I have three packages of 50' strings (LED if it matters). I need one 70' run and one 80' run. So my thought was that I'd cut the third string into two, and then solder and heat-shrink tube those to the other sets to get the exact length strings I need. It seemed so simple at the time.
But I just opened the packages, and noticed that they have 3 wires. I've just learned that 3-wire Christmas lights are "series-parallel". So if I want to splice them together I need to figure out which wires go with which. Is that correct?
I think the diagram below depicts what's going on, except in my case, the three wires run the distance from the first light to the last (vs. this diagram, where the last series is just two wires).
Is there an easy way to do this? Can I use trial and error without blowing anything up (i.e., if it works, it's correct, if it doesn't, swap a wire and try again)? Or is that risky business?
But I just opened the packages, and noticed that they have 3 wires. I've just learned that 3-wire Christmas lights are "series-parallel". So if I want to splice them together I need to figure out which wires go with which. Is that correct?
I think the diagram below depicts what's going on, except in my case, the three wires run the distance from the first light to the last (vs. this diagram, where the last series is just two wires).

Is there an easy way to do this? Can I use trial and error without blowing anything up (i.e., if it works, it's correct, if it doesn't, swap a wire and try again)? Or is that risky business?