How Long Do Shocks Last?

I’ve replaced thousands of shocks and struts in my career as an auto technician, so I’ve definitely seen it all

A customer once complained about the sound of a bell ringing and sloppy steering, especially on turns. During a road test, I heard and felt the same things. During a visual inspection, I found the top covers of both front shocks had rusted! They clanged against and scored the shocks’ pistons, causing all the oil to leak out. Four new shocks later, the car drove and felt like new.

Shock absorbers are often overlooked. They keep our teeth from rattling while driving, of course, but also serve a much more important purpose. Driving with bad shocks can be dangerous and adversely affect driving stability, tire wear and braking. Here’s what you need to know.

How Long Do Shocks Last?

It depends.

Unless you drive recklessly, go off-roading, drive mostly on rough, uneven or bumpy roads or do lots of hard stop-and-go driving, shock absorbers should last about 50,000 miles, or four to five years.

If you drive cautiously and mostly on level pavement, it’s not unusual for shocks to last longer than 50,000 miles. But if you live in areas that promote rust and corrosion, or in climates with extreme temperature fluctuations, it can damage your shocks’ inner seals and shorten their life.

MacPherson struts, which are similar to shocks, provide a smoother ride and absorb vibrations. They can last up to 100,000 miles. But do not confuse one with the other. Shocks and struts differ in their construction, how they function and operate.

How To Tell if Shocks Are Bad

Failed or failing shock absorbers have a “tell” your vehicle will regularly bob up-and-down after a hard stop.

Here’s a test for your shocks: Push down hard on the bumper two or three times. Your vehicle should come to rest after one bounce. If it keeps bouncing, you hear knocking or you see fluid leaking from a shock, replace them.

Other indications your shocks need replacing include:

Longer stopping distances

Weak shocks cause the tire/wheel assembly to “hop” up and down, causing the tread to lose full contact with the pavement.

Remember, the section of tire touching the road isn’t much larger than the palm of your hand. This makes bringing your vehicle to a stop more difficult, especially at high speeds, because less friction will be generated due to less tire contact with the road surface.

Abnormal tire wear

The same tire/wheel hop can also lead to uneven tire wear. Called cupping or scalloping, that results in worn patchy sections around the outer edge of a tire.

Poor handling

Your vehicle will not ride smoothly or handle as well as the shocks wear out. Even hitting a small bump, pothole or ripple in the road can cause the steering wheel to shake, making it difficult to control the vehicle.

Strange noises

Weak, worn, broken or loose shocks and brittle or missing mounting bushings can cause sharp snapping or cracking when driving over a pothole, up a driveway incline or turning.

Mounting bushings are made from rubber, silicone or polyurethane. They act like cushions, absorbing vibrations and preventing the metal parts of the shock from rubbing against the vehicle frame or shock absorber mounting holes.

Excessive vibration

When driving over bumps or rough roads, the oil in shocks converts the vibrations into heat energy, then dissipates that energy. This reduces road vibrations. A shock with weak seals or low oil cannot dampen vibrations.

Can You Replace Shocks Yourself?

Again, it depends.

A shock absorber’s companion coil spring holds, or stores, tremendous potential energy. Think of it like a windup car. You tighten the spring until it compresses. Then as the spring unwinds, it releases that energy to propel the car across the room.

To safely remove a shock, its coil spring needs to stay compressed. Use a floor jack to lift the vehicle, then lower the suspension onto jack stands.

Some shocks are easy to reach and replace. Others aren’t, and shouldn’t be replaced by a beginner.

Check the vehicle’s service manual to locate your shocks. If you can see and reach all the nuts, bolts and other fasteners, and you have the right tools, then go for it. If the shocks are buried under other car parts, or the fasteners are rusted or missing, let your mechanic to replace the shocks.

If you decide to DIY it, you’ll need these tools:

• A 3/8-inch or 1/2-inch socket set with extensions;
• Box or combination wrenches;
• Hammer;
• Hydraulic floor jack;
• Jack stands;
• Rust penetrating oil;
• Safety glasses;
• Torque wrench;
• Wheel chocks;
• Work gloves;
• Impact wrench (optional).

Pro tip: Never overtighten fasteners when installing new shocks. You may not find a specific torque specification for the mounting bushing nuts.

Only tighten hardware until the outside diameter of the bushing lines up with the outside edge of the mounting washer. Tightening the nut until the bushing flattens or squeezes out past the mounting washer reduces a shock’s ability to absorb road bumps and reduce vibrations.

Cost Estimate To Have a Pro Replace Shocks

The cost depends on labor costs where you live, year, make and model, plus the quality of the shocks and the difficulty to remove and replace them.

Virtually every car on the road has only one shock per wheel, or two per axle. Always replace shocks on the same axle (front or rear) in pairs at the same time. Labor can run from $100 to $300 per axle.

Expect to pay $50 per axle for a basic or conventional shocks, or $100 to $300 for per axle for shocks that offer improved load capacity or handling, such as:

• Heavy-duty;
• Air-adjustable;
• Coilover (not to be confused with a MacPherson strut);
• Gas-filled;
• Adjustable, which controls how a vehicle rides and handles.

Before you buy anything, do your research. Replacement shocks should meet your driving needs. If your shocks are simply worn out and you liked the way your car drove when it was new, then install the same type of shock.

Article source here: How Long Do Shocks Last?

What Is a Vault Toilet and How Does It Work?

Two common waterless toilet solutions are outhouses (aka pit toilets) and composting toilets. Neither is suitable for remote locations visited by large numbers of people, like state and national parks, wilderness areas and freeway rest stops.

Large-scale composting toilets require regular maintenance, and staff may be put off by the unpleasant task of raking the compost. Moreover, composting toilets only work in moderate climates. Pit toilets must be relocated when they fill up, which makes them impractical in the long term for busy locations.

Vault toilets present a third solution, the one favored by the U.S. Forest Service, according to a 2009 analysis by sanitary engineer Brenda Land. Unlike pit toilets, vault toilets don’t release toxins into the ground. The only maintenance they require is occasional pumping, which she says the Forest Service typically contracts to local septic pumping companies.

What works for the Forest Service could potentially work for homesteaders in remote locations with access to a septic pumping service. But installing one can be expensive.

What Is a Vault Toilet?

A vault toilet is pretty much what it sounds like: A buried, rectangular concrete vault that holds human waste. It’s a holding tank, much like a septic tank, but without input or output pipes, so no water flows through it. Instead, waste continues to accumulate until it’s pumped out.

To keep pumping to a minimum, the vault must be large. According to Land, the typical vault installed by the Forest Service holds from 500 to 1,500 gallons. A vault for an individual homestead could be smaller, but a minimum capacity probably wouldn’t be much less than 500 gallons. That ensures adequate ventilation and separation between the toilet seat and the bottom of the vault.

The structure above the vault includes a riser, i.e. a pedestal or bench with an opening fitted with a toilet seat. The seat is enclosed in a shelter, which may be lit and insulated, depending on the climate and availability of electricity. To control odors, a ventilation system exhausts gases from the vault into the surrounding atmosphere.

What Is a Vault Toilet vs. a Pit Toilet?

Landowners looking for a waterless toilet system typically install a pit toilet. They can dig the pit themselves with shovels and other manual tools and construct a wooden structure above it for privacy.

The larger the pit, the longer the toilet can stay in service. But eventually, it fills up. When that happens, the only remedy is digging a new pit, moving the structure and backfilling the old pit.

Because a vault toilet can be pumped out, it never needs to be moved. But installing one isn’t something most people could do themselves. You’ll need an excavator and a crane, driving up the cost. The shelters for Forest Service vault toilets are often large, with concrete floors and walls.

A key difference between pit toilets and vault toilets is the way they manage waste.

A vault toilet isolates the waste from the rest of the environment. But a pit toilet allows it to mix with the surrounding soil, allowing liquids containing pathogens to potentially leach into the groundwater and contaminate it. This isn’t a major problem for a toilet used by a single family. But for one servicing the public, it’s a major environmental concern.

How Do Vault Toilets Work?

Conceptually, vault toilets are simple: Waste remains in the vault until it’s pumped out, and a vent system exhausts gases outdoors to keep the shelter relatively odor-free.

In a 2003 Forest Service publication, Land discusses design tips to avoid potential problems:

• Location: The critical airflow zone around a vault toilet is a circle with a radius of 20 feet. Ideally, the zone is free of trees and other vegetation to allow odors to dissipate. When that isn’t possible, selective pruning of tree branches, with an eye toward the direction of the prevailing wind, may be necessary.
• Venting: Most vault toilets are passively vented through a pipe that extends at least three feet above the roof of the shelter. Air enters the vault through the riser or a wall vent and exits through the roof vent, creating a draft that keeps air circulating. In heavily forested areas with restricted airflow, Land recommends installing a fan to assist circulation. It’s important to cover the vent openings with screens to prevent birds and small animals from falling in.
• Drainage: The floor of the shelter should be sloped toward the door to prevent water from seeping under the riser and into the vault. The manhole for pumping outside the shelter needs to be covered, with the rim of the opening raised a few inches from the ground to keep out water. Land cautions against putting the manhole under the edge of the roof, to prevent falling rainwater from seeping under the cover and getting into the vault.

About the Expert

• Brenda Land is a sanitary engineer with the San Dimas Technology and Development Center in San Dimas, California. Over the last 30 years she’s written multiple articles on waste management for the U.S. Forest Service.

Article source here: What Is a Vault Toilet and How Does It Work?

8 Exterior Brick Paint Color Ideas To Transform Your Home

Black and White

One of the most popular color schemes on brick houses is black and white. It’s a timeless combination that looks good on almost any style of exterior.

Before the paint job, this home from @tatianahndz featured dated pink brick that had to go. The crisp white color gives the home new life and disguises some of the busy brick patterns.

Article source here: 8 Exterior Brick Paint Color Ideas To Transform Your Home

Is There a Way To Paint Something So It Looks Like Wood?

With the right products and techniques, you can use paint to create the look of wood on any surface. It requires multiple layers of paint or glaze, as well as special tools.

We spoke to industry experts Chris Burke, a professional faux finish painter, and Frank Campanelli, owner of a full-service painting company. They offered tips, tricks and product recommendations to help DIYers achieve great results.

What Surfaces Can Be Painted To Look Like Wood?

Drywall, plaster, metal, concrete, medium density fiberboard (MDF) and plastic can all be painted to look like wood. Different materials may require different kinds of surface prep.

Use the Best Paint

Water-based acrylic paints are the go-to option for pros and DIYers alike. Fusion Mineral Paint, a 100% industrial-grade acrylic resin paint, is a favorite among DIYers, especially on furniture. It comes in various colors, features a durable matte finish and comes with a built-in topcoat.

Pros like Burke and Campanelli thin their paint with additives to create a glaze. “You put an agent in the paint that slows down the drying time, so you can work with it longer,” Campanelli says. “It makes the paint thinner, but still adds color.” Burke likes the Golden Artist Colors’ Open line for the same reasons.

When choosing colors, begin by determining which wood species you would like to emulate. Burke recommends finding examples online, then identifying the colors that exist in that piece to determine yours. The lightest tone will be your base coat, with any darker tones layered on top.

“A lot of times I’ll use Van Dyke Brown or Raw Umber or Burnt Umber and mix that in the glaze for the topcoat,” Burke says. “I’ll put these over a lighter base.”

How To Create a Wood Look With Paint

“Whether you’re doing oak or walnut or mahogany, it’s usually a four-layer process,” Burke says, “Then a clear topcoat.” Make sure to let each paint layer dry thoroughly before adding the next to avoid mixing colors.

• Prep: Start with a clean, smooth and properly primed surface.
• Base coat: Apply your lightest paint or glaze color to the entire surface with a brush. Like the primer, keep brush strokes in the same pattern and direction as you want the final look.
• Flogging coat: Flogging is a brush technique that creates a speckled texture in the coating, mimicking wood pores in real wood surfaces. “You put your glaze coating on with a regular brush, then slap it lightly with the sides of a three-inch or two-inch brush to make little tic marks in the background,” Burke says. If using paint, apply a thin layer so you don’t block out the base coat entirely.
• Add wood grain detail: This is the most technical and artistic step. Both pros recommend practicing these techniques before attempting on your final piece. What type of detail you add depends on the wood species you’re imitating, so study it to recreate its grain details. Generally, darker glaze or paint creates the lines and textures of real wood grain. Fine lines and patterns, knots and speckles can be painted with small artist brushes. These can then be dry-brushed to blend them into the surface. The goal here is subtlety and depth for a natural look. For wood with a pronounced heart grain, like oak, go with a product like Old Masters Wood Graining Tool. To use, apply a coat of paint or glaze to your surface, then drag and rock the wood grain tool across the fresh coating to imprint a grained texture into the paint. “Work in small sections at a time so that the coating is still wet enough to manipulate,” Burke says. You can also use sponges to blend or remove paint to create a realistic look.
• Toner layer: This is a final coating applied to the entire surface and adds a final subtle layer of color depth. If using paint, thin it down so it’s watery but still has pigment. The goal: Washing the surface with a little color, not covering up what has already been applied.
• Apply a topcoat: Burke and Campanelli recommend a separate clear topcoat, typically in a matte finish. This protects the surface but does not distract from the work. A water-based polycrylic can be applied in several thin coats with a brush.

About the Experts

Chris Burke, a professional faux finish painter, has owned and operated Mr. Faux, a residential and commercial faux finish business in Sterling, Virginia, for more than 30 years.

Frank Campanelli has owned Franklin Painting in Farmington, Connecticut since 1986. It’s a full-service interior and exterior painting company that offers faux finishes and paint customization.

Article source here: Is There a Way To Paint Something So It Looks Like Wood?

What Does Right To Repair Mean for You?

As DIYers, we want to fix our own stuff, but many devices today are difficult to diagnose and repair. Using my auto technician skills, I take pride in fixing whatever I can. I like to say I can fix anything that operates hydraulically, pneumatically, mechanically or electrically. Plus, I enjoy saving money.

Without Right to Repair (R2R), all of us may lose the ability to fix our devices ourselves. Here’s what you need to know.

What Is Right to Repair?

Right to Repair refers to the option to repair your devices yourself everything from appliances to electronics or choose a repair shop that meets your needs.

The R2R movement started at the dawn of the digital age, but grew significantly in the 1980s. That’s when the automotive aftermarket began urging original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to share diagnostic and repair information, specialized tools, real-time data and specifications needed to produce replacement parts.

This sounds great for DIYers, but it’s not that simple. There are possible unintended consequences, including exposure of sensitive personal data or low-quality aftermarket replacement parts or repairs.

Now, R2R involves everything from video games to life-saving medical equipment. R2R has gained worldwide support, including the interest of U.S. lawmakers.

Current Right to Repair Legislation

H.R. 906 REPAIR, aka the Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair Act, is bipartisan legislation currently under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives. Massachusetts leads the R2R fight with its voter-approved Data Access Law.

On July 9, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order supporting R2R. He directed the Federal Trade Commission to issue policies barring OEMs from placing limitations on independent repair shops and DIY repairs.

Subsequently, on June 13, 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notified 22 OEMs not to comply with the Massachusetts law. Two months later, the NHTSA changed its position. But it will continue investigating protocols that promote consumers’ ability to choose an independent repair shop or make do-it-yourself repairs without compromising safety.

How Does Right to Repair Affect You?

Generally, OEMs share most diagnostic tools and equipment, service manuals and training materials with the aftermarket. But they’re reluctant to release software or firmware updates. They maintain these are intellectual proprietary technology and property, costing millions of dollars in research.

OEMs also site cybersecurity concerns of R2R that require vehicle manufacturers to provide third-party access to all vehicle-generated data “without restrictions or limitations.”

Conversely, Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of the Auto Care Association, stated sensitive data for repairs can be securely transmitted to and from your vehicle, while safeguarding personal information with proven real-time encryption.

Hanvey says in 2022, 37% of vehicles in the U.S. required at least one repair by an OEM because independent repair shops lacked the necessary resources to diagnose or make the repair. This makes it less likely that you or your favorite shop (especially in rural areas), can make certain repairs.

Even with all my auto repair skills, without specific technical information, specialty tools or dependable replacement parts, it’s impossible for me, an independent repair shop or any DIYer to repair our devices.

Should You Care?

Yes, if you’re a DIYer or want to choose who repairs your devices.

The Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, enacted in 2015, allows us to repair whatever we buy, despite those pesky and illegal “warranty-void if removed” stickers manufacturers place on products. However, it’s your decision whether R2R is important to you or not.

Do We Need Right to Repair?

That depends on who you ask.

Consumer Reports endorsed federal R2R legislation “which can give consumers convenient options, save them money, prevent waste and help protect the environment.” Other consumer advocacy groups see the fight against R2R as a purely money-driven play, meant to hurt the aftermarket repair industry.

Yet the Automotive Service Association, Society of Collision Repair Specialists and Alliance for Automotive Innovation do not see a need for R2R. In a letter to Congress, they reaffirmed a 2014 memorandum of understanding (MOU) with OEMs, stating OEMs will make accessible “the same diagnostic and repair information that auto manufacturers make available to authorized (OEM) dealer networks.”

However, the Auto Care Alliance and Auto Care Association (ACA)did not sign the 2014 MOU, nor do they support current R2R legislation. They maintain the MOU is too narrow in scope; the information and data made available is limited and confusing; and it’s essentially a “handshake” agreement and thus not legally enforceable.

Major OEMs, including Tesla, Johnson & Johnson, AT&T, T-Mobile, Caterpillar, John Deere, General Electric, Philips and the National Automobile Dealers Association are currently lobbying against R2R.

To build brand loyalty, OEMs like Apple, Dell, HP, Microsoft, Samsung and others have introduced “self-repair” programs. These make repair information, OEM parts and repair tools available to consumers.

Viewed as a win for R2R advocates, self-repair programs helped create a lucrative secondary repair, refurbish and resale market. Now consumers can have devices once destined for a landfill repaired, or buy a refurbished one rather than purchasing new. This reduces environment waste.

With considerable loopholes and conflicting points of view, R2R remains perplexing. However, stricter FTC enforcement of the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act has shown a willingness by OEMs to deal with R2R issues through cooperation rather than legislation. R2R remains a hot topic that’s far from being settled.

Article source here: What Does Right To Repair Mean for You?

How To Prepare Your Home For a Real Christmas Tree

Renewable, recyclable real Christmas trees are much better for the environment than plastic and steel artificial trees that end up in landfills. And as Tom O’Connor, executive director of the National Christmas Tree Association, says, nothing beats the annual family tradition of visiting a tree farm to make your selection.

The following expert-approved tips will help you select, set up and care for your Christmas tree so it stays fresh throughout the holidays.

Real Christmas Tree Prep Tips

O’Connor says the right location for your Christmas tree is crucial. “Keep your tree away from heat vents or a fireplace, which can dry out the tree excessively,” he says. Lucas Dull, co-owner of Dull’s Tree Farm, recommends avoiding a spot in front of a south-facing window for the same reason.

Some other planning pointers include:

• Measure the space: Check the width and height to avoid broken branches. “Don’t forget to account for your Christmas tree topper (star, angel, etc.),” Dull says.

• Purchase a stand: Get your tree in water as soon as you bring it home. “We recommend a minimum of one gallon to 1.5 gallons of capacity,” Dull says. But the larger the tree, the more it will drink.

• Do some species research: If you’ve got a lot of heavy decorations, pick a strong species, like a white spruce or noble fir, instead of a weaker white pine. For the real Christmas tree aroma, a popular Douglas or Fraser fir is ideal.

• Pick a healthy tree: Avoid specimens with lots of dropping brown needles or brittle branches. “The tree should be green and pliable rather than dry,” O’Connor says.

• Purchase a tree removal bag: “They really help keep the needles contained when it comes time to remove the tree,” Dull says. “Even if you don’t have a tree removal bag, an old sheet or tarp can be wrapped around the tree to help reduce the mess.”

When Do Tree Farms and Tree Lots Open?

“Most tree farms and lots open sometime around Thanksgiving,” Dull says. Don’t buy a tree before then. If you do, it won’t be as fresh when the holidays arrive, and you might have to take it downearlier than you would like.

But shopping too late comes with risks. “Most trees are sold in those first two weekends after Thanksgiving,” O’Connor says. “The longer you wait, the more picked over the inventory becomes.”

The closer it gets to Christmas, the greater the chances of local farms and lots selling out. You might have to travel further afield, pay a premium, or make do with a scrubby-looking specimen.

How to Transport a Real Christmas Tree

“While pickup trucks are the most user-friendly vehicles for collecting your tree, any vehicle with a roof will do,” Dull says. These transport tips will minimize busted branches, dropped needles and sore backs:

• Ask about netting: Most farms where you can cut your own Christmas tree will net it afterward to make it easier to handle and transport.

• Tying tactics: “If tying your tree to the top of your vehicle, put the bottom of the trunk facing the front of your vehicle,” Dull says. This reduces wind damage while driving.

• Bring a blanket or tarp: If you can fit the tree in your car, this prevents needles from getting everywhere.

How To Prep a Real Tree Before Bringing It Inside

“Often, the place you buy your tree has a tree shaker, where you put it on the device, and it shakes it to get loose needles off,” O’Connor says. If not, simply shake the tree yourself before heading indoors; wear gloves so any sap gets on them and not your skin. While bothersome bugs are rare on Christmas trees, this also helps remove clinging critters.

It’s OK if your tree has been sitting in a frozen lot, but Dull says it’s helpful to let a snow or ice-covered tree thaw in the garage. “Any ice or snow chunks that melt off the tree make a puddle in the garage instead of the house,” he says.

Ensuring your tree can absorb water effectively is vital. “If it has been more than a couple of hours since your tree received a fresh cut on the base, go ahead and give it another,” Dull says. This opens up the trunk veins, which can quickly callus over. “One-half inch off the bottom is sufficient,” he says.

Cut it with a handsawand be sure to remove any sap from the blade right away. “We use ammonia water to remove sap from tools, such as saws or clippers,” Dull says. “For hands, use hand sanitizer or some other alcohol-based hand cleaner.”

Keep your tree hydrated if you aren’t bringing it in immediately. O’Connor recommends putting it in a bucket of water in your garage in the interim. “You can also just store it without water, as long as it is given a fresh cut again before it is put into water,” Dull says.

How To Set Up Your Real Tree

O’Connor says to treat your tree like a vase of fresh-cut flowers. “If you let the vase run dry, the flowers are going to dry out very quickly, and a tree is going to be the same,” he says.

Never let the water level in the Christmas tree stand drop below the bottom of the trunk. If the base seals over and needs a new cut, do it before you’ve decorated your Christmas tree.

How much and when your Christmas tree needs watering depends on its size, species and the environment. However, Dull recommends filling your stand all the way up to start, then checking your tree twice a day, morning and evening, for the first few days or week. After that, a daily water check should be fine because the tree won’t be as thirsty.

If you’re concerned you might spill water while filling the stand, put a waterproof cover under it to deal with any wayward drips. “There are watering sticks that can help with making filling the tree stand easier and reduce the risk of spilling or overfilling,” Dull says.

Dull suggests waiting a day or two before decorating your tree. “This allows the branches to open up and fall into place, which helps make decorating easier,” he says.

How Long Do Real Trees Last?

“A well-cared-for fresh tree should last five to six weeks without a problem,” Dull says. Your watering schedule, the type of tree and the warmth of your home all affect how long a Christmas tree lasts.

About the Experts

• Lucas Dull co-owns Dull’s Tree Farm in Thorntown, Indiana, which has been been selling real Christmas trees since 1993.

• Tim O’Connor is executive director of the National Christmas Tree Association.

Article source here: How To Prepare Your Home For a Real Christmas Tree

We Tried the Twinkly Smart Christmas Lights, and Now We Create Custom Light Shows

As an interior designer and former professional holiday decorator, I know lighting can make or break a space. Ive been a fan of multi-colored lighting used in set design and commercial settings since the early days of light-emitting diode (LED) innovation. Back then, smart apps didn’t exist to control the diodes, and set-up was too expensive for the average homeowner. Luckily, this isn’t the case anymore.

The next generation of Christmas cheer is here with Twinkly smart lights. These smart Christmas lights offer millions of color and pattern options for endless customization. Twinkly is a game changer, not just for holidays, but for adding atmosphere to home theaters, gaming rooms, outdoor parties or any place you have a strong Wi-Fi signal. Do these lights take indoor and outdoor holiday decorating to the next level? Find out if they live up to the hype in our review.

What are the Twinkly smart Christmas lights?

These certainly aren’t your grandmas Christmas lights. The Twinkly Generation II string lights set the scene for a fully customizable light show controlled by a robust app (with the help of a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection).

Multiple strings can be controlled by the app, but they cant be daisy-chained like traditional lights. These lights work in indoor or outdoor settings, so they can be strung on just about anything and plugged into a standard two-prong electric outlet. The connecting wires are thin and pliable, with a bulb placed every 3 inches on the dark green cord. Shockingly, these tiny lights are surprisingly bright! And the app has a brightness control to tone it down for indoor use.

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We Tried It

Twinkly Smart Christmas Lights

Create customized holiday magic with the app-controlled Twinkly Strings smart lights. These Indoor/outdoor LED lights make Christmas that much more festive.

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Twinkly Smart Christmas Lights Features

For starters, Twinkly smart Christmas lights power on and off with or without the app. However, the free app provides dozens of patterns and millions of color options with slide bars to control the speed and brightness of the effect. You can even control the angle of motion for some of the patterns. It’s easy to dim the lights for a gaming session or movie night. Plus, the Twinkly app has a built-in timer.

Its a modern-day wonder how these little LED lights got to be so smart. Once youre connected and your lights are hung on your Christmas tree, deck or gazebo, the app asks you to map them so it knows how to apply the patterns to your lighting display. To map the lights, youll need to allow access to the camera on your device. The app even allows you to draw a design or upload a gif. How cool is that?

Twinkly smart Christmas lights are compatible with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Apple Home Kit for convenient voice control. And if thats not smart enough for you, grab the Twinkly Music device to sync your lights to your favorite tunes for the ultimate dance party or ambient vibe.

How We Brightened Up the Holidays with Twinkly Lights

When the lights first arrived, I plugged them in just to make sure they worked. Next, I downloaded the app and connected it via Wi-Fi using the 2.4 GHz network. I played with the effects, but wasnt ready to place or map the string yet. I took them to our office for our artificial Christmas tree testing days and had to connect them to a new Wi-Fi for them to work. This was a bit of a hassle, because they wouldnt connect for me without creating a new account.

Back home, I reconnected to the original network and ended up resetting my password to connect. I expected some frustration with it, but it quickly performed. I tested a 100-light strand on my 7.5-foot slim-profiled Christmas tree, which wasn’t enough to adorn the entire tree, just the front half. For this slim tree, I would use a minimum 250-light string while a 400-light or 600-light strand would be best for a full tree with a wider profile. For context, Balsam Hill recommends the 400-light string for a 6-foot tree. The 100-foot string I tested would be ideal for decorating a window, archway, mantle or tabletop tree.

Mapping Twinkly Lights

Once connected, I started the mapping process in the 2D mode. I watched the app magically detect every bulb, and actually sat on the floor and pointed the camera to get a wide shot of the entire tree. Since the lights were only in the front, I didnt need to move around the tree in 3D mode to capture different angles in order to map all of the lights.

Customizing the Light Show

Now, I was ready to try out the effects, patterns, colors, brightness and speed. I saved some effects to my favorites. It is worth noting that the app limits your saved effects to 15 and gives you an error message if you try to save more than that. However, it lets you single out a particular bulb to customize your look even further.

I was mainly interested in a warm-white effect and tried the snow effect, which was cold and blue. I adjusted the color to achieve a warm palette. I named it yellow snow (LOL). However, as the pattern changes, the lights emit red, green and blue rather than a consistent yellow light.

With so many fun effects and options to customize the animations, I had a blast playing with the looks. The lights are overall very bright and cool. Some effects allowed me to turn down the brightness and control the speed of the moving patterns. I downloaded a few other effects in search of the perfect peaceful holiday vibe and discovered another library of options.

Pros

• Multi-colored LED lights
• Lots of fun customizable effects and patterns
• Easy mapping process
• Convenient timer
• Works with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Apple Home Kit
• One app controls multiple strings
• Easy pairing and connectivity
• Indoor and outdoor use
• Uses less energy than incandescent lights

Cons

• No daisy chain connectivity
• White is cold and bright

FAQ

Are smart Christmas lights worth it?

If you love customizing your lighting, syncing the lights to music and dazzling your friends and neighbors, smart LED Christmas lights are a must-have. Although smart string lights are more expensive than standard string lights, the features of these app-controlled lights are unsurpassed. When compared to incandescent lighting, LED lights run cooler, last longer and save money on energy consumption. Your investment in smart lights extend well beyond one holiday season, because smart lights are versatile and customizable for every occasion.

How do smart Christmas lights work?

Twinkly smart lights work with your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection, and are controlled by the app on your smart device. Twinkly has pre-programmed effects and many of them are customizable if you’re feeling creative.

How can I make my Christmas lights smarter?

Consider using a smart plug or timer to automate your holiday lighting. Using a a home network, like Alexa, will work to turn lights on or off with voice control, but standard lights wont be able to create a spectacular light show like Twinkly can.

What Other Reviewers Had to Say

Over 4,600 people have given the Twinkly smart Christmas lights five stars (on Amazon alone!). Here’s what they’re saying about these magical string lights.

Jana von Hehn, a five-star reviewer, writes, I had some angst about buying these lights because they seemed so expensive, but Im over it. The light shows they do are just jaw dropping. Its gorgeous and everyone who sees it even over the phone is so impressed. We are hesitant to decorate the tree because the lights by themselves are so amazing!

I have purchased a bunch of Twinkly lights throughout the years and loved every one of them. I have the first gen lights from when they first started and they are still going. The app that controls these lights is pretty easy to use and you can control all your lights with the single app. I currently have three trees that I control with the app, says verified purchaser, Garrett. I love these lights and get compliments on them all the time. I do not think I could ever go back to the traditional lights. These lights may be on the pricier end, but they are the future. They are very durable, long-lasting and absolutely gorgeous.

Another verified buyer, Robert D., adds, You can program in your own light patterns, use ones that are built in, or download patterns that other Twinkly users have uploaded to the Twinkly servers. The app will let you program a playlist, so you can automatically go through your favorite patterns in the course of the eveningand you can set the lights to turn on and off at specific times.”

Final Verdict

Clark Griswold would have died for these smart Christmas lights. Twinkly Strings smart Christmas lights bring energy and fun to any occasion. I love that I have the ability to control multiple products from the same app, allowing me to decorate the front yard, backyard and indoors from the same app. The timer is a nice feature in the app, although some users report this function is finicky when using multiple strings. But it’s so easy to create the mood I want with the variable features, and decorating for Christmas just became that much more fun!

Where to Buy the Twinkly Smart Christmas Lights

Amazon offers a huge selection of Twinkly lights for indoor and outdoor use. A string of 100 lights costs under $60. You can also grab these brilliant lights at Walmart, The Home Depot, Target, Best Buy and Ace Hardware. You don’t need to be an electrician or lighting pro to create a spectacular light show this holiday season. Twinkly makes it effortlessly merry and bright.

VIA MERCHANT

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We Tried It

Twinkly Smart Christmas Lights

Dazzle your neighbors with a custom holiday light show you can use year round. These multi-colored LED lights are safe, cool and save energy.

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Article source here: We Tried the Twinkly Smart Christmas Lights, and Now We Create Custom Light Shows