How To Change a Fuse in Christmas Lights

Introduction

Every year, it's the same story: You haul out the Christmas string lights to decorate the tree or the house, and one of the strands doesn't work. (Hopefully you found that out before you put them up!)

Christmas lights don't have to be disposable. Instead of running out to buy new ones, did you know you can change the fuses instead?

Fuses are an overcurrent device, like a circuit breaker, but they can't be reset like a tripped breaker. If a fuse blows, you have to replace it.

Electricians like me always have a few of these tiny fuses rolling around in a junk drawer. Christmas lights also come with them, if you remember where you stashed them. If that's not in the cards, find a pack of five fuses for less than $10 at a home center or hardware store.

Here's how to change the fuses in a string of Christmas lights.