Common Problems with Light Fixture Wiring and How to Repair Them
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The Most Common Problems with Light Fixture Wiring and How to Repair Them: Inspecting the Light Fixture Wiring, Reinstalling the Light Fixture, Resetting a Tripped Circuit Breaker. |
How to Repair Lost Power to a Light Circuit
Electrical Questions about Light Circuit Problems:
Question from Brian, a Homeowner from Rochester, New York:
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- My neighbor was replacing a light fixture in my basement laundry room, when all of a sudden something popped.
- He said he accidentally crossed a wire.
- Well after that some of my wall outlets and ceiling light fixtures upstairs stopped working.
- Unfortunately I can not afford an electrician.
- What can I do to get my house electrical straightened out?
- My neighbor was replacing a light fixture in my basement laundry room, when all of a sudden something popped.
Question from Carol, in Jacksonville, Florida:
- I replaced a ballast in a bathroom fixture over at my neighbors home yesterday.
- The switch was off so I wasn’t too concerned about capping off the exposed wire (they wouldn’t fit through the back of the fixture with a wire nut on the end of it) so I just left them off.
- I noticed that as I threaded the wiring back through the fixture that a light in the adjoining bedroom went out.
- I lost power to the bedroom and the bath.
- The GFI didn’t trip and neither did the panel box. I can’t find anything tripped.
- The switch that feeds the bathroom fixture is an LED toggle style.
- In addition, there is a ceiling fan and light switch in the bedroom that are the same.
- Non of them will toggle anymore.
- What have I done to my neighbors home? Any suggestions?
Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical wiring questions Brian and Carol.
Both of these problems of lost power when working on light fixture electrical wiring can be repaired by reviewing the following possible causes.
Common Problems with Light Fixture Wiring and How to Repair Them
Causes of Lost Power After Changing a Light Fixture
There is a good possibility that the problem is either a tripped circuit breaker, or a problem in the light fixture wiring. If the light is not working there may be a loose wire that did not make connection, or was left out of a wire connection all together.
Guide to Resetting a Circuit Breaker
- Inspecting the Light Fixture Wiring
- There is a good possibility that the problem is either a tripped circuit breaker, or a wiring problem in the light fixture wiring.
- Most likely there is a loose wire that did not make connection, or was left out of a wire connection all together.
- The fixture will need to be removed so the wiring connections can be inspected.
- Reinstalling the Light Fixture
- Make sure the wiring is tucked back into the electrical box so wires cannot get pinched by the light fixture cover.
- Check to make sure that the mounting screws are correct and the length is sized properly to avoid being screwed into the fixture wires.
- Mount the light fixture into place and adjust to orientation of the light fixture as needed for proper alignment.
- Resetting a Tripped Circuit Breaker
- A tripped circuit breaker appears to have the switch handle in the mid position, or it could be all the way off.
- Locate the circuit breaker, make sure it is turned all the way off, then switch it back into the on position.
- If the circuit breaker trips off then there is still a problem with the light fixture wiring which will need to be inspected and repaired.
More about Troubleshooting Electrical Wiring
- Troubleshooting Lost Power
- Licensed Electrician Reveals the Secrets of Successful Electrical Troubleshooting Methods used to solve the majority of the home electrical problems and wiring failures encountered.
Basement and Laundry Room Wiring
- Laundry Room Electrical Wiring
- A review of laundry room wiring with code requirements for most new or remodel projects.
Basic Basement Electrical Wiring
- https://ask-the-electrician.combasement-electrical-wiring.html”>Basement Electrical Wiring
- Basement wiring with code requirements for most new or remodel projects.
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I recently changed the light in my bathroom. All working well for several weeks. Suddenly last night the lights go out, no pops or fuses blowing or tripping or anything dramatic. I checked the connections in both the fixture and the switch and both are fine but still no light.
Checked voltage in light and was 0V.
Nothing has changed it simply switched off and won’t come back on. The hall light is on the same switch and is working fine.
Any ideas?
Cheers,
Rick
Hi Rick,
The voltage should be checked at the primary side of the light switch, and any associated wire splices of both the line and the neutral.
Be Safe,
Dave
We installed a ceiling light fixture nine months ago, and it has worked fine. Yesterday the light stopped working. We checked all the wiring with a probe, and there was no electricity even to wires in the box in the ceiling. We checked all the breakers. All the outlets on that same breaker source are working, only electricity to light fixture is out. what do I do next?
Hi Denise,
Troubleshooting the light circuit wiring is essential, especially testing the wall switch wiring. The nearest outlets that are on the same circuit should be inspected for circuit wiring problems as well.
Dave