Cutting a Ropelight question...

[51fordf2]

Maybe someone can help me understand this...

Ropelight (incandescent), has two main AC lines going down the entire length. Then, on a specific spacing, are mini-lights, in series.

I have a ropelight with ONE bulb that isn't lit. It would stand to reason, that since they are in series, that when one bulb goes out, that whole series string should go out.

Are there "shunts" in ropelights, similar to the "stay-lit" mini strings? I haven't seen anything mentioning that, though.

I'm confused...

R

[Matt_Edwards]

Firstly you need to confirm the light bulbs are in series. You will see that one bulb will have a lead wrapped around one of the mains wires and the rest are connected to the next bulb.

If they are in series, I have found occassionaly you get a bulb that is shorted, thus giving the same symptons. Twisting hte rope where the bulb is out ocassionaly makes if flash on.

any way that has been my experience.

Matt

[fkostyun]

From what I've encountered - ropelight (120v) is wired in a series - so when one goes out - a segment will sometimes die. I do have one piece that has just 1 bulb out in the segment and its been OK.

What will happen is you will have the segment go out, but, the segments can generally be "spliced" with a good section and you'll be good to go.

[henkvis]

I repaired now for more than 350meters ropelight the last couple of days.
This chinese product glamours in cheap materials. Specially the wiring.

Most problems I found in the ropelights I repaired were cabling issues.
If one bulb isn't lit, it is most probably the case the it is by-passed by a broken wire or that the mini-light has turned/twisted around so a short-cut has been created.

More questions on rope wire? Just PM me.

Regards,
Henk Visser - The Netherlands