LED Descriptions

What is the difference between 1/2 wave and Full wave LED Christmas Lights?

We call it 1/2 wave and full wave, but really it applies to how the LED is turned on. In an AC circuit you have current that alternates the direction it flows. You've probably seen the sine wave depiction of AC current. That means that you have a zero cross, where the current is off, then ramps to full on, then back down to off, and so an so in a cycle. So really our lights are blinking on and off really quickly, our eyes just don't transmit it to our brain so we think they are on all the time.

The 1/2 wave LED strings are basically only on for 1/2 the AC cycle. The rectifier that converts the AC to DC for the LED's only transmits the power for 1/2 the cycle, one way for 1/2 wave LED's. The full wave LED's have a rectifier that converts both directions of current to DC so you get an LED that is on for the full AC cycle.

What that means is some people will see more flicker with the 1/2 wave. The full wave will appear brighter and most people do not see flicker in them.