Rewiring christmaslights

[DPG]

Sorry Little Spark - this is just not going to work. LEDs are not like filament lamps; they are current-driven DC semiconductors which have to be driven from a current-limited source (approximated in simple DC single-LED circuits by a series resistor to provide a relatively constant current of, say 30mA at their voltage drop of 2.5V or thereby). LEDs are particularly sensitive to reverse-drive voltages and accordingly are never driven from AC voltage sources. The outcome will be for all of them to go pop simultaneously.

Seriously, don't try it.

And it may be a straight DC output, or PWM (which is more likely).

In reality, the right value of current limiting resistor (1 per output) will probably do it.

 

[stewartrossinv]

In reality, the right value of current limiting resistor (1 per output) will probably do it.

The chunky output driver transistors shown in the OP's post would suggest a max output driver current of perhaps around 200-300 mA for each group - there's no heat sinks attached to the power transistors, so it's not likely to be above that (as otherwise the output transistors would overheat, even though we're only talking about, say, 0.75W dissipation for each group). The four groups would be I guess around 3W dissipation in total if connected in parallel and not individually - so the OP would need to use, say, a 5W wirewound resistor of a suitable value, though what that value may be is somewhat moot. It really would be simpler just to buy new lights...