BULBS AREN'T ILLUMINATING:

If a single bulb isn’t lighting up, try the following:

1: Try the bulb in a different socket which you know is working. – If the bulb still doesn’t light, you may have a damaged or faulty bulb and should contact us for a quick replacement.

2: Try a different bulb in the same socket. – If no bulbs will light in the same socket, unplug the string, remove the bulb, and check the contacts on the bottom and side of the socket. On rare occasion, these get bent out of alignment or pushed too deep to make contact. ALWAYS UNPLUG THE STRING OR DEVICE THAT CONTAINS THE SOCKET BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CONTACTS. Once the device is unplugged you can use a small screwdriver or tweezers to attempt to bend the contact back into place. 

If some bulbs light, but many do not, this may be a very rare incompatibility with the light string you are using. Some light strings from big box retailers were sold in a set with matched bulbs. The sockets are notably taller and without a flared opening which can prevent other bulbs from fully threading and making contact. Glass bulbs have some variation in their size and shape, which is why some may successful make contact. Standard sockets found on the vast majority of light strings are shorter with a flared opening. While you could attempt to shorten the sockets, it’s probably best to obtain standard light strings found many places online or locally. If you are buying light strings that come with bulbs, pay attention to the style of socket.  

If your entire Tru-Tone light string isn’t lighting up, the most likely cause is a blown fuse. These can be replaced and are located in the plug of the light string. Always unplug your light string before replacing fuses. Our Classic light strings are the only version with fuses. Each string has two 3.6 x 10 mm quick-acting 3A Fuses. They are the same fuses that work with common mini-light strings and are often available from the Christmas light section at your local stores, or you can reach out to us for a set. 

If the light string goes out again immediately after replacing the fuses, this is likely caused by a short. Locate the bulb or socket that are causing the short. This can be indicated by a flash or spark when the string goes out, or by dark burn marks around the bulb and socket. The fastest process to determine which bulb/socket is causing an issue is to start with an empty light string (with un-blown fuses), screwing in one bulb at a time until the issue is discovered. Unplug the string or device and remove the bulb from the socket. The 2 most common causes are a misaligned contact inside the socket (See Step 2 above) or in very rare instances, a faulty bulb (sometimes with a small strand of wire connecting the side and bottom of the base). If the socket contacts appear to be misaligned, follow the directions in Step 2 above to repair it. If the bulb appears to be the problem contact Tru-Tone for a replacement. 

TRU-TONE BULBS AND STRINGS OPERATE AT 110V. ALWAYS USE EXTREME CAUTION AND UNPLUG THE STRING OR DEVICE BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY REPAIRS.