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If you need to visually inspect your Christmas lights to determine which are good and which need replacement, there are a few things to look for. First, look for discoloration, such as a dark spot or two on the inside of the glass. The spot is an indication of a burnt filament. Also, look for missing filaments, cracked bulb glass, and broken sockets.

Yes, animals can trigger motion-sensor lights. In fact, this is a reason why some homeowners install motion-sensor lights, to catch sneaky little critters looking through the rubbish for a midnight snack. There are sensitivities to animal detection though, so you may want to look for an option that avoids animal detection as much as possible.

Yes! As a matter of fact, there are many sensors that add motion to existing outdoor lights. These motion sensors attach to pre-existing flood lights and other outdoor lights without any fussy and potentially dangerous electrical work. Additionally, some flood lights and related fixtures ship with motion sensors built-in. 

You can take a few steps to prolong the life of your holiday lights. Make sure to replace burnt-out bulbs as quickly as possible to avoid overloading the rest of the circuit and knocking out more lights. Before packing them up each year, plug each strand into the wall to confirm everything is still working. Wrap the lights carefully back into their original packaging or something similar—winding a strand tightly together or leaving it to hang loose in a storage bin can lead to frayed or damaged wiring.