Ok, so i plugged in all the lights BEFORE I got on the roof,  Every string lit up.  Hung the lights along the gutter and tested them again, they all worked.  My Daughter got home and I proudly told her to close her eyes while I plugged in......And NOTHING!!!  I checked the bulbs, didnt find any burnt or loose ones, checked the fuses in the plugs, nothing wrong there.  DIdnt trip the breaker in the garage either.  I am completely frustrated, dissapointed and stumped.  Anyone have any experience with this problem?  Any help is REALLY appreciated. 

Did you plug them into a GFCI outlet?  Did you check to see if it tripped?  It'd pop that before tripping the breaker.

Nope, no breaker on the outlet. 

I think I might go to Hell for helping

Double-check the outlet?  If it's definitely hot, try spreading the prongs on the light string apart so they barely fit into the socket... could be a contact issue... trying to think of anything else it might be.

light switch somewhere you accidentally flipped

Outlet is hot, no switch on it.  Just tried spreading the prongs.  Nothing.  URG.....

light switch somewhere you accidentally flipped

 

I don't know if we'd hear back from OP if that turns out to be the issue lol

Are these incandescent or LED?

 

Are the lights wired in series or parallel?

 

Have a multimeter? Check voltage at the socket and then pull the first bulb in the string and check there. It's two wires. If there is electricity, there should be light.

 

I know this sounds dumb, but might try turning the breaker off and on again since some don't flag well when they trip.

Nope, no breaker on the outlet.

Just because there isn't a breaker on the outlet doesn't mean it isn't GFI. A GFI outlet elsewhere in the house but on the same circuit could trip.

OK... do you have an extension cord you can plug in to a GFCI outlet?  Or a GFCI adapter?

 

A GFCI will trip before a breaker, so if your lights aren't drawing enough amperage, and have a ground, they won't trip the breaker but should trip a GFCI.

Just because there isn't a breaker on the outlet doesn't mean it isn't GFI. A GFI outlet elsewhere in the house but on the same circuit could trip.

 

I was thinking the same but he tested and said it's still hot.

Are they incandescent or LED?

Theyre incandescent lights.  Im gonna have to go pick up a tester tomorrow.  I was hoping to avoid it but oh well.  Thanx for the help guys. 

Are these incandescent or LED?

Are the lights wired in series or parallel?

Have a multimeter? Check voltage at the socket and then pull the first bulb in the string and check there. It's two wires. If there is electricity, there should be light.

I know this sounds dumb, but might try turning the breaker off and on again since some don't flag well when they trip.

You beat me to it...

Get an extension cord and check a new string to make sure it lights. Then start checking the others in-place.

 

How many did you run in series?

Get an extension cord and check a new string to make sure it lights. Then start checking the others in-place.

 

How many did you run in series?

Also. I meant try an extension cord to a new/different outlet

Take an extension cord and plug it in somewhere else. I think somebody already sorta mentioned that.

Try testing continuity on the plug fuses & the fuse contacts to the plugs. They can appear fine to the eye but may not be passing voltage. This happened to me several years ago. I almost lost my mind so I feel your pain.

Sorry, had too...

Sorry, had too...

I was just about to say this story reminds me of National lampoons Christmas vacation! Beat me to it!

Sorry, had too...

Maybe this is a non-issue, but is this plug on a timer?   I have done that before, plug stuff in and it doesnt light because i forgot about the timer... I know the OP doesnt mention it, but it was just a thought

Sometimes it's hard to see the burned up fuses.....replace them and see what happens.

Did the OP plug something else into the outlet to make sure it is hot?

 

Many houses are wired with the outside outlets controlled by a GFI outlet somewhere else in the house, like in a bathroom.

The outlets in my garage are on their own circuit, I just had them installed last year. Im starting to think that i had too many strings tied together and blew the fuses in the plugs. I took the first string off and plugged in the second, got a spark and then nothing. Its too dark to confirm but I'm pretty sure I got the problem now. I was told by a friend that this is called "The Griswold Effect" I hate him now. Thanks for all the replies, I'll post an update when i get it working.

Go to Costco and get LED strings. They don't draw a lot of juice.

Go to Costco and get LED strings. They don't draw a lot of juice.

 

I kinda sorta hate the LEDs. If done in a minimalist setting they're okay, but they aren't as nice as a C9 or "warm" like standard mini lights. Don't even tell me that the LED C9 equivalents are good. I have regular colored LEDs on one of the trees in my house and they seem to have a projector effect too.

 

I have a soft spot in my heart for colored bulbs on houses and blowmolds everywhere.

I love the LED from Costco. It gives the trees and bushes a glowing 3D effect. And the huge reduction in the pseg bill was an added bonus. Not like my old sets where if one light went out they all went out!

Get 10 yards of Sure-Line and put one yard between each string