LED Christmas lights - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people coming out

mnguy · 7th Dec 2011, 07:29 PM

So I was wondering what your experience has been with the longevity of these lights. I understand the bulbs last longer than older lights and they use less energy, but does the rest of the string (wires, connectors, etc) fail just as quickly as older light sets?

The issue I've had with lights is something in the wire/connections goes bad after a few years and then half or all the string won't light. What good are long lasting LED bulbs if something else in the string goes bad in a few years just like the old lights. So you paid a lot more to get LED lights, but the energy savings won't offset buying another set in a few years if other parts of the string fail just as quickly as older sets.

Any long term experience from anyone? Thanks

Emberstone · 7th Dec 2011, 08:31 PM

Sylvana LED's rock. I have few sets of sylvanas LED strings that have been going strong for 6 years, and we have only had to replace 2 bulbs on one string, and the rest are going strong. we have another set that is 2 years older that is functioning perfectly.

I have only ever had wiring problems with one string, and it was a phillips one from when they first came out.

the wiring is not going to degrade that fast unless the strings are roughly handled, and wire gets exposed... when you should then basically throw it out anyways.

I love my LED's. They do not light up so much as glow brillently, and make for far more stricking christmas trees than regular lights. however, I still like the regular lights for putting up on the house. the glow is nice in a tree, but on a house, sometimes, they dont have much in the way of visual umph.

I recommend sylvanas.

Dan82 · 7th Dec 2011, 08:37 PM

i don't like white LED lights i find the light isn't as warm is regular white lights. i have white led snowflakes in the window and regular white lights on the tree.

starfish · 7th Dec 2011, 09:38 PM

Last weekend I picked a couple of strings of LED christmas lights at BigLots for $4. I've got them hanging up in my office. I'm thinking of picking up a couple of more at that price.

seeksanctuary · 7th Dec 2011, 10:17 PM

LED lights hurt my eyes very badly, so I can't say. :[ I prefer my old fashioned lights.

mnguy · 8th Dec 2011, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seeksanctuary

LED lights hurt my eyes very badly, so I can't say. :[ I prefer my old fashioned lights.

I've noticed this too on some lights I see on houses, like I don't want to look at them too long. On the other hand, some look really nice.

Maybe I just got a bad string that half went out after a few years. I only used them inside so they were treated well. I remember the lights we had growing up we used for many years and were fine, but as most things today, they don't make them like they used to.

---------- Post added 8th Dec 2011 at 06:52 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by starfish

Last weekend I picked a couple of strings of LED christmas lights at BigLots for $4. I've got them hanging up in my office. I'm thinking of picking up a couple of more at that price.

How many lights are on those? Sadly no BigLots near me

starfish · 8th Dec 2011, 06:25 PM

IIRC there are 35 lights on a string. If you're interested I could pick them up for you and ship them to you. Shipping shouldn't cost much.

These are them. http://www.biglots.com/browseItem/lights/4983 Looks like they do have longer sets.

GuardianKitten · 8th Dec 2011, 09:06 PM

Um, the issue is about the strand,if I understood?

New xmas lights are set up in parallel, so if *one* light dies, the strand still works.

Porphyrogenitus · 9th Dec 2011, 12:51 AM

LED lights are aesthetically far worse. Their light isn't warm enough, and they don't shine so much as glow. On the other hand, they do seem, at least in respect of the bulbs, to be more durable than older ones.

7th Dec 2011, 07:29 PM	#1
mnguy EC Regular Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: People likely assume Location: MN Age: 36 Posts: 895 Join Date: Nov 2006	LED Christmas lights So I was wondering what your experience has been with the longevity of these lights. I understand the bulbs last longer than older lights and they use less energy, but does the rest of the string (wires, connectors, etc) fail just as quickly as older light sets? The issue I've had with lights is something in the wire/connections goes bad after a few years and then half or all the string won't light. What good are long lasting LED bulbs if something else in the string goes bad in a few years just like the old lights. So you paid a lot more to get LED lights, but the energy savings won't offset buying another set in a few years if other parts of the string fail just as quickly as older sets. Any long term experience from anyone? Thanks

7th Dec 2011, 08:31 PM	#2
Emberstone Flappychap Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Oregon, USA Age: 28 Posts: 5,599 Join Date: May 2008	Re: LED Christmas lights Sylvana LED's rock. I have few sets of sylvanas LED strings that have been going strong for 6 years, and we have only had to replace 2 bulbs on one string, and the rest are going strong. we have another set that is 2 years older that is functioning perfectly. I have only ever had wiring problems with one string, and it was a phillips one from when they first came out. the wiring is not going to degrade that fast unless the strings are roughly handled, and wire gets exposed... when you should then basically throw it out anyways. I love my LED's. They do not light up so much as glow brillently, and make for far more stricking christmas trees than regular lights. however, I still like the regular lights for putting up on the house. the glow is nice in a tree, but on a house, sometimes, they dont have much in the way of visual umph. I recommend sylvanas. __________________ TYPE YOUR NAME: Cory. TYPE YOUR NAME WITH YOUR ELBOW: vcoiptryu SLAM YOUR FACE ON THE KEYBOARD: About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him - and I didn't know how potent that part might be - that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

7th Dec 2011, 08:37 PM	#3
Dan82 EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: More gay than Bi Out Status: Not hiding but not many people know Location: Chicago IL Age: 30 Posts: 4,295 Join Date: Dec 2009	Re: LED Christmas lights i don't like white LED lights i find the light isn't as warm is regular white lights. i have white led snowflakes in the window and regular white lights on the tree.

7th Dec 2011, 09:38 PM	#4
starfish This space for lease. Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: I like guys Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Hippie Town, Alberta of the US Age: 31 Posts: 2,109 Join Date: Nov 2008	Re: LED Christmas lights Last weekend I picked a couple of strings of LED christmas lights at BigLots for $4. I've got them hanging up in my office. I'm thinking of picking up a couple of more at that price. __________________ All the problems of the world could be settled easily if men were only willing to think. The trouble is that men very often resort to all sorts of devices in order not to think, because thinking is such hard work. --Thomas J. Watson

7th Dec 2011, 10:17 PM	#5
seeksanctuary Weary Traveller Full Member Gender: Transgender - FtM Orientation: Gay Out Status: Pretty much everyone that matters. Location: USA Age: 24 Posts: 402 Join Date: Sep 2011	Re: LED Christmas lights LED lights hurt my eyes very badly, so I can't say. :[ I prefer my old fashioned lights. __________________ but there's no sense crying over every mistake you just keep on trying 'til you run out of cake...

8th Dec 2011, 06:25 PM	#7
starfish This space for lease. Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: I like guys Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Hippie Town, Alberta of the US Age: 31 Posts: 2,109 Join Date: Nov 2008	Re: LED Christmas lights IIRC there are 35 lights on a string. If you're interested I could pick them up for you and ship them to you. Shipping shouldn't cost much. These are them. http://www.biglots.com/browseItem/lights/4983 Looks like they do have longer sets. __________________ All the problems of the world could be settled easily if men were only willing to think. The trouble is that men very often resort to all sorts of devices in order not to think, because thinking is such hard work. --Thomas J. Watson

8th Dec 2011, 09:06 PM	#8
GuardianKitten Well Known Full Member Gender: Boy Orientation: 80% gay Out Status: People guessed. Location: Greater Philadelphia Area Age: 17 Posts: 200 Join Date: May 2011	Re: LED Christmas lights Um, the issue is about the strand,if I understood? New xmas lights are set up in parallel, so if one light dies, the strand still works. __________________ Hold on to the world we all remember fighting for. There's some strenght left in us yet Hold on to the world we all remember dying for. Theres some hope left in it yet Arise and be all that you dreamed. All that you dreamed

9th Dec 2011, 12:51 AM	#9
Porphyrogenitus Kalos Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: If you think of a spectrum... yellow/green Location: Brisbane, QLD Age: 21 Posts: 290 Join Date: Jun 2009	Re: LED Christmas lights LED lights are aesthetically far worse. Their light isn't warm enough, and they don't shine so much as glow. On the other hand, they do seem, at least in respect of the bulbs, to be more durable than older ones.

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