Long time lurker, first time asking the millions for help. So…I did a search and can’t seem to find any relevant answers. What’s the deal with a single bulb taking out an entire string of lights (or half of one?) The newer light strings can have a bulb burn out without losing the others, but if you remove a bulb you lose the whole line.
This implies to me, the deductive reasoner, that these sparkling little bulbs are wired in serial. Why? Why not in parallel? My WAG is that it would be too hard to regulate the net resistance across the entire string so it’s just easier (cheaper to make) strings in serial, but less convenient for us consumers. If that’s the case, why can a bulb burn out without losing the string? A higher resistance backup shunt? Microscopic elves that carry the electrons across the gap when the filament breaks?
Personally, I don’t mind buying a string for $3 knowing it probably won’t be good next year, but can’t we improve on the quality here a bit?