Thread: How do I make string lights flicker?

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Anyone know of a cheap easy way to make string lights flicker?

I read about adding twinkle bulbs and a dimmer to the string from Welcome to Jackson Manor Christmas Light Candle Flicker Method

but I can't find them anywhere. Is there another way?

A lot of the string lights you buy come with extra bulbs and one of them is usually the blinker bulb. It will be a white bulb with a red painted bulb tip. Look to see if you have one. If not, you can usually buy them, just look in the Christmas sections of your stores for the extra bulbs.

Hope this helps.

yeah, I know that bulb does not flicker. It just blinks on and off. I'm looking for the fire effect. There are flicker circuits you can make but I have seen it just for leds. Wondering if there is a way get string lights on 120v to flicker.

if you go to frightcatalog.com they have a system where you can plug light into it and it has sound effects so if it thunders the lights with flicker. It makes the lights go with the sound effects check it out here is the link the item is called lighting fx and its only $29

Lighting FX < Halloween Props < Fright Catalog, Inc.

yes, I actually have lighting fx but looking for an even cheaper method for this will be done several times over in several different props.

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can't find "them"? By "them" I am assuming that you mean the 'Twinkle' bulbs. You should start seeing them now at your local Home Improvement stores in the christmas sections.

These look right...
Christmas Twinkle Lights - 100 Clear Twinkle Mini Lights - 6" Spacing, Green Wire

with a 100 bulb strand you will get around 16 twinkle bulbs, listed with that strand is 1 twinkle bulb every 6. This is very common.

In 2007 we had a hard time finding these twinkle bulbs in the Normal size, most of the light strands with them were these new thicker bulbs for outdoor use. To solve this problem we would cut the strand on either side of the socket leaving roughly 2-3 inches of wire, then use wire nuts to string together 6-7 bulbs. Then we used the male and female plug ends from the strand to make it a flicker control strand to control a full strand of regualr bulbs.

A Flourecent starter that is wired into an electrical extention cord, (like a switch) will do the job nicely.

I don't know if these person did it right, but it looks more like a dying fluorescent light then fire.

YouTube - ToT Greeter Project

his gaslight tutorial is here.
It Came From the GARAGE OF EVIL!! :: Projects :: Gaslight Flicker Circuit

Sweet!!...Thanks Guys!...I love this Forum!!