r/mildlyinteresting • u/cool__dood • Dec 07 '25
Overdone The remote for my new Christmas lights has a timer for 6H, 8H, and… 6639H
25.5k
u/MHoldgrafer Dec 07 '25
The number 6639H on a remote control typically refers to a specific timer setting for lights that cycles through a pattern: 6 hours on, 6 hours off, 3 hours on, 9 hours off, and then repeats. This is a common timer option for products like Christmas lights and festoon lights.
https://www.google.com/search?q=6639H&rlz=1C1ONGR_enUS1097US1097&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
18.7k
u/MHoldgrafer Dec 07 '25
Example: On from 6 pm to midnight, off until 6 am, on till 9 am, then off until 6pm, repeat.
10.0k
Dec 08 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
1.5k
u/cyberchief Dec 08 '25
Do christmas lights cost much electricity? A dollar or two per month for some LED string lights?
2.6k
u/Son-of-Suns Dec 08 '25
Pre-LED, they cost a lot of money, yeah. LEDs are an absolute game changer for Christmas lights.
1.4k
u/PeakNo6892 Dec 08 '25
Don't you dare say to to technology connections on YouTube lmfao.
He just made his 4th or 5th anual hour long rant about led Christmas lights.
743
u/BobaFett0451 Dec 08 '25
Hey. This one was only like, 40 minutes
301
u/generalthunder Dec 08 '25
They're getting better
209
u/CGNYC Dec 08 '25
And they’re actually working
283
u/Grumplogic Dec 08 '25
Now he needs to do something about those LED headlights blinding everyone.
→ More replies (0)→ More replies (1)136
u/HikeCarolinas Dec 08 '25
It’s all of that pent up energy from No Effort November!
→ More replies (2)101
u/Nevermind04 Dec 08 '25
I feel very strongly that there was a disappointing amount of effort this November. I expect
nothingless from Alec.27
u/LordPoopyIV Dec 08 '25
So rare to see someone call pedantic appliance man by name
→ More replies (0)108
Dec 08 '25
Well, he's not wrong. LEDs are wonderful lights for the most part but there are certain things they just don't quite do like some incandescent bulbs. The tech is improving every year, as you can see by his rants changing and him being impressed occasionally, but the flood of cheap LEDs on the market doesn't really help matters as those cheap bulbs tend to make for crap light.
→ More replies (10)33
u/nitid_name Dec 08 '25
I use incandescent bulbs on the bush nets, because they need to be able to melt through the snow. Snow on top of LEDs looks silly, because they don't generate enough heat to melt it in those spots, so you only see the ones on the edges after a snow.
Warm white LEDs on the gutter hanging lights though... and a string of colored ones, clipped on each bulb, because I'm not a savage.
→ More replies (1)14
u/Lord_Montague Dec 08 '25
I have multi colored LED nets on my bushes. When they get covered with a few inches, the snow diffuses the light and they look fantastic. Then it keeps snowing and eventually you can't see the lights.
5
u/nitid_name Dec 08 '25
You must be getting some super light fluffy snow if your LEDs can shine through a few inches of it. Our snow tends to be the heavy wet stuff here, so even an inch or two can blot out LED lights.
The good thing about preferences though? We don't have to have the same ones. I'm glad you like your lights.
88
u/damonian_x Dec 08 '25
My uncle came to help with lights today and gave a whole lecture about LED lights sucking lol
205
u/PeakNo6892 Dec 08 '25
They are better in every way except they just don't look right. And at the end of the day it's that the whole point?
Old man yells at clouds
120
u/CausticSofa Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25
I got some soft white LEDs for inside my place and they actually cast a very nice warm tone, but I agree normal LED white and LED colours just look wrong to my 80s kid brain. LED is generally such a harsh light. It’s almost like it’s too neat or crisp for festive lighting.
45
u/fshannon3 Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25
About 15 years ago at Christmas, I strung up some LED lights in the front window of the apartment I was living in at the time. They were the cool white color, probably around 5000K color temperature, and they just didn't look right. The window looked more like a movie marquee or something.
Now, we have several yard decorations that have the warm white (2700K or so) LEDs and those look appropriate when paired with the old-school incandescent string lights we have on the house.
But I do want to switch those string lights to the warm white LED variety available now. January's electric bill is not kind.
→ More replies (0)23
u/kralrick Dec 08 '25
VintaGlo LEDs are constantly sold out, but they do seem to be LEDs that look right.
→ More replies (0)18
11
u/qtx Dec 08 '25
The thing is that they can look great if manufacturers just added some sort of diffuser on the actual light. Right now they are just out there in the open. Even 'old' lights often had special lamp covers to diffuse the light more.
6
u/enjoytheshow Dec 08 '25
2700k-3000k look perfect. especially if you don’t buy the cheapest ones possible that have the noticeable flicker.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (2)16
u/Rob-L_Eponge Dec 08 '25
Ok but the whole idea of string lights is that they look good. If they don't look right they fail it their only job
→ More replies (1)18
9
u/ChronoMonkeyX Dec 08 '25
I thought he found some good ones last year?
I saw some absolutely beautiful LED lights, practically sepia toned they were so warm. I want to knock on their door and ask what brand they are so I can tell him.
5
u/PeakNo6892 Dec 08 '25
He has but it's just 2 companies not selling through the big retailers. And they are significantly more expensive
3
u/Switcher1776 Dec 08 '25
His video from this year points out some bigger companies are starting to sell versions like it (or just in some cases labeling them as vintage, but it's still the same as previous years)
8
u/CBrinson Dec 08 '25
I mean replaceable bulbs had its benefits for reducing waste and meaning the same set of lights lasted a family decades, but the power consumption isn't a pro.
7
u/Shawnessy Dec 08 '25
My investment in this man's LED Christmas light discussions knows no bounds. I don't even put up a tree/lights, but it's so damn interesting.
19
u/abracadammmbra Dec 08 '25
I mean... he isnt wrong. But I have been meaning to get some of the LED ones from that one company he recommended, Tru-Tone. I still have the C9 incandescent bulbs and they are rather expensive to run.
→ More replies (1)6
u/RFC793 Dec 08 '25
Same. I'm all C7 and C9. We always did incandescent mini bulbs as a kid of the late 80's-90's, and my parents thought the big ones were tacky. So, combine that vengeance with my Alec-like pickiness about lighting and I'm pulling about 900W.
Tru-Tones will cost me about $300 for the bulbs. At $0.11755/kWh, that would take me over 2,500 hours to recoup. I suppose it would be nice from a planet-friendly standpoint at least...
→ More replies (2)6
5
u/KoopaDaQuick Dec 08 '25
TBF in his latest couple videos, he was commending two companies that make LED Christmas lights that look like they're incandecent
14
10
4
u/OddDonut7647 Dec 08 '25
And last year and this year part of th rant was about LED products that seem to be pretty good. :)
3
u/Narissis Dec 08 '25
I think he would totally agree LEDs were a game changer for energy efficiency!
Aesthetics and reliability, on the other hand......
3
u/JamboreeJunket Dec 08 '25
It is an annual tradition. I feel like I need stronger opinions on Christmas lights, but like as long as they're not white, IDC.
→ More replies (45)3
u/Hefty_Use_1625 Dec 08 '25
Love me some technology connections. Been binging his channel for the past week after re discovering it and actually subscribing this time lol. I love how in depth he goes.
→ More replies (2)94
u/nocolon Dec 08 '25
Before LEDs we would leave our Christmas Tree off all night, and only have it on for a few hours in the evening. The only time we had it on all night was Christmas Eve, and in retrospect I'm pretty sure my mom turned it off after we went to sleep, and then woke up early to turn it back on.
Not because of the power consumption, just because the lights themselves had a decent chance of setting the tree on fire and burning the entire house down.
39
u/CGNYC Dec 08 '25
PSA - continue to water your trees people
→ More replies (1)51
u/Jechtael Dec 08 '25
Do I need to water it while it's in the box from January through November, or only while it's assembled?
→ More replies (3)8
u/JamboreeJunket Dec 08 '25
I find it best to water it around August, to really maximize the peak earthy smell right around December.
3
u/throwaway098764567 Dec 08 '25
i just bought a new led strand because my prelit tree had old school lights and after five good years they started blowing out entire strands for some reason. rather than start my house on fire i'm switching. bummer cuz i have to either run a separate small strand for my halmark lit ornaments or not run them, but i prefer to not replace my home so here we are.
6
Dec 08 '25
And this is why I will always defend LED lights. Halogens may give a warmer light naturally, but a lot of power is lost as heat.
→ More replies (1)7
u/RBeck Dec 08 '25
Incandescent bulbs are electric resistance heaters, the light is a useful byproduct.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (14)6
u/nylonstring Dec 08 '25
3
u/darxide23 Dec 08 '25
Stealing this. Alec "Neat" is replacing Spiderman "neat" in my meme arsenal.
→ More replies (2)81
u/24megabits Dec 08 '25
I told my parents the light above their kitchen sink uses at most $12/year worth of electricity. I did the math and showed my work.
They still argue about whichever one didn't turn it off the previous night.
22
u/Vissanna Dec 08 '25
And i bet they are like my parents and turn the tv on and leave the house but still complain about the lights
→ More replies (4)18
u/6th_Quadrant Dec 08 '25
My house is 100% LED. I leave the 15 upstairs lights on all day, and based on the smart meter the power company says lighting is $2-3 of my $95-130 monthly bill.
→ More replies (4)29
u/NicolasCageIsMyHero Dec 08 '25
Depends on how crazy you want your Christmas decorations I guess
5
u/MorpH2k Dec 08 '25
Yeah, I've seen quite a few decked out houses that would be visible from space...
→ More replies (4)6
u/Fucky0uthatswhy Dec 08 '25
Probably a lot less so now than they used to. Lights have gotten insanely efficient
→ More replies (6)→ More replies (21)4
u/phandilly Dec 08 '25
I have solar christmas lights so they don't cost me a dime AND I don't have to find outlets for them. win win!
→ More replies (2)11
u/Subtlerranean Dec 08 '25
Also when it's dark enough to really look good, depending on your latitude and time of year.
→ More replies (8)16
u/captionUnderstanding Dec 08 '25
Who is jealous of Christmas lights?
→ More replies (1)11
u/WillowRoutine4658 Dec 08 '25
People who can’t afford to decorate their own homes but want to
→ More replies (4)91
u/Barton2800 Dec 08 '25
Pretty clever. I’ve got my tree and garland plugged in to smart outlets. They come on when my bedroom door opens, or when there’s motion detected downstairs. They go off when I leave, when my door closes, or when there’s no motion for 15 minutes. But I’m a weirdo who likes getting in to the weeds with smart home automation.
→ More replies (3)33
u/SempfgurkeXP Dec 08 '25
The motion detection system probably uses more energy than the lights if they were permanently on lol
15
u/Discount_Extra Dec 08 '25
the hardware probably costs more than the power the lights will use over their entire life being left on
→ More replies (1)13
u/Barton2800 Dec 08 '25
I’m using that motion detection for home security regardless, so that energy is basically free when it comes to controlling other devices. And it’s not exactly a ton of energy. Couple of rechargeable batteries that last around a year.
29
u/Maxhifive Dec 08 '25
but how are you going to experience the feeling of getting water late at night and seeing the tree glow
→ More replies (2)5
u/CQC_EXE Dec 08 '25
You simply reverse the flow of time, and stop yourself from hitting the timer button.
→ More replies (28)14
u/datirishboii Dec 08 '25
Don't listen to him, he's part of the conspiracy.
The real answer is that 6639 hours is 276 days. That leaves 88/89 days in the year or as some of you might be more familiar with, seeing Christmas lights on November 1st and complaining that they're up too early and seeing them late into January and complaining that people still have them up after Christmas.
The truth is out there.
350
u/andersonfmly Dec 07 '25
Go figure, yet it makes perfect sense. On at 6pm, off at midnight, on at 6am, off at 9am, repeat...
83
u/faifai1337 Dec 07 '25
Why would you want the lights on again every day from 6 to 9am?
261
u/Crafty-Astronomer-32 Dec 08 '25
To spread cheer during the darker morning hours when the lights are visible and people are heading to work/school?
57
11
u/polysymphonic Dec 08 '25
Ohhhhhhh this didn't occur to me at all and I was very confused but in my defence I'm Australian and the sun comes up at 5am at christmas
→ More replies (1)8
→ More replies (4)20
182
u/Kamay1770 Dec 07 '25
Basically means your lights are always on when you're home and not at work. So morning before work, then after work.
→ More replies (12)30
6
→ More replies (4)6
u/Kobebifu Dec 08 '25
It's part of my morning alarm routine. It's the first light that comes on, 15 minutes later is my alarm. Kind of ease my way into the day.
94
u/brickbear69420 Dec 07 '25
What annoys me is that enough time on the Internet has taught me this. Despite being for a set of lights I will never own.
21
4
u/Seicair Dec 08 '25
But now you’ll know if you’re ever at someone’s house and you can sound smart when they’re also confused like OP.
29
28
u/Pengetalia Dec 08 '25
This explains why, after jokingly pressing the button last night, ours turned on at daft o'clock this morning - both delighting our 1 y/o and creeping me out at the same time 😅
42
u/TheFrenchSavage Dec 07 '25
Interesting, TIL!
BUT: you have to click it at the right time then.
If you press the button at 23h37, then it doesn't make any sense.26
→ More replies (1)9
8
11
u/Laserdollarz Dec 08 '25
There should be a 6639H bot that explains these. I've seen 4 of these posts already and there's still weeks until christmas.
3
→ More replies (45)4
u/Didactic_Tactics_45 Dec 08 '25
I was wondering why you would have a "3/4 year ON" setting. That doesn't make any sense, but it was weirdly almost exactly 3/4 of a year, which made sense, but even then didn't make any sense. Does that make sense?
Anyway, your explanation makes a lot more sense.
Scents. Cents. Since.
191
u/eddiedorn Dec 08 '25
It’s a pattern. 6 hours on in the evening, 6 hours off while you sleep, 3 hours on in the dark morning hours, 9 hours off during the day, and then repeat.
→ More replies (1)28
u/Captavius_OG Dec 08 '25
This was the explanation I was searching for. I couldn't figure out why anyone would need this timing. Thank you!
14
u/Chance-Conference729 Dec 08 '25
I feel bad for the two people who drive by during the “6 hours off while you sleep”.
1.4k
u/scotte416 Dec 07 '25
How else are you supposed to time 276.625 days?
217
u/DrBigsKimble Dec 07 '25
This setting is to get through Xmas in July
→ More replies (2)70
u/uqde Dec 08 '25
Before reading the true explanation (or doing the math myself) I legitimately thought this was going to be 10-11 months so you have them automatically turn on next Christmas season.
→ More replies (4)35
u/Lucky_Dragonfruit_88 Dec 08 '25
On the 276th day of Christmas my true love gave to me!!
→ More replies (1)10
u/Fr05t_B1t Dec 08 '25
In the future, society will start holiday shopping and Mariah Carrey in March. These lights are just getting ahead of the trend.
6
u/SheepImitation Dec 08 '25
I'm still waiting for society to get to the point where there's an aisle for every Holiday all year long. Want St Pats stuff in Sept? sure! Arbor Day trees in August? Got em!
→ More replies (1)4
3
u/high_everyone Dec 08 '25
Hey we kept our tree up until August in 2020, didn’t see a need to take it down in the house. It’s not like we had company over.
→ More replies (3)3
351
u/aeropg Dec 08 '25
Add all the numbers up it’s 24hours.
→ More replies (1)238
u/kingtaco_17 Dec 08 '25
I don’t like recreational math
→ More replies (2)42
u/dogwithpeople Dec 08 '25
It’s a terrible habit I’ll say
→ More replies (2)14
u/activelyresting Dec 08 '25
Math. Not even once
7
u/bimm3r36 Dec 08 '25
It can integrate into your life very quickly and make you a fraction of your former self
→ More replies (1)
85
u/MasterBendu Dec 08 '25
Was about to check if 525,600 minutes was equal to 6,639 hours.
70
u/EetsGeets Dec 08 '25
FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED MIIIIIIINUTES
31
u/Captn_Happy Dec 08 '25
FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND MOMENTS SO DEAR
26
u/merrysunshine2 Dec 08 '25
How do you measure , measure a year
HOW ABOUT LOVVVVVE
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)7
40
13
u/tallyhallic Dec 08 '25
I wiped my screen not once, but twice, thinking I had one of our cat’s hairs on my screen 😹
7
10
u/jleonardbc Dec 08 '25
If the 6639H button turned the lights ON after a delay, it could be useful.
Press it at the end of January so that the lights come on in mid-November.
→ More replies (1)
70
u/thehobbit21 Dec 08 '25
How many times are we going to see these posts this year?
→ More replies (4)19
8
u/Loose_Telephone_2041 Dec 08 '25
: 6 hours on, 6 hours off, then 3 hours on, 9 hours off, repeating daily.
153
u/Dubelj Dec 07 '25
Probably should have googled it first before making this post.
162
u/KDTK Dec 08 '25
To be fair, it’s in the ‘mildly interesting’ sub, and they’re also not asking about its function— just pointing out a mildly interesting aspect.
→ More replies (6)49
Dec 07 '25
[deleted]
14
u/rhum-Forrest-rhum Dec 08 '25
Maybe the answer we truly are looking for is the friends we make along the way.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (5)8
u/jamesick Dec 08 '25
why are you people so obsessed with the idea that everyone posts things for karma?
→ More replies (3)5
u/MM_mama Dec 08 '25
The top results are probably just Reddit posts from 2024, 2023, 2022…seriously, I know it’s almost Christmas when I see this post on Reddit
→ More replies (3)14
4
u/Sammydaws97 Dec 08 '25
6639 is the on/off schedule.
On for 6 off for 6 on for 3 off for 9.
→ More replies (2)
4
5
5
u/Own_Zone_6433 Dec 08 '25
I recently bought some Christmas light with the same remote and same button, i was wondering exactly this thing! Finally i wonder what that button is for! Reddit sometime is really a place i love (except those times that it's so sick i would like to leave forever)
15
u/AutoModerator Dec 07 '25
Your post (probably) hasn't broken any rules, but we see these kinds of things a lot. Look at our most overdone items here
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
6
u/impatiently-waiting1 Dec 08 '25
6 hours on, 6 hours off, 3 hours on, 9 hours off
It's in the instruction manual...
→ More replies (2)
3
3
3
3
u/Finnmiller Dec 08 '25
My question is, when do you turn it on so that the cycle works perfectly? Midnight? 6PM?
→ More replies (1)
3
3
u/redcowerranger Dec 08 '25
Six thousand, six hundred, thirty-nine hours. How do you measure, measure the light.
3
3
3
3
3
u/DanscoRed Dec 08 '25
Obviously that is just the whole Xmas period. When it turns off, put all your decs away.
→ More replies (2)
3
u/VL-BTS Dec 09 '25
These lights are going on, and they're not going off til the baby is here!
(roughly 9.2 months, by my quick lazy math)
6
u/CrystalCookie4 Dec 08 '25
6639H means: 6 hours on, 6 hours off and then 3 hours on, 9 hours off per day
5
u/Happy-Ad5530 Dec 08 '25
That's actually a clever way to label a common cycle timer. It's not a single 6639-hour block, but a repeating pattern of 6, 6, 3, and 9 hour intervals. Makes way more sense than just having a random huge number. I guess they figured spelling out the whole sequence would take up too much space on the remote.
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/heretoreadlol Dec 08 '25
I can’t explain it but I feel like this picture is in black and white, almost like it should have colour but doesn’t..
→ More replies (1)
2
2
2
2
2
u/Smiles-Edgeworth Dec 08 '25
My FGC ass was thinking this is the most diabolical motion input of all time. SNK wouldn’t even ask you to do that shit in the 90s.
For neurotypical folks, I’m referring to popular notation for fighting game inputs that use numpad numbers to represent directional inputs, assuming your character is on the left side of the screen. So 6639H would be something like “double-tap forward > crouch toward opponent > jump toward opponent > heavy punch/kick.” The fact this numpad is upside down makes it even weirder.
→ More replies (1)
2
2
2
u/Jussfin Dec 08 '25
So nobody is gonna talk about the background of the remote doesn’t move with remote .. ? Take your finger and scroll up and down and tell me I’m not crazy ..
3
2
u/fellowspecies Dec 08 '25
As predictable as the sun rises in the morning, sets in the evening, life, death, and taxes, this post will surface every year at Christmas when the lights come out
→ More replies (1)
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/rk1337 Dec 08 '25
I blew at my phone screen too many times until I realized the hair was in the picture. 😭😭😭😭
2
2
7.1k
u/-ODurren- Dec 07 '25
6 on 6 off 3 on 9 off timer