Author Topic: Swapping out bulbs on Christmas lights for LEDs?  (Read 509 times)
LightUpMyLife
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Swapping out bulbs on Christmas lights for LEDs? « on: December 26, 2022, 11:16:06 AM » Author: LightUpMyLife
I was wondering it if it at all possible to convert an incandescent string of Christmas lights to LEDs by simply just swapping out the individual bulbs?
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Medved
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Re: Swapping out bulbs on Christmas lights for LEDs? « Reply #1 on: December 26, 2022, 03:26:11 PM » Author: Medved
If the bulbs are at least 4..5V, then technically yes. Each new bulb will then contain a pairs (one per each 4..5V rating of the original bulb, so for a 12V bulbs you use 3 pairs, for a 20V 4..5 pairs in series) of antiparallel (back-to-back, so each carry one polarity) LEDs and a series resistor, sized to yield about 1/10 of ghe original current (the voltage drop across the resistor would be about half the voltage per lamp, so for a 3-pair "12V" replacement about 6V across the resistor (be aware, you can not just sum up the voltages, because you are dealing with nonlinear components and a sinewave feed).
But then you have to replace all bulbs in the string at once. Mixing them would fry the LEDs immediately.
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xmaslightguy
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Re: Swapping out bulbs on Christmas lights for LEDs? « Reply #2 on: December 30, 2022, 11:51:45 PM » Author: xmaslightguy
I'm assuming you're talking standard series-wired mini lights??

I've converted many of those sets to LED.
So yes it can be done!....but as far as what more *might* be needed (such as resistors), it depends on the type and color of LEDs you use.
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