Wow - my Mickey and Minnie have lost their luster. It's after Christmas now. I'm gonna give this a whirl, but I'm just a girl. Wish me luck. Should I wait til next season or do it and get it over with. I don't have a soldering gun. Thanks. Great video.
Do all inflatables have the same led lights? How do I determine which lights to purchase? Or can I use any? Can I also add more lights or brighter lights?
Hi. You installed new LED lights, like in this video? Is it possible your polarity is wrong or the contact in the wiring is no good? I would test it, by touching the wires, before attaching or crimping, to see if can get the led it to light
Can you provide a link for the extra wire? I have a couple tall inflatables i need to add a couple going up them but need more wire to put between them. TIA
Sadly, for a while, LED Lights became really hard to get. Those were the only ones I could find in stock. The ones I use are 2.4w, but I cant find them anymore. These 2w ones, should work well: amzn.to/3AUuNXj
I’m guessing my 20 foot santa probably is AC only so I would not be able to use these types of lights? Or do you think I could add an AC to DC converter inside to run them?
Just had a similar chat here in the comments yesterday. I would totally do that. Run a new line off an AC-DC, and string LED to it. Kinda sucks to have 2 adapters for a single inflatable, but, if it saves it… Why not
Here's what most people want to know. Why, after only a month, did all the light bulbs burn out in a brand new Gemmy inflatable? This happened to me this year with the furry/felt Santa from Walmart. Search results are frustratingly lacking.
Sorry last question... If you're shrink wrapping the wires together do you HAVE to solder them together? Won't twisting and taping then shrink wrapping be ok too?
Hi! Ask any question you’d like! YES. Solder, or, crimp them into butt connectors. Electricity needs a solid connections, to flow correctly. Twisted wires will separate, or break. Gotta make them “One” via Solder or Butt Connectors. Butt Connectors are super easy, but, the soldering is also, I promise. Connectors like these; www.amazon.com/dp/B092J82XVR/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_glt_fabc_ZYZA4KWYMQ98QF8J1153?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&linkCode=ml2&tag=playwithgreggcom-20
Unless I missed it, you should have said something about making sure you have the polarity correct. 12VDC has to have the correct polarity to work correctly. other than that great video. Unfortunately the LED in your link are a couple months out but amazon literately has hundreds of options for them.
Yes, great tip! As for the lights... Sadly, this is an ongoing problem. I literally updated the link, early this afternoon, and those are now gone also. Just added ANOTHER one, that is in stock, and should work fine. I prefer single lights, but, every DEC, they become scarce. Double, and triple, are most common, for some reason.
@@GreggAdventure so once you split and expose wires it does matter which sides are spliced to the new lights split wires? If yes how do you know which side goes to which side?
The blow ups i have are left with cut wires no capping exposed open wires. This is how chinese junk is made and shipped world wide and made to fail.. I'm done with those cheaply made junky inflatables.. It's back to OLD SCHOOL DECOR!!! No more failing pumps rotting leds that begin to fail shortly after starting up and that material that is also made to FAIL!!
Yes, it’s all made as cheaply and carelessly as possible. These replacement lights are endlessly better. The stock LED lights barely last a single season
Does it have any lights at all? Is it a DC adapter? If so, cut off whatever lights it has, and splice on the LED. If no light, may be able to run wires off the main power line, going to the fan, for LED. Or, if that doesn’t look like it will work, run LED lights off a separate DC. 2 plugs is not ideal, but, would work. amzn.to/3CbAUV1
Shouldn't be too hard to do although mine are already installed and there's snow and it's cold outside! I'll be using the phone connectors and hotgluing the new LEDs to the existing LED base all outside :D A question for you, one of my inflatables uses incandescent bulbs, C7 7w I believe, when I tried replacing the bulbs with C7 LED bulbs it wouldn't work, why? I replaced my lamps with LEDs, shouldn't these be the same? Or i'm supposed to replace all of them at the same time? I can't remember if I replaced all 5 bulbs or just 4 of them thinking I could mix led and incandescent? Will replacing all 5 incandescent bulbs with LEDs work if my inflatable originally came from Gemmy with incandescent bulbs?
Keep in mind your OG bulbs, may be running on AC, while LED run on DC. You'll need an AC-DC power adapter (like the ones that come with modern Gemmy inflatables) to hook up the LED bulbs, and YES, all at the same time.
@@GreggAdventure Ok so then I have to things to verify. The Adapter needs to be like the newer ones AC to DC and then swap out all bulbs at the same time which I don't think I did because I thought try one bulb before taking all 5 out lol If the adapter is AC then what?
I would add a DC to the LED string, and install it separately. I know that's a pain, cause you'd have 2 plugs, but, if your Blower is AC, you'll need to either replace the blower also, or, run an independent LED light string on it's own source.
@@GreggAdventure Ya I just verified that it does not use the newer plug so I assume it's an AC blower so LED wont work on it. I don't mind using a 2nd plug as I have room and at least the Polar Bear and Santa will be freakin brighter for next year! Thanks for your input!
These new smaller blowers are awful. I have had multiple blowers fail within a single season. Very disappointing. I grabbed a few inflatables on Clearance this year, so I can replace the dead ones in inflatables I want, that died
Gemi has to be the worst. Their lights only last me a season. I think I have about three dozen inflatables between Halloween and Christmas and they all have this issue. The older inflatables use candelabra night light bulbs. So those are a little bit easier to deal with.
LED lights are SO much better. The problem is, they are using the cheapest bulbs on the face of the Earth. I replace them with these, which don't cost much, and are SO much brighter. Gemmy is a long standing name in the Inflatable world, but, quality is way down, with the new lights, and tiny little pumps. Sad to see.
@@GreggAdventure LED are better in the power draw department, but my candelabra last longer. Plus I just bought 25 Candelabra LED for a good price. 25 for $20 I think, 7watt equivalent, drawing very little.
Woohoo I did it!!! Thx so much for this video and all the links!!!
omg I’ve been waiting!! Link me to a pic!
Not sure how to add pictures but i would if i could!!
Sadly you can't. But, Can link to an INSTA, Message me on Insta, or shoot me an email (in my about section)
We have the same Narwhal. thanks for helping us keep it shining bright!
So cool! Very welcome. Merry Christmas
Nice video! This is the inflatable narwhal we needed to make brighter. Exactly the video we needed. Thanks for the help!!
omg epic! Love it
Thanks for this! I actually used some Wago lever nuts to connect the wires, made it even faster than soldering.
That makes amazing sense! I will try them!
Well done, thanks!
Welcome 👏🏼👏🏼🎅
Do you have any cheaper recommendations for led lights? I only need two!
They tend to come in numbers
Wow - my Mickey and Minnie have lost their luster. It's after Christmas now. I'm gonna give this a whirl, but I'm just a girl. Wish me luck. Should I wait til next season or do it and get it over with. I don't have a soldering gun. Thanks. Great video.
Get it over with! You'll procrastinate next year. GIRL? PSH, I believe in you. Do it and hit me back!
Good idea to stagger
I enjoyed this video
you should use 2 different pieces of shrink wrap and stagger solder connections, you can also put bigger shrink wrap over top both but not needed
Yup. This is good practice, and how I do mine.
Do you happen to know how to fix inflatable LED lights that are supposed to flicker like they are being electrocuted but the lights are dim?
There are a few ways to go about this. Typically with a small controller between the power and the light. Something like this: amzn.to/3Se2o88
Helpful thanks needa fix my chewy his lights are out 👌
Awesome. SO worth it! I added links to lights in the Description.
@@GreggAdventure yes gonna needa buy those thanks for the links
I got you brother. 👍🏻✌🏻
Do all inflatables have the same led lights? How do I determine which lights to purchase? Or can I use any? Can I also add more lights or brighter lights?
The LED will all be extremely similar, and work off the same voltage. Can totally add more, but, these are VERY bright.
Can you do a video on how to repair an inflatable that inflates, but doesn't light up. I replaced the lights, but it still doesn't light up.
Hi. You installed new LED lights, like in this video? Is it possible your polarity is wrong or the contact in the wiring is no good? I would test it, by touching the wires, before attaching or crimping, to see if can get the led it to light
So do you know if it's possible to switch out a bulb inflatable to a LED light?
Sure, but will need to do a whole new wore and light. The voltage will be different from Led and Regular lights
Can you provide a link for the extra wire? I have a couple tall inflatables i need to add a couple going up them but need more wire to put between them. TIA
Sure, I’ll have a look
Very helpful for LED. Any chance you have done a light bulb to led light conversion? Very helpful 👌 ty
If the voltage isn't compatible, I just cut the lights out and run a new string for LED.
Hey Greg, enjoyed the video but I have a question. The link you provided were to .96w LEDs. Are yours 3w or .96 ?
Sadly, for a while, LED Lights became really hard to get. Those were the only ones I could find in stock. The ones I use are 2.4w, but I cant find them anymore. These 2w ones, should work well: amzn.to/3AUuNXj
I’m guessing my 20 foot santa probably is AC only so I would not be able to use these types of lights? Or do you think I could add an AC to DC converter inside to run them?
Just had a similar chat here in the comments yesterday. I would totally do that. Run a new line off an AC-DC, and string LED to it. Kinda sucks to have 2 adapters for a single inflatable, but, if it saves it… Why not
You can buy waterproof ip68 or whatever 120v ac to 12v DC modules, splice that into the original 120v AC bulb line, and then add 12v LEDs from there
Here's what most people want to know. Why, after only a month, did all the light bulbs burn out in a brand new Gemmy inflatable? This happened to me this year with the furry/felt Santa from Walmart. Search results are frustratingly lacking.
Sadly, current Gemmy component quality is very poor. Fans regularly die, and the Lights, fade after a single season.
Great video!
Thanks so much! So happy it’s getting some love
Sorry last question... If you're shrink wrapping the wires together do you HAVE to solder them together? Won't twisting and taping then shrink wrapping be ok too?
Hi! Ask any question you’d like! YES. Solder, or, crimp them into butt connectors. Electricity needs a solid connections, to flow correctly. Twisted wires will separate, or break. Gotta make them “One” via Solder or Butt Connectors. Butt Connectors are super easy, but, the soldering is also, I promise. Connectors like these; www.amazon.com/dp/B092J82XVR/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_glt_fabc_ZYZA4KWYMQ98QF8J1153?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&linkCode=ml2&tag=playwithgreggcom-20
16 Gauge wire should do. amzn.to/3ISfilc
@@GreggAdventure thank you so much! Supplies come Wednesday... Fingers crossed i have brighter blow ups by this weekend
Can’t wait to hear your results!! So rewarding!! Can’t wait to hear your results. I’d love to see them!
Will the led module work with a inflatable that is 12w and 5v?
yes.
@@GreggAdventureno
You would need 5v led modules. 12v will not work.
Unless I missed it, you should have said something about making sure you have the polarity correct. 12VDC has to have the correct polarity to work correctly. other than that great video. Unfortunately the LED in your link are a couple months out but amazon literately has hundreds of options for them.
Yes, great tip! As for the lights... Sadly, this is an ongoing problem. I literally updated the link, early this afternoon, and those are now gone also. Just added ANOTHER one, that is in stock, and should work fine. I prefer single lights, but, every DEC, they become scarce. Double, and triple, are most common, for some reason.
@@GreggAdventure so once you split and expose wires it does matter which sides are spliced to the new lights split wires? If yes how do you know which side goes to which side?
Negative will usually have TXT, or a BLACK STRIPE, or, BE BLACK. Look for an indicator on the wire.
Did you solder the other end together?
If it’s the only light in the string, can solder just one side, and cut the other side short, and/or tape it off. If more lights, solder both sides
@@GreggAdventure thank you so much my turkey is now bright and shining again.
Amazing. Love it. Bring on Turkey Day!!
Is it OK to leave the other side of the wire on the led lights like that?
The blow ups i have are left with cut wires no capping exposed open wires. This is how chinese junk is made and shipped world wide and made to fail.. I'm done with those cheaply made junky inflatables.. It's back to OLD SCHOOL DECOR!!! No more failing pumps rotting leds that begin to fail shortly after starting up and that material that is also made to FAIL!!
Yes, it’s all made as cheaply and carelessly as possible. These replacement lights are endlessly better. The stock LED lights barely last a single season
What if we have an older molder without any led , any way to add led to existing fan?
Does it have any lights at all? Is it a DC adapter? If so, cut off whatever lights it has, and splice on the LED. If no light, may be able to run wires off the main power line, going to the fan, for LED. Or, if that doesn’t look like it will work, run LED lights off a separate DC. 2 plugs is not ideal, but, would work. amzn.to/3CbAUV1
I have a inflatable with newer lights in them. How do I replace them if they go out
Same way. They will be similar LED inside, and, they tend to fade after a single season…
Shouldn't be too hard to do although mine are already installed and there's snow and it's cold outside! I'll be using the phone connectors and hotgluing the new LEDs to the existing LED base all outside :D A question for you, one of my inflatables uses incandescent bulbs, C7 7w I believe, when I tried replacing the bulbs with C7 LED bulbs it wouldn't work, why? I replaced my lamps with LEDs, shouldn't these be the same? Or i'm supposed to replace all of them at the same time? I can't remember if I replaced all 5 bulbs or just 4 of them thinking I could mix led and incandescent? Will replacing all 5 incandescent bulbs with LEDs work if my inflatable originally came from Gemmy with incandescent bulbs?
Keep in mind your OG bulbs, may be running on AC, while LED run on DC. You'll need an AC-DC power adapter (like the ones that come with modern Gemmy inflatables) to hook up the LED bulbs, and YES, all at the same time.
@@GreggAdventure Ok so then I have to things to verify. The Adapter needs to be like the newer ones AC to DC and then swap out all bulbs at the same time which I don't think I did because I thought try one bulb before taking all 5 out lol If the adapter is AC then what?
I would add a DC to the LED string, and install it separately. I know that's a pain, cause you'd have 2 plugs, but, if your Blower is AC, you'll need to either replace the blower also, or, run an independent LED light string on it's own source.
@@GreggAdventure Ya I just verified that it does not use the newer plug so I assume it's an AC blower so LED wont work on it. I don't mind using a 2nd plug as I have room and at least the Polar Bear and Santa will be freakin brighter for next year! Thanks for your input!
Pleasure is mine friend. Happy to help! Please click my Amazon link when shopping on Amazon. 👍🏻✌🏻
Can you add more lights than the original amount?
Yep! Just string them together.
@@GreggAdventure Will there be any dangerous of adding too much lights?
Nah, will be fine.
I would need someone to help me with it that has all of.that stuff that you do to get my inflatable to have a light again.
Amazon. Links to tools in description.
the hot air gun link is for some led lights
All this time, and nobody bothered to tell me. Fixed it
please add the link to find the bulbs as you indicated
It’s already in my Description. 👍🏻👍🏻 Let me know if can’t find
@@GreggAdventure the link says they are currently unavailable. Any other suggestions? Same for the soldering station.
booo. Thanks for the heads up! Lemme look
I updated the links. Thanks for telling me about this!
Should probably tape the wire ends that aren't being used or maybe put a shrink wrap over them.
Yup. Def good practice
Hey can I buy the 8 ft inflatable red vested snowman
I'm a keep him for now.
Can’t find the lights on eBay
Hit the Amazon link in my Description.
My motor isn't fully inflating my inflatable either.
These new smaller blowers are awful. I have had multiple blowers fail within a single season. Very disappointing. I grabbed a few inflatables on Clearance this year, so I can replace the dead ones in inflatables I want, that died
You can buy replacement fans on Amazon but it’s going to be 30 dollars.
Gemi has to be the worst. Their lights only last me a season. I think I have about three dozen inflatables between Halloween and Christmas and they all have this issue. The older inflatables use candelabra night light bulbs. So those are a little bit easier to deal with.
LED lights are SO much better. The problem is, they are using the cheapest bulbs on the face of the Earth. I replace them with these, which don't cost much, and are SO much brighter. Gemmy is a long standing name in the Inflatable world, but, quality is way down, with the new lights, and tiny little pumps. Sad to see.
@@GreggAdventure LED are better in the power draw department, but my candelabra last longer. Plus I just bought 25 Candelabra LED for a good price. 25 for $20 I think, 7watt equivalent, drawing very little.
Wow my cousin has one but he’s different so I don’t know she got it it’s 6 feet
???
nArwal