord to repair a damaged one. If you intend to use the lights outdoors, make sure the replacement cord is approved for outdoor usage. To assist you disconnect the damaged cord from the power source and connect the replacement cord, you might also require a set of pliers. Remove the damaged extension cord from the power source and plug in a fresh one as a fix. While handling electrical cords, always use necessary safety precautions, and make sure the new cord is firmly connected to the power source and the lights. You can turn on the lights and make sure they are operating properly after installing the new cord. Depending on how quickly you can securely remove the broken extension cable and install the new one, the processing time for replacing one is normally 5 minutes or more. Most people can complete this work because it has a low level of difficulty and only requires a basic understanding of electrical safety.

#7, Animal Damage

Animal damage can occur when mice, birds, or squirrels gnaw through the wires and create a short circuit that stops power from getting to the lights. If the lights are set outside or in locations where animals are present, animal damage is particularly frequent. You will want new lights to repair any damage caused by animals. To help you take out the broken lights and attach the new ones, you might also require wire cutters or pliers. The problem can be fixed by removing the broken lights and installing new ones. Always use the correct safety precautions when working with electrical lines and tools, and be sure the new lights are firmly fastened to the string and any required connectors. To avoid further damage to the lights, take into account utilizing animal-proof covers. Depending on how many lights are damaged and how easily accessible they are, processing time for fixing animal damage may take up to 30 minutes. It's crucial to take precautions and follow the right steps to prevent harm to yourself or damage to your electrical system because this task needs a modest level of complexity and understanding of fundamental electrical safety.

#8, Water damage

The wires could short out and stop supplying power to the lights if the lights are exposed to water or other liquids. If the lights are positioned outdoors or in locations where they are exposed to rain, snow, or other environmental variables, water damage is particularly frequent. You must totally dry out the lights to repair water damage. You can accomplish this by taking the lights out of the water source and letting them dry naturally in the air. As an alternative, you can hasten the drying process by using a dryer or dehumidifier. Remove the lights from the water source and let them dry completely to solve the problem. Follow the correct safety practices while operating a dryer or dehumidifier, and make sure the lights are not in close proximity to the heating elements. You can reconnect the lights to the power source and check to see whether they are operating properly once they have dried completely. Depending on the extent of the damage and the drying technique employed, the processing time for drying out water-damaged lights may take up to 24 hours or longer. It's crucial to take precautions and follow the right steps to prevent harm to yourself or damage to your electrical system because this task needs a modest level of complexity and understanding of fundamental electrical safety. Installing your string lights in a location away from water or other liquids will help you avoid future water damage. To shield the lights from the elements, think about installing covers or enclosures or switching to waterproof lights made for outdoor usage. In order to lessen the chance of water damage, be careful to unplug the lights whenever they are not in use or during bad weather.

#9, Circuit Overloaded

An overloaded circuit may occur if there are too many lights connected to one circuit, which could trip the circuit breaker and cut off power to the lights. If a circuit is loaded excessively, it could be unsafe and hurt your electrical system. Reduce the load on the circuit to correct an overloaded circuit. To do this, remove a few of the lights to lessen the amount of power being used, or spread the load across several circuits by utilizing an extension cord or additional outlet. To lessen the strain on the circuit, the approach is to unplug some of the lights. When utilizing extension cords or additional outlets, be sure to follow the correct safety standards and refrain from overloading the circuit once more. Depending on how many lights need to be disconnected or how accessible the extra outlet or extension cord is, the time it takes to fix an overloaded circuit may be roughly 10 minutes. Then, verify that your lights' wattage and amperage ratings are compatible with your electrical system. Do not daisy chain numerous extension cables together since this can overload the circuit and provide a fire risk. Finally, think about switching to LED lighting, which is more energy-efficient than conventional incandescent bulbs and uses less power.

Now, you know how to troubleshoot a non-working string light, just try the step above to check and find out the cause, and then you know what to do. However, if you follow all steps but still can't fix the light, it may be time to buy yourself a new lighting buddy for your lovely garden. Check our product page and see more solar lights which add a whimsy and fairy atmosphere to your garden.