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I
have a wall light that used to work fine but has suddenly gone dim. I changed the bulb and checked the wires in the junction
box behind the light. All the wire nuts were tight. So I changed the fixture and the new one is still dim. Any ideas?
It's possible that you have a loose neutral connection. It may be a
little tricky trying to find it, as it could be at any junction between the light fixture and the circuit breaker panel, including
other light fixtures or receptacles.
Try
turning off the circuit breaker and then check all the wiring connections on every device in the circuit. Odds are this will
uncover the problem.
In my new house the previous owner installed compact fluorescent light (CFL) fixtures that don’t have
a regular screw-type socket, but use a twist-in 2-pin bulb instead. Can I modify the sockets so that I can replace these bulbs
with regular CFLs?
A standard CFL has two pins (or a larger rectangular block) that allow
it to be installed into a mating socket with a quarter-turn twist or a simple push. A modified CFL has an Edison style screw-base that allows you to
install it in a standard incandescent light socket. These two lamps are not interchangeable. If you have a pin-style socket,
then you'll need to use the pin CFL's. Eventually, you'll find the screw base sockets becoming obsolete, since the federal
government is mandating that incandescent bulbs will no longer be allowed to be manufactured in a few years.
I have a fluorescent light fixture that uses four VHO 75
watt T12 lamps. Can I replace them with 4 T5 HO lamps instead?
No. The ballast for the fixture and the end sockets must also be changed to accommodate
a T5 bulb.
Lately I’ve been experiencing frequent bulb blowing
on a light fixture, about one every two weeks. Many times when I went to change it, it broke off at the base. What's going
on?
A couple possibilities:
1. you are installing bulbs that are a higher wattage
than is recommended for use in the fixture. They heat up, and the glue separates at the base. Check the wattage limits (usually
on a sticker near the socket).
2. you are installing a low quality bulb. Try a more expensive name brand one.
3. The fixture is exposed to excessive movement and/or vibration, which can cause premature failure.
We just bought a new home and we're changing the outdoor
lights to CFL. The wall light by the main entrance didn't light on the CFL bulb that we put in, but other light bulbs work.
We tested that CFL bulb on other wall lights and it works. What do you think are the possible causes?
That's an interesting one! A couple of things come to mind: 1. Perhaps the center tab of the light sockets have been pushed down to the point
where they are only making intermittent contact with the bottom contact of the bulb. Try taking a small screwdriver and prying
up (only slightly) on the center tabs in the sockets. Make sure that the power is OFF before you do this, or you may get a
shock! 2. Is there a dimmer switch for this light? Many
CFL bulbs will not work on a dimmer, even if the dimmer is turned all the way up to full brightness.
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