Does a Continuity Test Work Through Christmas Lights
How to test Christmas lights with multimeter. However, string lights can be used all year; many people store unique sets in storage only during Christmas to decorate their trees, brighten their homes, and construct lighting nativity scenes. String lights, for some reason known only to the Christmas angels — and possibly the light manufacturers.
How to test Christmas lights with multimeter 
Despise being in storage and frequently cease to operate, even if used when you put them away. The problem is usually caused by a single bulb, which might cause an entire segment of bulbs or the whole string to go out, relying on how the string is wired.
Checking Continuity
A voltage test with a non-contact voltage tester is a simple way to check Christmas lights, but you can't do it with a multimeter since the probes must contact the wires to get a reading.
You can, however, verify continuity, which is a measure of resistance, with a multimeter while the string is unplugged, which is safer than measuring the string while it is plugged in.
One may also run continuity testing on each bulb until you find the one that isn't working. This takes time when you have to go from bulb to bulb. There is a faster approach to finding the bulb when you have a noncontact voltage tester, but if all you have is a multimeter, this process may take a few minutes.
Check Resistance
The first step is to measure the resistance of the string from one end to the other. The return leg should be in good shape and provide little resistance. If it doesn't, the wires are broken, and while you could potentially repair them, it's probably best to toss the string out.
Testing Christmas Lights
Follow The Steps
Setup Multimeter
The arrow on the multimeter's dial should point to ohms () of resistance. Attach the black and red leads to the standard (COM) and volts-ohms (V) sockets, respectively. Bring the two leads together. The resistance reading should be zero because there is nothing between them.
Check Strings Continuity
Disconnect the lights and place one probe in the female socket's neutral slot. (The neutral space is the bigger one on two-prong polarised connectors.) Insert the probe into either slot if the plugs are polarised and the prongs are the same size. Connect the other probe to the larger of the male plug's prongs.
The neutral leg is undamaged, and the string is OK if the meter reads zero, indicating little resistance. Test both prongs if they are the same size, and if neither returns a zero reading, switch the other probe to a different slot on the female socket and try both prongs again. The string is valid if any of the four combinations results in a zero reading.
Inspect the fuse and, if necessary, replace it
Inspect the fuse in the male plug by removing the prongs out of the housing if you don't obtain a zero reading. According to the string, the fuse is either a 3-amp or 5-amp fuse nestled between the prongs.
Change the fuse with a new one if the filament inside — which looks like a light bulb filament and is visible since the casing is transparent glass — has darkened or is broken (you'll be able to see this because the container is clear glass). It's time to replace the string if you still can't achieve a zero reading.
Conclusion
When a burned-out bulb turns your entire string of lights dark, the delight of a well-lit home may soon turn into frustration. You might use a multimeter to figure out what's causing the blackout in your Christmas tree.
It also provides a quick and easy way to locate the dead bulb, which will need to be replaced to restore your holiday display to its full-lighted splendor.
Source: https://mystolenhome.com/how-to-test-christmas-lights-with-multimeter/
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