Recommend Christmas lights that don’t stink!

[dan_erickson]

I'm not having any luck this year with my LED Christmas lights because sections of lights keep burning out. I bought them from Walmart and in sure that's my first mistake. To be quite honest I have had better luck with the incandescent style lights and they are cheaper then LED.

Any one have experience with good LED lights that will last more then a month?

 

[Papa Bear]

Indoor or outdoor?

 

[dan_erickson]

Originally Posted by Papa Bear
Indoor or outdoor?

They were for out door use on my bushes and shrubs in the landscaping

 

[PimTac]

I think the only way to judge lights is to look at the construction. A heavier duty wire should hold up better.

My guess is that there are one or two massive factories in China making all these lights regardless of the brand on the box or where you buy them.

 

[Rand]

disney brand.. I got them on clearance for 90% off at lowes.

the 100ct led icicle lights are 12watts so very bright.. my generic 100ct led were 2.7watts.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I tried LED light years ago but didn't like how dim they were compared to my incandescent C-9 lights. My house is set back 150 ft from the street so I prefer to lght'er up. Power is equivalent to 10 cents US per kwhr.

I buy strings of C9's after Christmas during the clear-out sales and strip the bulbs off the strings to use as replacements.

 

[jhs914]

I bought GE LED's last year from Lowes and installed on a tree in my backyard. I left them up all year, plugged them up again the day after Thanksgiving and they lit right back up. And no problem with brightness.

 

[frankbee3]

I like the look of the C-9's myself. Nice and bright warm colors. Kick in the nuclear power plants...

 

[dlundblad]

I think Christmas lights are bound to just be terrible.

We bought 2 20' strands of colored LED lights for $3.50 or so at Walmart. We shall see how long they last, but I will say the colors are much more vibrant than the traditional (incandescent?) set of lights we have.

 

[Kestas]

I use the old miniature lights. Between my Lightkeeper Pro, and harvesting spares from unrepairable strings, I keep these lights going for many seasons.

Good maintenance helps. I make sure all bulbs work before putting them up, and again after I take them down before storage.

 

[E365]

I just bought 510' of lights from NoveltyLights.com. Real "commercial grade" LED strings.

 

[dan_erickson]

I am thinking that I got what I paid for because the Walmart lights were half the price of Menards. I'll keep my eyes out for better lights on clearance and be ready to go for next year!

 

[Snagglefoot]

I’m kicking this one forward because it is still pertinent. I’m have trouble finding C9 bulbs for less than 50 cents each. I saw this LED “C9” light string that was advertised as “up to 2 Times Brighter”. And decided to check out LEDs again. I bought a 25 light string and put it up beside my old man C9 string. Nope, they are nice looking but nothing I’d call bright. Still looking for replacement C9 bulbs. Here are some pics.

 

[vavavroom]

Christmas tree candles are making a comeback. Beeswax candles smell great!

 

[SC Maintenance]

x3 on the GE lights from Lowes. I am sure GE doesn't make them but we have them and they work and look pretty good, and don't cost all that much. Wonder how the earlier posters light from 3 years ago are holding up?

 

[Snagglefoot]

The old school C9 incandescent bulbs were bright enough to flare my camera. The LED’s ( lower string) didn’t seem any brighter than the old LED’s I had. Again, because I’m 150 feet from the street, I want them bright.

 

[Snagglefoot]

 

[aquariuscsm]

My favorites will always be those old school outdoor lights with the huge bulbs from the 70s.