Just bought the Light Keeper Pro. Worked great on the generic strands outside. Guess I was a fool to buy a Balsam Hill tree several years ago. They must have some kind of proprietary lights because the socket sizes don't seem to fit properly in the shunt fixer and the bulbs don't fit in the bulb tester. They are incandescent. Tried the alternative method, per the instructions, with the plug end but it didn't work either. Couple partial strands out, some show power to the sockets and some don't. Master bulbs are all fine (but don't light), fuses fine. Tree is fully decorated so I guess I will have to fiddle with it after Christmas, trash it, or re-wrap it with generic light strands. Next tree I buy will have basic light strands. Live and learn.
I feel your frustration! Yes, pre-lit trees are not designed to be fixable. I just did an interview with John DeCosmo. John was a pioneer in pre-lit trees. He had an interesting and very blunt take on the pre-lit industry:ua-cam.com/users/live_O-9UtqxqzM?si=0PsxNBAdsAPyrnxd
I have a multi function vintage Christmas sign and I need to replace bulbs in it. I'm not sure if I need 2.5 or 3.5 volt replacement bulbs. The sign has 144 lights and a box for the multifunction patterns but they are not strung up like a regular strand. The box has 5 wires coming out and each color light bulb gets one wire to start the circuit and the fifth wire Is connected at the end to all the neutrals I believe. Anyways a few of the lights are dim and I'm trying to figure out what the problem is by starting with light bulb replacement so I need to know if I need 2.5 or 3.5 volt bulbs. Thanks
Hey there, Chevy! I completely get how frustrating that can be. I would suggest using a multimeter to find the voltage of your bulbs. Fixing lights that are attached to control boxes is very difficult. Sometimes, the easiest way is to purchase a second set of identical lights and utilize those as replacement bulbs. But the multimeter will measure volts and can help answer your question!
To be safe. Get both 3.5 and 2.5v bulbs, Try some 3.5v bulbs, the worst that can happen is the bulb glows dim, which would mean you need 2.5v ones, otherwise save your 2.5v bulbs for another set. I have a very similar set of lights to what you described, and my set uses 2.5v bulbs
Thanks for the info but I found out this set uses 7volt bulbs that are not manufactured anymore since this if from the early 90's. My only option that I know of is to use 6volt bulbs that are readily available but that will add 1 volt to each bulb. So the lights will burn out faster as each bulb will take a higher load.
@@1ChevyGuy375 I’d look around on the internet, you can still find people selling NOS 7v bulbs (I just checked before I commented) so hopefully this helps
5 you say? Very nice, LBC. There's a new(ish) tool that I'll be testing that is similar to the Keeper series. It's designed to do both LED and incandescent bulbs. I'm curious about how effective it'll be.
I have a partial strand of lights on my Christmas tree that won’t work. I fixed the others with the light keeper pro. The part that i can’t fix has a different kind of socket that won’t fit in the tool. It has an additional plastic piece added to the socket. It is the first light socket closest to the plug. Any ideas?
I've had this happen before, Connie. It's actually an easy fix. All you need to do is to use an extension cord and use plug that into the Pro. I use old light strings that I've removed the bulbs off of but an average extension cord should provide you with the same ability!
Nice clear video. However I was not able to fix my issue and it is driving me nuts. I have half my string working well and the other half (closer to the outlet) not working well. Checked the fuses - both are fine. Tested all the bulbs and verified they were all working. Tried shunting but no luck. Used the LightKeeper to test current and it seems to be flowing all across (no breaks). Not sure what is going on..
Hey there, Giyer. I suspect you have one of two possible problems. One, you have a short in the line somewhere. Have you tried plugging them in, and the manipulating the string to see if the rest turn on with the string torqued at different angles? Secondly, you may simply have a corroded socket. Try using a flashlight and look into each socket for corrosion. These are my two most common issues with I can't diagnose what is wrong. Let me know!
Hello, Bill. The Pro doesn't have a plug. The LED Keeper does. If you are talking about how to attach an incandescent string to the Pro, there is a circular female end just in front of the trigger called the Lights Set Socket Connector. You detach the bad bulb's socket directly into this area. Then, with the lights plugged in, pull the trigger, up to 30 times, until the lights are functional.
So what do you do after you did all these method...tree was lite for 2 whole day and then a whole section went out and all the bulbs are black? Does that mean that my tree lights are completely done and a fire hazard at this point? It smell like smoke after that happened 😒
Hello, N. If your incandescents are black and you smelled smoke, yes, they are toast I'm afraid. These likely had a power surge or and exposed wire that sent a surge throughout the string and heated the line to beyond repair, in my opinion. With that said, let's get you over to the folks that know best. Call 888-858-2548 and see if they might know a secret tip or trick to bringing you lights back to life.
What does it mean when the bulb lights up in the tester, but doesn't light up when placed back in the string? And the entire string is lit, except for a few strays. Electricity is flowing through the non-lit bulb (the copper filament turns slightly red, but emits no light), so I don't understand why it's not lighting up, because it does in the tester. Socket looks ok. Nothing looks bent inside.
It sounds very much like the shunts are broken in the string. Have you tried to use the Light Keeper Pro to fix the string via the trigger? The thing to remember with the trigger is that it can take up to 30 trigger pulls to fix all the shunts. After that, you should be good to go.
I have multiple single , random strings and no “spare bulbs”! 😢. It seems every company every year changes their socket shape/size. How can I get spares?????
Hey there, Kyle. Unfortunately, in this exact case, the only way to obtain spares is to rethink your design and to remove on string of lights from a prop. As an example, just last night, I needed green LED spares. So, I removed a 100 ct strand from a prop, and voila....I had 100 spare lights. It's unfortunate but sometimes the only way to get spares is to borrow them from another string.
For incandescents, they will turn black on the tip if they are bad. If they are not lighting up AND they are not black, their shunts are broken and they need to be fixed. This tool is designed to fix just that problem. I just interviewed the inventor of this tool: ua-cam.com/users/live_O-9UtqxqzM?si=PJYPIYZJ01xOZZNG In the interview, he discusses the different parts of the incandescent bulb and how to fix them by using the tool.
That's a deal and a half, Guera. If it has been sitting for a while, make certain to check the battery. But, that's a great price for it. Merry Christmas!
I also experienced where the light keeper fixes the wrong section of lights from where I’m working, helpful but also annoying when I wanna fix the section I’m working on lol
It'll fix the broken shunts throughout the string. Every once in awhile it'll do that. It does fix the broken shunts throughout the string. Sometimes the lights we hope get fixed by that option requires a bit more investigating. Keep the faith though!
@@ChristmasOnCrestline so far I’ve only had one set that the unit couldn’t fix, but I’m pretty sure that set has a bunch of broken wires. But hey, if the bulbs work, I don’t have to buy new bulbs just yet! Lol
I have a pre -lit Christmas tree and my wife threw something at me and luckily missed me but he the tree and now the middle section of lights don't work. I pretty much checked all the bulbs by hand and didn't find anything wrong. Do you think this product will fix my tree ?
Oh man, Russel. Nice Matrix moves! I always recommend trying it as pre-lits are not all made the same. The problem is pre-lit trees are not designed to be fixed, unfortunately. I know a few brands like Twinkly that are working on fixing that issue but your big box store brand pre-lits are not repairable. With that said, the issue you likely have is either a bulb or two that is no longer seated properly OR you have a bulb that has broken off one of it's copper prongs.
@@ChristmasOnCrestline ok thanks for your reply, it happened towards the end of year last year and I been dreading getting the tree out and messing with the lights. My wife should be the one that has to do it since she's the one that caused the issue. Maybe she should work on her aim the next time 😁
I need some help please!... There is a bulb that keeps burning out every time I replace it with a new one. The rest of the bulbs stay lit though as long as I keep that burnt bulb in, what can the problem be????? Thanks in advance. Great video!
That sounds frustrating! Have you looked into the socket with a flashlight? You may have some corrosion in there. Another option would be to cut out that socket and heat shrink it back together!
Well, that sucks, Percy. I've only heard of that twice before. One fella was using this on LED lights and didn't realize it was only for incandescent lights. The other time, it was a battery issue and changing the battery was the solution. Call John at 888-858-2548 and he'll have the answer for you.
Hi Charlie, I have The, Light Keeper Pro And, I took it, to work one day. My Staff Said what is that? I said it's The Light Keeper Pro, you connect the socket into it and go Click, click, click, and the lights, come back on. They where impressed now I'm there Christmas light repair Man.
Boom! It's like having a magic Christmas light wand. I used my LED Keeper in a new way to fix lights yesterday. I'll be filming an episode on it tomorrow for a new video. I wasn't sure if it work in the way I was using it...man, these Keepers are amazing!
I used it on incandescent light strings and it worked. When i triyit on led strings it did not (shunt). Is this expected? Should i be using led fixer pro for that?
Hello, Raghavendra. Yes, this is to be excepted. LED lights do not have the shunts in their wires that can be fixed like incandescent lights do. The Light Keeper Pro is not compatible for LEDs. The Pro only fixes incandescent lights. The LED Keeper fixes LED lights. We'll get you fixed up. Here is a link to the LED Keeper tool and review: (tool) www.amazon.com/dp/B007H4I8HY?ref=exp_christmasoncrestline_dp_vv_d )(review) ua-cam.com/video/riGJQjnZ3eE/v-deo.html
I’ve got half a strand that works and the half closest to the outlet doesn’t work. The entire strand beeps with the power detector. The clicking doesn’t seem to fix anything. Feel like I’m missing a troubleshooting step. Any suggestions are appreciated
Hello ZM. The clicking is meant to only fix broken shunts. My guess is that your cord simply has an old school problem of multiple bad bulbs. My personal record is 7 bad bulbs in one half of a string. If you are positive that is not the answer, you can fast track the problem and call 888-858-2548. They can walk you through the solution more quickly. Hope this helps!
What’s the deal with incandescent bulb strands? Every year I end up replacing entire strands of lights because half the line doesn’t work. I’ve tried replacing bulbs, fuses, nothing ever works. Is there a solution to half strand issue?
I just had the inventor of the Keeper on a live stream last week: ua-cam.com/users/live_O-9UtqxqzM?si=bf-D_0UB9JB3J1C_ He spoke about how the lights are designed to fail and it's not getting better. The shut trigger in the Kepper Pro can fix that issue for you. For me, that is normally a complete fix in about 40% of the incandescent strings.
Great question, Kevin. That's because the issue that caused the original light to go out still exists. Many times, it's simply an issue of corrosion or poor contact with the socket's metal prongs. Use a flashlight to look into the socket to check!
Need help on my Christmas lights! I have a string of about 50 incandescent lights. I purchased a contactless voltage tester and found that the very last bulb is not getting voltage. And when I flip the AC plug around in the socket, to flip the neutral and hot lines, the very last bulb now does not get voltage. And if I plug a second set of lights on to the end of the bad set, the other lights work so the voltage is carrying all the way through! Any ideas?
You likely have a bad shunt in the line of lights. Have you used the Lights Keeper Pro on it yet? That should have fixed the shunt. Another frequent issue is bad corrosion. Sometimes a light socket will be corroded to the point the juice isn't detectable and it needs to be cut off and bypassed to have the lights function. Let me know.
@@ChristmasOnCrestline so I bought the LItekeeper pro and sure enough, it was a shunt! Pulled the trigger about 5 times and the lights came on. And then found about 4 burnt out bulbs. All fixed now, thanks!
Ah, no worries. Memorial Day is just around the corner. I took your advice and put out my Novostellas. I completely forgot I had four of them. I only used two in the Christmas show. For Easter, I used their "Gorgeous" setting. It allowed for constantly changing pastel colors all over the front yard.
@@ChristmasOnCrestline Darn! I forgot about the color changing options. I did use it for Mardi Gras. Didn't send you that picture either but it was just purple and gold swapping side to side.
All string lights will have, depending upon the length, some bulbs with three wires. This is due to the lights getting internally daisy-chained. A 100 count set is really two 50cts wired together. To us, it is one set but internally it is made up like two. One thing I love about smart lights is that you can dim them via apps. That may be something to look into to keep them from being too bright for you, Donna.
It does not, no. Here is the video on fixing LED lights with this tools brother, The LED Keeper: ua-cam.com/video/riGJQjnZ3eE/v-deo.html I hope this helps, Joel.
I’ve used this tool for years and it’s worked really well but recently I get a problem I can’t fix. New strands not chained are blowing brand new in two weeks and every bulb goes black. I’ve tested my strands and light passes through them to a chained strand but even when I replace everything they flicker and go out. I’ve tested my wall socket and the oscilloscope does not identify anything weird
It sounds like the copper has been hit with a surge and burnt out the line. Have you opened up the string to see if it is still shiny copper or burnt black? However, you say these are new, not set up in a daisy-chain, and you have more than one string that has failed. That would lead me to believe you have a bad batch of lights from the manufacture. Have you reached out to the retailer you purchased them from? Lastly, I'd suggest you call John at Ulta-Lit at 888-858-2548 and see if he has any quick fixes for you!
Hello, George. The thing to pay attention to is the end of the bulb with the copper wires. You can simply replace the matching LED or incandescent mini bulb as long as they have matching ends. While the amperage is different on mini lights according to brand and make, the voltage is quite similar.
I feel your frustration, Mailon. The Keeper didn't work? Is the battery dead or did it work but you weren't able to solve your issues with it? What issues are you having with your incandescent light string?
Hey there, Barbie. If the socket is bad, you have two options. One, cut the socket off and heat shirk the string back together. Or, secondly, you can cut it off and use the wire pods that the Keeper comes with. Either way, you have to bypass the nonfunctioning socket.
It's twin, the LED Keeper, comes with pods you can use to replace sockets. You can see them here: www.ledkeeper.com/4-minute-demonstration-videos/ They show how to use them about the 4:16 mark.
The only real way is to use a bulb, or two, that you know work just fine and try them in the socket. If they don't illuminate AND the Keeper is telling you power is going to the socket....it's likely bad. Also, remember to check the socket with a flashlight to ensure there is no corrosion inside of it. Most of the time, you cannot tell that is the issue without a flashlight.
Yeah, I agree, Michelle. I tried to keep that to a minimum. I watched a few other videos on this and the being was incredibly aggravating. In most of the videos, the beeping never stops and it's in the whole dang tutorial.
I am looking at mine now and I would hazard a guess and say no. The metal is the catalyst to send the current through to melt the shunts back together. With that said, if it's decently new, I'd exchange it for a new one or call Ulta-Lit and ask for a replacement. They should still be open for phone calls right now, if memory serves.
Sounds like you likely have multiple failures in the string. Let's get those lights up and running for you, Kirl. Call 888-858-2548 and let's get this figured out.
I have the same scenario that you show in the video. Half of my lights do not work. But when I take the string that goes through the bulb and set it in the trigger none of the lights come on. I have the light strand plugged into the LED keeper and the battery works because the light on the led keeper comes on. I am not sure of what is going wrong but I wish I could show a picture. The strand is LED.
Hello, Chris. To best test the Keeper is working properly, try it one a string of LEDs that you know work perfectly, Once you have the Keeper plugged into the set, attach it to the string, pull the trigger, and ensure the light is illuminated. If it does, then you are right and the Keeper is performing as expected. Feel free to take a photo or video and send it to me at ChristmasOnCrestline@gmail.com and I'll see how I can help. You can also call Jim at 888-858-2548 to get help immediately.
@@ChristmasOnCrestline I just tried it on a light string that works fine on the outlet, but nothing comes on when I use the LED keeper. I can't imagine I have a faulty Keeper, so I figure I'm just doing something wrong. Perhaps I can give Jim a call tomorrow.
@@gt93grad Very interesting. I have only heard of this occurring one other time. Scott P. had a similar issue but it was solved when he changed the battery. Once he did that he went from frustrated to a fan. I'd switch the battery and it that doesn't work, call Jim. Let me know which one works!
Have owned the Light Keeper Pro for many years. It has saved my frustration many, many times! Highly recommend it. 😀
Well said, Joseph. It's a dang handy tool indeed.
Just bought the Light Keeper Pro. Worked great on the generic strands outside. Guess I was a fool to buy a Balsam Hill tree several years ago. They must have some kind of proprietary lights because the socket sizes don't seem to fit properly in the shunt fixer and the bulbs don't fit in the bulb tester. They are incandescent. Tried the alternative method, per the instructions, with the plug end but it didn't work either. Couple partial strands out, some show power to the sockets and some don't. Master bulbs are all fine (but don't light), fuses fine. Tree is fully decorated so I guess I will have to fiddle with it after Christmas, trash it, or re-wrap it with generic light strands. Next tree I buy will have basic light strands. Live and learn.
I feel your frustration! Yes, pre-lit trees are not designed to be fixable. I just did an interview with John DeCosmo. John was a pioneer in pre-lit trees. He had an interesting and very blunt take on the pre-lit industry:ua-cam.com/users/live_O-9UtqxqzM?si=0PsxNBAdsAPyrnxd
I have the same tool but totally forgot about the plug in and click part. Thanks worked great
Awesome to hear, Julie! Have a great holiday week!
I’ve had one for years but never new how to use it. Thank you.
Happy to help, Mendiola!
Thanks for the breakdown! It definitely helped me find a missing bulb.
That's awesome. Well done, you
@@ChristmasOnCrestline 🎅🙏
@@ChristmasOnCrestline 🔔 'Believe' 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃
Thanks. You gave me hope! Dang lights!
Hey there, Ron. Here's hoping you quickly find the culprit.
I think that's a new and improved version of the one that I purchased this past winter. Looks pretty in depth.
I was shocked how well and immediate this actually worked. Well worth the money!
I have a multi function vintage Christmas sign and I need to replace bulbs in it. I'm not sure if I need 2.5 or 3.5 volt replacement bulbs. The sign has 144 lights and a box for the multifunction patterns but they are not strung up like a regular strand. The box has 5 wires coming out and each color light bulb gets one wire to start the circuit and the fifth wire Is connected at the end to all the neutrals I believe. Anyways a few of the lights are dim and I'm trying to figure out what the problem is by starting with light bulb replacement so I need to know if I need 2.5 or 3.5 volt bulbs. Thanks
Hey there, Chevy! I completely get how frustrating that can be. I would suggest using a multimeter to find the voltage of your bulbs. Fixing lights that are attached to control boxes is very difficult. Sometimes, the easiest way is to purchase a second set of identical lights and utilize those as replacement bulbs. But the multimeter will measure volts and can help answer your question!
To be safe. Get both 3.5 and 2.5v bulbs, Try some 3.5v bulbs, the worst that can happen is the bulb glows dim, which would mean you need 2.5v ones, otherwise save your 2.5v bulbs for another set. I have a very similar set of lights to what you described, and my set uses 2.5v bulbs
Thanks for the info but I found out this set uses 7volt bulbs that are not manufactured anymore since this if from the early 90's. My only option that I know of is to use 6volt bulbs that are readily available but that will add 1 volt to each bulb. So the lights will burn out faster as each bulb will take a higher load.
@@1ChevyGuy375 I’d look around on the internet, you can still find people selling NOS 7v bulbs (I just checked before I commented) so hopefully this helps
Ok thanks, I'll look around.
This is unreal. I got one and it WORKS WTF!?!?
I know...it's like magic!
I love the light keeper! In fact I own 5. They have saved my butt I don't know how many times.
5 you say? Very nice, LBC. There's a new(ish) tool that I'll be testing that is similar to the Keeper series. It's designed to do both LED and incandescent bulbs. I'm curious about how effective it'll be.
Very good video. Thanks! I've a couple times gotten the strand of our lights that doesn't work working by jiggling them.
Glad it helped. Sometimes it is just a loose bulb and a little jiggle can go a long way!
I have a partial strand of lights on my Christmas tree that won’t work. I fixed the others with the light keeper pro. The part that i can’t fix has a different kind of socket that won’t fit in the tool. It has an additional plastic piece added to the socket. It is the first light socket closest to the plug. Any ideas?
I've had this happen before, Connie. It's actually an easy fix. All you need to do is to use an extension cord and use plug that into the Pro. I use old light strings that I've removed the bulbs off of but an average extension cord should provide you with the same ability!
Nice clear video. However I was not able to fix my issue and it is driving me nuts. I have half my string working well and the other half (closer to the outlet) not working well. Checked the fuses - both are fine. Tested all the bulbs and verified they were all working. Tried shunting but no luck. Used the LightKeeper to test current and it seems to be flowing all across (no breaks). Not sure what is going on..
Hey there, Giyer. I suspect you have one of two possible problems. One, you have a short in the line somewhere. Have you tried plugging them in, and the manipulating the string to see if the rest turn on with the string torqued at different angles? Secondly, you may simply have a corroded socket. Try using a flashlight and look into each socket for corrosion. These are my two most common issues with I can't diagnose what is wrong. Let me know!
Great tool! I've one for a few years, helped me more than a few times. Lost the instructions. What does the plug on the gun do?
Hello, Bill. The Pro doesn't have a plug. The LED Keeper does. If you are talking about how to attach an incandescent string to the Pro, there is a circular female end just in front of the trigger called the Lights Set Socket Connector. You detach the bad bulb's socket directly into this area. Then, with the lights plugged in, pull the trigger, up to 30 times, until the lights are functional.
So what do you do after you did all these method...tree was lite for 2 whole day and then a whole section went out and all the bulbs are black? Does that mean that my tree lights are completely done and a fire hazard at this point? It smell like smoke after that happened 😒
Hello, N. If your incandescents are black and you smelled smoke, yes, they are toast I'm afraid. These likely had a power surge or and exposed wire that sent a surge throughout the string and heated the line to beyond repair, in my opinion. With that said, let's get you over to the folks that know best. Call 888-858-2548 and see if they might know a secret tip or trick to bringing you lights back to life.
What does it mean when the bulb lights up in the tester, but doesn't light up when placed back in the string? And the entire string is lit, except for a few strays. Electricity is flowing through the non-lit bulb (the copper filament turns slightly red, but emits no light), so I don't understand why it's not lighting up, because it does in the tester. Socket looks ok. Nothing looks bent inside.
It sounds very much like the shunts are broken in the string. Have you tried to use the Light Keeper Pro to fix the string via the trigger? The thing to remember with the trigger is that it can take up to 30 trigger pulls to fix all the shunts. After that, you should be good to go.
I have multiple single , random strings and no “spare bulbs”! 😢. It seems every company every year changes their socket shape/size. How can I get spares?????
Hey there, Kyle. Unfortunately, in this exact case, the only way to obtain spares is to rethink your design and to remove on string of lights from a prop. As an example, just last night, I needed green LED spares. So, I removed a 100 ct strand from a prop, and voila....I had 100 spare lights. It's unfortunate but sometimes the only way to get spares is to borrow them from another string.
In my case half of it is burn lights, what should I do?
For incandescents, they will turn black on the tip if they are bad. If they are not lighting up AND they are not black, their shunts are broken and they need to be fixed. This tool is designed to fix just that problem. I just interviewed the inventor of this tool: ua-cam.com/users/live_O-9UtqxqzM?si=PJYPIYZJ01xOZZNG In the interview, he discusses the different parts of the incandescent bulb and how to fix them by using the tool.
Thanks for the video, I just bought one for $10 the second hand store brand new.
That's a deal and a half, Guera. If it has been sitting for a while, make certain to check the battery. But, that's a great price for it. Merry Christmas!
I also experienced where the light keeper fixes the wrong section of lights from where I’m working, helpful but also annoying when I wanna fix the section I’m working on lol
It'll fix the broken shunts throughout the string. Every once in awhile it'll do that. It does fix the broken shunts throughout the string. Sometimes the lights we hope get fixed by that option requires a bit more investigating. Keep the faith though!
@@ChristmasOnCrestline so far I’ve only had one set that the unit couldn’t fix, but I’m pretty sure that set has a bunch of broken wires. But hey, if the bulbs work, I don’t have to buy new bulbs just yet! Lol
@@MIW_Renegade Wise plan indeed! That is exactly what I do with mine.
I have a pre -lit Christmas tree and my wife threw something at me and luckily missed me but he the tree and now the middle section of lights don't work. I pretty much checked all the bulbs by hand and didn't find anything wrong. Do you think this product will fix my tree ?
Oh man, Russel. Nice Matrix moves! I always recommend trying it as pre-lits are not all made the same. The problem is pre-lit trees are not designed to be fixed, unfortunately. I know a few brands like Twinkly that are working on fixing that issue but your big box store brand pre-lits are not repairable. With that said, the issue you likely have is either a bulb or two that is no longer seated properly OR you have a bulb that has broken off one of it's copper prongs.
@@ChristmasOnCrestline ok thanks for your reply, it happened towards the end of year last year and I been dreading getting the tree out and messing with the lights. My wife should be the one that has to do it since she's the one that caused the issue. Maybe she should work on her aim the next time 😁
I'll be buying this tool with no regrets. Thank you Charlie, you are great.
Hey, Dawn. This ended up saving me 20 incandescent strings that day. It's such an amazing tool!
Great information saves from buying new lights. Thank you for sharing
Hey there, Margie. The Keepers really do save a ton of money. Not to mention time that you don't waste running you the store to buy replacements.
I need some help please!... There is a bulb that keeps burning out every time I replace it with a new one. The rest of the bulbs stay lit though as long as I keep that burnt bulb in, what can the problem be????? Thanks in advance. Great video!
That sounds frustrating! Have you looked into the socket with a flashlight? You may have some corrosion in there. Another option would be to cut out that socket and heat shrink it back together!
@@ChristmasOnCrestline I'm going to try that out. Thanks for your help. I really do appreciate it. Happy Holidays!
I bought two light keepers this year never worked,change batteries still don’t work what next
Well, that sucks, Percy. I've only heard of that twice before. One fella was using this on LED lights and didn't realize it was only for incandescent lights. The other time, it was a battery issue and changing the battery was the solution. Call John at 888-858-2548 and he'll have the answer for you.
Hi Charlie, I have The, Light Keeper Pro
And, I took it, to work one day. My Staff
Said what is that? I said it's The Light Keeper
Pro, you connect the socket into it and go
Click, click, click, and the lights, come back on.
They where impressed now I'm there Christmas light repair
Man.
Boom! It's like having a magic Christmas light wand. I used my LED Keeper in a new way to fix lights yesterday. I'll be filming an episode on it tomorrow for a new video. I wasn't sure if it work in the way I was using it...man, these Keepers are amazing!
Can you do this without taking the lights off tree?
You can indeed, Teresa. Here is a video on how to do just that with LED lights ua-cam.com/video/hLqbE2zlKHE/v-deo.html
I used it on incandescent light strings and it worked. When i triyit on led strings it did not (shunt). Is this expected? Should i be using led fixer pro for that?
Hello, Raghavendra. Yes, this is to be excepted. LED lights do not have the shunts in their wires that can be fixed like incandescent lights do. The Light Keeper Pro is not compatible for LEDs. The Pro only fixes incandescent lights. The LED Keeper fixes LED lights. We'll get you fixed up. Here is a link to the LED Keeper tool and review: (tool) www.amazon.com/dp/B007H4I8HY?ref=exp_christmasoncrestline_dp_vv_d )(review) ua-cam.com/video/riGJQjnZ3eE/v-deo.html
I’ve got half a strand that works and the half closest to the outlet doesn’t work. The entire strand beeps with the power detector. The clicking doesn’t seem to fix anything.
Feel like I’m missing a troubleshooting step. Any suggestions are appreciated
Hello ZM. The clicking is meant to only fix broken shunts. My guess is that your cord simply has an old school problem of multiple bad bulbs. My personal record is 7 bad bulbs in one half of a string. If you are positive that is not the answer, you can fast track the problem and call 888-858-2548. They can walk you through the solution more quickly. Hope this helps!
What’s the deal with incandescent bulb strands? Every year I end up replacing entire strands of lights because half the line doesn’t work. I’ve tried replacing bulbs, fuses, nothing ever works. Is there a solution to half strand issue?
I just had the inventor of the Keeper on a live stream last week: ua-cam.com/users/live_O-9UtqxqzM?si=bf-D_0UB9JB3J1C_ He spoke about how the lights are designed to fail and it's not getting better. The shut trigger in the Kepper Pro can fix that issue for you. For me, that is normally a complete fix in about 40% of the incandescent strings.
How come when I replace burnt out bulbs with new ones. The new bulbs are very dim?????
Great question, Kevin. That's because the issue that caused the original light to go out still exists. Many times, it's simply an issue of corrosion or poor contact with the socket's metal prongs. Use a flashlight to look into the socket to check!
Need help on my Christmas lights! I have a string of about 50 incandescent lights. I purchased a contactless voltage tester and found that the very last bulb is not getting voltage. And when I flip the AC plug around in the socket, to flip the neutral and hot lines, the very last bulb now does not get voltage. And if I plug a second set of lights on to the end of the bad set, the other lights work so the voltage is carrying all the way through! Any ideas?
You likely have a bad shunt in the line of lights. Have you used the Lights Keeper Pro on it yet? That should have fixed the shunt. Another frequent issue is bad corrosion. Sometimes a light socket will be corroded to the point the juice isn't detectable and it needs to be cut off and bypassed to have the lights function. Let me know.
@@ChristmasOnCrestline Haven't tried that tool yet, will have to order one. Thanks for the reply, will let you know if it works!
@@ChristmasOnCrestline so I bought the LItekeeper pro and sure enough, it was a shunt! Pulled the trigger about 5 times and the lights came on. And then found about 4 burnt out bulbs. All fixed now, thanks!
Boom! I'm very happy that it worked for you, Pilot. Ya gotta love when a new tool does the job it's supposed to do.
Light keeper is a great tool! I forgot to send you our easter lights.
Ah, no worries. Memorial Day is just around the corner. I took your advice and put out my Novostellas. I completely forgot I had four of them. I only used two in the Christmas show. For Easter, I used their "Gorgeous" setting. It allowed for constantly changing pastel colors all over the front yard.
@@ChristmasOnCrestline Darn! I forgot about the color changing options. I did use it for Mardi Gras. Didn't send you that picture either but it was just purple and gold swapping side to side.
@@Scott-xh7wd Yeah, I used the heck out of it. It came in quite handy.
Since our Christmas lights are programmable, the trigger wouldn't work with them, but I could probably use the rest of the light keeper pro tool.
If they are programmable, the Keeper's voltage detector can still be a benefit for you. Merry Christmas!
What an awesome tool!
Hey there, Hope. This really is quite the handy item!
Do you buy lights that have 2 or 3 wires?…. Do you try to stick with one kind of lights? We really dislike the retina-burning LED or halogen bulbs.
All string lights will have, depending upon the length, some bulbs with three wires. This is due to the lights getting internally daisy-chained. A 100 count set is really two 50cts wired together. To us, it is one set but internally it is made up like two. One thing I love about smart lights is that you can dim them via apps. That may be something to look into to keep them from being too bright for you, Donna.
Does it work on led lights?
It does not, no. Here is the video on fixing LED lights with this tools brother, The LED Keeper: ua-cam.com/video/riGJQjnZ3eE/v-deo.html I hope this helps, Joel.
Thank you! I will be looking for the led keeper
I’ve used this tool for years and it’s worked really well but recently I get a problem I can’t fix. New strands not chained are blowing brand new in two weeks and every bulb goes black. I’ve tested my strands and light passes through them to a chained strand but even when I replace everything they flicker and go out. I’ve tested my wall socket and the oscilloscope does not identify anything weird
It sounds like the copper has been hit with a surge and burnt out the line. Have you opened up the string to see if it is still shiny copper or burnt black? However, you say these are new, not set up in a daisy-chain, and you have more than one string that has failed. That would lead me to believe you have a bad batch of lights from the manufacture. Have you reached out to the retailer you purchased them from? Lastly, I'd suggest you call John at Ulta-Lit at 888-858-2548 and see if he has any quick fixes for you!
Love mine, but it's still a challenge on a pre-lit tree where you can't remove the lights, very difficult to trace the wires.
I bet it's a huge pain! I love the light's wires are hidden but hate locating them lol.
when replacing bulbs, what voltage should be used to replace certain lengths (ie) 140 bulbs . 100 bulbs. 50 bulbs?
Hello, George. The thing to pay attention to is the end of the bulb with the copper wires. You can simply replace the matching LED or incandescent mini bulb as long as they have matching ends. While the amperage is different on mini lights according to brand and make, the voltage is quite similar.
I just got mines today my fingers are killing me it did not work for me at all im so frustrated
I feel your frustration, Mailon. The Keeper didn't work? Is the battery dead or did it work but you weren't able to solve your issues with it? What issues are you having with your incandescent light string?
I’ve located the socket where the voltage stops, checked bulb and done the quick fix and still no luck. What else can I do?
Hey there, Barbie. If the socket is bad, you have two options. One, cut the socket off and heat shirk the string back together. Or, secondly, you can cut it off and use the wire pods that the Keeper comes with. Either way, you have to bypass the nonfunctioning socket.
@@ChristmasOnCrestline is there any way to test the socket?
@@ChristmasOnCrestline also not sure what wire pods you’re talking about?
It's twin, the LED Keeper, comes with pods you can use to replace sockets. You can see them here: www.ledkeeper.com/4-minute-demonstration-videos/ They show how to use them about the 4:16 mark.
The only real way is to use a bulb, or two, that you know work just fine and try them in the socket. If they don't illuminate AND the Keeper is telling you power is going to the socket....it's likely bad. Also, remember to check the socket with a flashlight to ensure there is no corrosion inside of it. Most of the time, you cannot tell that is the issue without a flashlight.
This one was hard for me to listen too, that beeping ..wow ..I know it's part of maintaining lights ..
Yeah, I agree, Michelle. I tried to keep that to a minimum. I watched a few other videos on this and the being was incredibly aggravating. In most of the videos, the beeping never stops and it's in the whole dang tutorial.
i think I broke mine.. just got it today and after inserting a bulb the silver metallic part inside the bulb inserted started coming out the bottom..
UPDATE: the bottom silver thing game out but the top one is still there. Will it still work or do I need to return it and get a new one?
I am looking at mine now and I would hazard a guess and say no. The metal is the catalyst to send the current through to melt the shunts back together. With that said, if it's decently new, I'd exchange it for a new one or call Ulta-Lit and ask for a replacement. They should still be open for phone calls right now, if memory serves.
My entire garland after using the light keeper pro stopped working 😢 I don’t know what to do
Sounds like you likely have multiple failures in the string. Let's get those lights up and running for you, Kirl. Call 888-858-2548 and let's get this figured out.
I have the same scenario that you show in the video. Half of my lights do not work. But when I take the string that goes through the bulb and set it in the trigger none of the lights come on. I have the light strand plugged into the LED keeper and the battery works because the light on the led keeper comes on. I am not sure of what is going wrong but I wish I could show a picture. The strand is LED.
Hello, Chris. To best test the Keeper is working properly, try it one a string of LEDs that you know work perfectly, Once you have the Keeper plugged into the set, attach it to the string, pull the trigger, and ensure the light is illuminated. If it does, then you are right and the Keeper is performing as expected. Feel free to take a photo or video and send it to me at ChristmasOnCrestline@gmail.com and I'll see how I can help. You can also call Jim at 888-858-2548 to get help immediately.
@@ChristmasOnCrestline I just tried it on a light string that works fine on the outlet, but nothing comes on when I use the LED keeper. I can't imagine I have a faulty Keeper, so I figure I'm just doing something wrong. Perhaps I can give Jim a call tomorrow.
@@gt93grad Very interesting. I have only heard of this occurring one other time. Scott P. had a similar issue but it was solved when he changed the battery. Once he did that he went from frustrated to a fan. I'd switch the battery and it that doesn't work, call Jim. Let me know which one works!
@@ChristmasOnCrestline no luck. Will talk to Jim.
Well shoot
What magic is this???? Was this made by MacGuyver???
Hey there, Crepe. It's such an easy fix!
The shunt thing is ridiculous. Like why does it work in any socket and not just the one that’s messed up?
Nah Santa made it.
No. I did not make this but when I tried to make one UFOs started to materialize above my tree. 😂😂
Can't see what your doing. You need closeups
Fair enough, TT. I'll have a follow-up video this year that will have just that.
Just found one in the garbage. Cool. 😆
Lol free merch
haha your math was wrong both ways. $4,000 was correct - 80,000 lights divided by 100 is 800 not 8000. All good I got the point.
Good looking out, Brad lol!
you talk to much
Ummmmm how else would you prefer I communicate, Mike?