Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - lights out- in some places
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howiey
08-31-05, 08:02 PM
here is the scenario
we had our basement finished 2 years ago.
just the other day some of the lights stopped working.
we have the following setup
-a powder room with one fixture that is controlled by an individual switch.
-a laundry closet with one fixture that is controlled by an individual switch.
-a main area that has 12 recedded light and a single light fixture in a storage area. these 13 lights are controlled by the main switch at the top of the stairs.
The 12 recessed lights stopped working and the one in the storage area still works fine. Again these are all on the main switch.
all of the other individually controlled fixtures work fine too.
what could be wrong?
howiey
we had our basement finished 2 years ago.
just the other day some of the lights stopped working.
we have the following setup
-a powder room with one fixture that is controlled by an individual switch.
-a laundry closet with one fixture that is controlled by an individual switch.
-a main area that has 12 recedded light and a single light fixture in a storage area. these 13 lights are controlled by the main switch at the top of the stairs.
The 12 recessed lights stopped working and the one in the storage area still works fine. Again these are all on the main switch.
all of the other individually controlled fixtures work fine too.
what could be wrong?
howiey
John Nelson
09-01-05, 07:46 AM
what could be wrong? Tripped breaker. Failed connection. Tripped GFCI.
howiey
09-01-05, 08:21 PM
the gfci and the breakers were all fine.
Again the recessed lights and the light in the storage area are controlled by the same switch. when you flip the switch only the light in the storage area comes on and the recessed ones stay out.
what next?
how much should i expect to pay an electrician to come and disgnose the problem if i cant figure it out?
Again the recessed lights and the light in the storage area are controlled by the same switch. when you flip the switch only the light in the storage area comes on and the recessed ones stay out.
what next?
how much should i expect to pay an electrician to come and disgnose the problem if i cant figure it out?
John Nelson
09-01-05, 08:37 PM
Other possibilities: Burned out bulbs. Faulty thermal protects on the recessed lights. Too high wattage bulbs. And of course the failed connection option is still open.Do you have any electrical experience? Do you want to get any?
thezster
09-03-05, 07:52 PM
Hiya Howley...
John's list is right on... and i'm betting on a failed connection. I'm assuming those 12 lights are wired in series....... one after another and the storage area light comes off the switch. That's how mine are set up (I've got 8). When all 8 failed one day I investigated and found a loose wire (happened to be the neutral) in the wirenut tie at the first light in the series. Once corrected... all was fine.
Problem is........ those connections are now hidden "behind your ceiling lights." and will be difficult to assess. If I were you, I'd check my connections from the switch to the first light in the series (hopefully the closest one to the switch) and see if something came loose. Also........ make sure your power is off at the switch and the panel before tugging on those wire connections.......... 120V can kill
Not a pro... just a busy DIYer
John's list is right on... and i'm betting on a failed connection. I'm assuming those 12 lights are wired in series....... one after another and the storage area light comes off the switch. That's how mine are set up (I've got 8). When all 8 failed one day I investigated and found a loose wire (happened to be the neutral) in the wirenut tie at the first light in the series. Once corrected... all was fine.
Problem is........ those connections are now hidden "behind your ceiling lights." and will be difficult to assess. If I were you, I'd check my connections from the switch to the first light in the series (hopefully the closest one to the switch) and see if something came loose. Also........ make sure your power is off at the switch and the panel before tugging on those wire connections.......... 120V can kill
Not a pro... just a busy DIYer