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Holiday Decorating/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Lakewood Pr-lit tree | 1/17/2012 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I am looking for replacement bulbs for the Sylvania pre-lit Lakewood 7.5 Christmas tree,can you ... A: You really can't get bulbs and bases together, if that is what you are looking for. You would need ... | ||
| sylvania c9 led stay lit lights from bjs 50 count | 12/21/2011 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I've been doing this a lot of years and last year I bought these lights from BJS went to plug them ... A: You can try using a miniature light tester. These are usually a few dollars and are sold at places ... | ||
| storing xmas lights | 12/19/2011 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I was wondering if there is a way to store xmas lights to prevent them from working at the time of ... A: Miniature lights are just temperamental. I would avoid extreme heat, like in the attic. The less ... | ||
| 9' Prelite Christmas Tree | 12/14/2011 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I purchased a 9' prelite tree form BJ's about 4yrs ago, I noticed that there are some lights out as ... A: Electricity follows the path of least resistance. As a result, no matter what the voltage is, if ... | ||
| Simple, tasteful designs? | 12/13/2011 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: This is my first year with the chance to put up some Christmas lights outside, and I'm a little ... A: You don't need to use all the light show stuff. Buy some steady burning miniature lights, and start ... | ||
| 9' Prelite Christmas Tree | 12/13/2011 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I purchased a 9' prelite tree form BJ's about 4yrs ago, I noticed that there are some lights out as ... A: It does not sound like the tree is recalled. If the socket is hot, I would stop using the tree. If ... | ||
| can christmas lights endure outdoor elements | 12/11/2011 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I wanted to place Christmas lights on a maple tree and have it strung year round but not lit past ... A: The instructions on the light sets say that you can keep them up only 90 days a year. They are not ... | ||
| Pre-Lit tree fuse keeps blowing | 12/11/2011 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I have a 5 year old Santa's Best Craft Pre-lit tree that has worked beautiful for years and this ... A: If the fuse is at the end, it probably is not an overload. So, it is probably a short. You can ... | ||
| staylit tree lights | 12/10/2011 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I have a staylit tree that i have used just three seasons and now i have one entire string of lights ... A: The Staylit lights have two bulbs in each circuit that can not be replaced, and shut the circuit ... | ||
| outdoor lights half working | 12/6/2011 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I bought a new 100 mini light outdoor set to hopefully resolve my problem which was the current set ... A: The lights are in series, so all it takes is one loose bulb for the whole section not to work. ... | ||
| pre lit tree light problem | 12/4/2011 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: My 12 foot tree lights went out after a couple of hours. We had previously experienced sections of ... A: Use extension cords and plug every male plug into the cord rather than the tree. From there, you ... | ||
| Outdoor icicle lights section not working | 12/4/2011 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I bought 2 boxes of outdoor icicle lights (400 lights) for Christmas 2010 and they were fine last ... A: About all you can do is try all the bulbs again in the good section, Make sure that the wires on ... | ||
| stay lit christmas tree lights out..follow up | 11/27/2011 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I was wondering about a little follow up question....Why would a whole set of lights on my Stay Lit ... A: If any bulb in the section has a red tip, it is a blinker bulb, and should be replaced with a ... | ||
| stay lit tree lights out | 11/27/2011 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I would love some help in trouble shooting my problem with my Sylvania Stay-Lit Christmas Tree, ... A: Make sure you have all the plugs plugged in correctly. Make sure you didn't miss any, or plug any ... | ||
| need replacement lights | 11/22/2011 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I bought a tree in 2006. On its UL tag it has E207908 first prelit tree concept. issue # R 425. I ... A: Unfortunately, they usually only make decorations for a year or two and then stop making them. You ... | ||
| Strange green boxes on our pre-lit christmas tree | 11/13/2011 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: We bought a beautiful 7.5' pre-lit tree two years ago. Last year (the first year) we had several ... A: Those green boxes are just splices, and are not meant to be opened, and there is nothing inside that ... | ||
| inground pool decor | 11/7/2011 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: We have a in ground pool with a ugly black cover for the winter. We are planning to have a ... A: You might try to get one of those projectors that have stars or snowflakes that seem to move and aim ... | ||
| 7 ft. Spiral Xmas Tree- | 1/7/2011 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I'm looking for the part/attachment that holds the star in place at the top of the tree. I bought ... A: I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but generally the trees are made in China, are shipped as ... | ||
| Replacement Christmas Tree Bulbs | 1/5/2011 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I purchased a Sylvania Stay-Lit Christmas Tree (model #75618) in Dec. 2009 and need to find ... A: Unfortunately, there is no chart or anything else which tells which bulbs can be used with which ... | ||
| Net lights | 12/18/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I have a set of net lights but at our new house there is no need for the small set but I was ... A: All net lights are made differently. I think in most cases, you would not be able to use them ... | ||
| old c9 light set | 12/18/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I need to replace a fuse (7 amp) on an old c9 light set. The plug that holds the fuse does not have ... A: In every plug that I have seen, the door slides towards the prongs, so that the set can not be ... | ||
| Sylvania c6 LED chrostmas lights | 12/12/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I just switched all of my lights to these last season. After putting them up today, most are ... A: There are 2 independent circuits per string, so it is normal for half to work, and half not to. ... | ||
| 3-foot section of outdoor mini-lights won't light | 12/7/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I just bought a 14 foot string of 300 clear mini-lights. A three foot section of the string does not ... A: If the other ends are working, most likely it is a bulb issue. Here's my blurb on repairing ... | ||
| outdoor icecycle lights | 12/5/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: then all of them went off at once, what do I do ? thanks A: You can plug in only 3 sets together. You will need to run extension cords so that there are not ... | ||
| Pre-lit mini tree | 12/5/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: When I plug in my 3.5 foot mini tree, nothing happens. All of the bulbs appear to be black...what ... A: There not much you can do, other than replace it. You can try replacing all of the bulbs. It's ... | ||
| Fuses on indoor Christmas tree lights blow after a couple hours | 12/3/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I keep having the same problem with my indoor tree lights. After the tree has been on for a couple ... A: If all of the lights are going out, you probably have too many lights connected together. Miniature ... | ||
| Replacement bulbs | 12/1/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: Bob,I bought 2.5 volt replacement bulbs which is what was recommended for my icicle lights. When I ... A: You may need to try several different brands. I have the same problem too. While the voltage is ... | ||
| outdoor garland | 11/30/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I have a new porch and want to handg lighted garland around it. What kind of hangers are out there ... A: Take a look, and try to be creative. If there are cracks, you may be able to stick a paper clip in ... | ||
| Christmas light bulbs | 11/30/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: Last year I purchased several boxes of Holiday Time Commercial Grade mini lights (200 light strands) ... A: This is very frustrating, and it happens to me too. You may need to try several different brands of ... | ||
| Martha Stewart Mount Rainier Tree | 11/29/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: In 2004 I bought a Martha Stewart Mount Rainier Tree with prelit lights. Today I'm putting it up ... A: Actually 6 years is not bad for a prelit tree. If you are sure everything is plugged in correctly, ... | ||
| C9 lights | 11/29/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I read several of your responses on the subject, but I didn't find a direct relation to my problem: ... A: Look at the wire and make sure that it is not damaged. I assume there are no more that 50 bulbs in ... | ||
| Pre-lit tree - female end | 11/27/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I have a pre-lit tree that has 6 male ends and one female end. I can get every section lit and on ... A: The female end has nothing to do with the lights not working. The fact that things work when ... | ||
| New C-9 Red Lights in an Old C-9 Clear Lights Set | 11/25/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I purchased new red C-9 lights to change out clear lights in our 10-year old lights. These are ... A: It sounds like the bulbs and sockets are not compatible. The bulbs can't be screwed far enough down ... | ||
| New LEDs partially not lit | 11/21/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I have several sets of 100 lights that were just installed yesterday on the outside of my house & ... A: If they are LED, they are miniature bulbs with big covers. But they still get fixed the same way as ... | ||
| New LEDs partially not lit | 11/21/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I have several sets of 100 lights that were just installed yesterday on the outside of my house & ... A: The easiest thing would be to take them down, and bring them back. It is hard to fix any miniature ... | ||
| hanging garland around front door | 11/21/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: Bob, if one can not use thumb tracts, what else would you suggest? I would like to use something ... A: If there are any small voids, you can use a paper clip, and open up one end and stick the wire into ... | ||
| net xmas lights | 11/19/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: 1/3 to 1/2 of net lights stop working after a year or so. If the wires are breaking will commercial ... A: It is rare that the wires break. It is usually a bad bulb or a loose bulb. It is probably better ... | ||
| Plugging lights on Pre-lit Tree | 11/17/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: As long as I've had this Prelit tree (5 yrs?)Ive never had a problem plugging into the sections of ... A: If you have the instructions, check them to see. If not, as a last resort, plug all of the male ... | ||
| Prelit Christmas tree | 11/10/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: I purchased a prelit 6' Christmas tree a few weeks ago. It came with two plugs - I plugged each ... A: How many lights are out? If it is 50, then one circuit is out and needs to be repaired. If it is ... | ||
| Christmas Lighting question | 11/5/2010 | Bob Sponaugle |
| Q: Greetings. I am planning on doing Christmas lights on our home this year, but I'm not quite sure ... A: If no one can see the back, and you really won't be back there to see them, there is no need to put ... | ||
Bob Sponaugle
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer any question related to outdoor Christmas and Halloween decorating. It can range from the technical, as far as problems with wiring, how to fix light sets. It can also be asthetic, as far as color combinations, etc.
Experience
I have been decorating since I was 7 years old. I set up Christmas displays with over 32000 lights, tastefully done.
Awards and Honors
I have won neighborhood decorating contests since I was 14 years old
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