Recessed Lighting Problems

I have a recessed light that the thermal protector has gone bad. Where can I purchase just the thermal protector.

Thank You
Al

Al,
At an electrical supply house that sells the brand of recessed light.

I have a group of six recessed lights in my kitchen, it has been working fine for a couple of years after installation. Now that whenever I replaced these bulbs (same wattage as I have always used), the bulbs will blown out after just a few days (vs. over a year or two before), what could be the problem? how should I fix this? thanks very much!

John,
I have a column here at the website about this exact situation. Always try to spend time browsing past columns.

Tim,
We had our kitchen redone lately and had a lot of recessed lighting installed. But they give off this high-pitched whistle or hum. Not all the time, but when they do, it's very annoying. What's causing it? And how we can make it stop? I'm concerned we're going to get all the neighborhood dogs in our yard once it's nice enough out to open up the windows!
Mary

Mary,
I have never heard of this symptom. Is it related to when the wind blows outdoors? Buy dog biscuits in bulk.......

Tim,

I installed six recessed lights in my MBR. I am having a littile trouble with the wiring. I am trying to wirie the lights to an existing power source controlling my ceiling fan in the room. I also bought a dimmer switch to control the recessed light. Problem is when I connect the the wire from the last recessed light that that is seriesed togehter from the six lights, to the power source from the fan, I get nothing as far as power to the recessed lights. The only thing that happens is when I turn on the dimmer switch, well it now controls the fan. What am I doing wrong. Food for thoguht I know for a fact that the power source coming from the breaker box is seriesed to several outlet in the the MBR to include the ceiling fan. Could that be the problem?

Patrick,
This will sound nuts, but watch my video titled Light Switch Wiring. When you understand the basics, you will get it right. You need to separate in your head where the power is, how it gets to the switch and then how it gets to the first light.

Hi Tim - my case is different. I have 3 lights wired together, 2 ressed, 1 light fixture, all using the switch at the top of the steps. Intially, only one recessed light would not come on when the switch was flipped on, but the others would come on. A couple minutes later it would come on also. But now, when I flip the switch, it takes 1-2 minutes before they come on. Almost like they are warming up. I changed the light fixture, the switch at the top of the steps and all the bulbs. I think I have it narrowed down to a specific recessed light, but......? What do you think?

Rob,
I think you need to call in an electrician..... or a good handyman that can test all connections and that you have the correct bulbs in place.

Hi,
We have recessed lighting throughout most of our house, installed during renovations done abut 5 years ago. Intermittently, the cans fall and dangle from the celing. How do you fix and prevent this?
Chester

Chester,
Check to see if the retention springs are bent in too far.

Hello Tim

I want to replace the 3-way switchs on top and bottom of the stairs. I have the old bx cable wires on both switches. I figured it will be easy to replace it just by the wires. As you know bx wire are not colored. I removed the wires before I labeled it and know I don't know which on is which. I used a light tester and there is 2 live wire (with power) and 1 that doesn't have power. How do I know which one is the common and the travels?

I have just moved house and need to change a recessed light in my kitchen, I have removed the wire and tried twisting and pushing to remove the bulb with no result. any advise welcomed
Chris

Hi,

I read above about the high pitch sound or buzzing when the the lights are connected to a dimmer. but didn't see a resolution.

I have this same problem. All three rooms have a dimmer that control each set of recessed lighting. When they are on full power the buzzing is eliminated, but when they are dimmed (to any lower setting) they produce this buzzing sound. Is this normal?

Thanks,
Patrick

How do you know if thermal protector is bad?

Tim,

While changing one of recessed light bulbs, I turned to hard and the light went out. When I removed the bulb, one of the 3 copper "pins" popped out. We were not able to locate it. Ideas?

Thanks.

I have had an energy audit and they identified drafts through my recessed lighting. They recommended airtight inserts/baffles to replace the ones that were installed with the recessed lighting. Do I have to worry about such after-market air-tight inserts/baffles trapping heat or not allowing enough air circulation to the fixture, as you mention above?

Hi,
I am trying to install recessed lights. They are on a circuit with 2 receptacles. The lights are on 3 conductor wire to a duplex switch (9 lights on one side and 3 on the other). The receptacles are fine (DMM shows this). The lights have a ground fault (I think). At one fixture hot to neutral is 90V, neutral to ground is 9V, hot to ground is 120V. At the switch it is the same but the other neutral (3rd wire) is about 14V to ground. So, I know I screwed up. I did the wiring before installing a T&G ceiling. I know where to cut the holes in the ceiling to find the leads for the fixtures. I only tested each wire drop to see if it had current with a proximity type voltage tester. Dumb, dumb, dumb. I know I should've tested to verify actual voltages. Because the receptacle is OK I know it is somewhere between the gang box and the fixtures. I *think* it must be between the gang box and switch but I'm not certain of that. I'm going to cut in and go to the gang box where all of this stuff comes together and test further. Any recommendations as to how to track down the ground fault if it isn't caused by some problem at the main gang?

Thanks,
Michael

My kitchen has four recessed lights. I use 65w 120v GE bulbs. They usally last 4-6 months. One, however, has went out twice in a few weeks. It hums for a day or so and goes out. There is no dimming or flickering. I checked for excess voltage, and they all four show 113v. What could it be? Loose wires?

hello tim,

I am planning on installing recessed lighting fixtures in my living room, which has living space above it. I plan on using an IC airtight fixture, but want to know if there is a code for the minimul air space between the top of the can and the floor above it. Thank you.

I can't seem to find your past columns on your website. Can you please direct me to them? I am having a problem with recessed lighting. I have had them installed for 20+ years in my kitchen. All of a sudden, one of them (there are 4) has dedided to have a mind of it's own going on and off by itself. Is it the thermal protection switch that has gone bad?

I've bought a funky new hanging light fixture that I want to put in an alcove that now has a recessed can light. How complex is this? I've changed out regular fixtures myself before with any problem-but assume this will have some differences. Thanks.

I'm an electrician, your best bet is to get a qualified electrician there to diagnose the problem and wire the lights to the NEC and NFPA standards. Incorrect wiring can cause electricution or an arc from faulty wiring can cause a fire. Both can result in death.

Hi Tim,

I have intalled a recessed light to replace an existing one in the basement and everything was fine. I intalled a second one in serie and now the two lights are working but seems at half brightness...
Did i plugged somethong wrong or they just need a seperate power source directly from the panel (because now they are charring power with 4 plugs.)

Thx in advance,

Hugo

i just moved into a rent house. i realized that the porch light will not come on. I have tried replacing the bulb and that did not work. i have flipped every light switch in the house and nothing works. the outside light on the side of the house works just fine what do i need to do? please help!!!!

two nights ago i switched the kitchen lights on and when they came on there was hardley any light coming from them and also it switched the living room lights on now when you switch the room lights on it turns the kitchen ones on but they are still dull and only one set of lights work in the room i have put some lights up in the room about a month ago but they have been fine up untill now , any ideas thanks.

My lights cut off one by one. I have a set of six. What could the reason be. The lights are located in the basement.

Hi Rob,

My problem seems to be different.

I have 6 recessed lights controlled by a single switch in my kitchen. They use R40 SLS15 or SLS20 bulbs.

When i turn on only 4 of them turn on and the other 2 seem to have a brain of their own. (It is not heating problem as they are not on) These will turn on after 5 mins or 30 mins or some time in between. Once on they stay on till i turn off. Recently i'm seeing 1 of them is taking even longer to turn on.

Checked the bulb and it is good. Voltage tester shows no problems.

What could this be.

Thanks,

We instralled recessed lighting during our recent remodel. We now notice that the house gets dustier quicker and the volume of dust seems to be triple what it was before we opened up the ceiling to recessed light fixtures. Can dust be filtering thru the light fixtures from the attic into our living areas?

I have two banks of recessed lights in my kitchen operated by a double switch. One set has just stopped working. I have checked all the connections and by-passed the switch but I just can't get the second bank to work. Suggestions please?

I have friend and she has 9 ceiling recessed lamps.
Of the 9 one row, 3 lamps cannot be turned on when the switch is in the on position.
What is the likely cause? There is no access to the ceiling.
Thank you for your advice in advance.

Hi. I have a problem. I have 6 recessed lights in my living room, and live silverfish bugs keep dropping out of one of them. It is very disturbing to have this problem for obvious reasons. What can I do to fix this problem? Any suggestions ? Please help. I would appreciate any help at all. Thank you.

I have recessed lights in my Kitchen and MBath and I noticed on cold winter days they will sweat(leaving a ring of water around the base of the ceiling). What can I do to fix this and would it be simpler to just put in drop down lights?-Thanks

Hi All
I have 9 recessed lights(3 lines of 3) but 2 on one line and 1 on another line are not working even though i have replaced the bulbs for each.Please advise

thanks
Gerry

i just bought a house with a lot of recessed lights. almost all have air blowing through them, alot!! what can we do? i cnt get to all of them in the attic?

Hello Tim, I have a recessed can light in my living room that just recently started acting up. It'll get dim and bright randomly. I thought it was the bulb, but it is below the specified wattage. Does sound like the overheating problem that you are referring to in this article?

I have 8 recessed lights in my kitchen. 2 of the 8 randomly turn themselves on and off. I went tonight and replaced then with new can lights based on the responses about the thermal sensors. The same exact problem still occurs. I cannot believe that I would have 2 new lights that both have bad thermal sensors. I also changed the bulbs from one that was working properly with one that was not. This did not matter. Even with a bulb in a can that I know works in the new can, it still cycles on and off. Any thoughts?

Finally, there is no insallation above these lights. They are in a partial wall right above the cabinets below the main ceiling line and therefore have no insallation. I am at a complete loss...

Any help is appreciated!!!

I am going to purchase this new home and want to install recessed can light 6 inches for 4 of them in the master room and other rooms too however the builder already prewired in the middle of the ceiling for any light fixture that we can add my own light fixture on my own because it is already prewired however if i want to install the recessed can light that i either have to open another switch or use the existing switch that mean i can' use the middle prewired if i want to put a fan or any light fixture in the future. My question is to you, is that too much recessed can light to install in one room 4 of them for every room or just use the prewire and just add a light fixture there instead of add the extra 4 excessed can light. will the extra excessed light make the room brighter , 60watt the most or can it go higher?

Hi Tim,

I had the same problem with flickering lights and feeling cold air blowing through the fixture. Doing some research on the web I found this website, as well as a product to cover up recessed lights. These Tenmat covers worked great for me.

I have 6 recessed lights in the kitchen controlled by two switches. All six were using compact fluorescent bulbs The lights were on and then 5 of the 6 started blinking and then died. I checked the bulbs from the 5 that died and they were all still good. I noticed that this happened as we were using the toaster oven, microwave and the then the dishwasher was turned on.

thanks
Tony

Hi Tim,

We have moved into our new house. There are four recessed can lights in the kitchen and we replaced all of them with energy efficient bulbs which are compatible with dimmer switch. When the dimmer switch is turned on to the max, one of the four lights turn off after 30 to 40 minutes while the others remain on. We asked the builder and we were told that there were no insulation above as there is a game room above the kitchen. They changed the can but the problem is still there. Do you know what can be the problem and how to solve it?

Thanks.

We had a leak and after repairing it,we needed to repaint the water spot around the inner can. It will not push back in and stay up.

I have recessed lighting in my kitchen. Sometimes the lights fall out of the hole they are in, casing and all and just hang by the wires. Like the clips aren't holding them in anymore. What can I do to ensure they dont fall out anymore?

Tim,

I have recessed lighting in my cathedral celing ( ten individual lights) I live in a very cold climate and there seems to be a sever moisture problem with the lights, they leak like crazy after a cold snap and then it wars up above freezing. They are dripping in to my living room and getting water on every thing. Obvisouly I have an air flow issue is they any simple fix that me as a relatively amature home owner can do to fix this problem?

Hi Tim,

We had 6 small recessed lights with a dimmer installed in our cathedral ceiling living room a few months ago. All of the sudden only two work. The dimmer no longer dims the lights that do turn on. Do you have any idea what may be causing this?

Thank you, Barbara

Make sure the proper light bulbs made for recessed can lights are being used. Ordinary round light bulbs will cause overheating and the heat cycling you described.


to Patrick: for one, a light dimmer shouldn't be used on a fan motor, it is only for lights as the motor will burn out the dimmer. Only a fan controller should be used to change the speed of a fan. You have probably destroyed the dimmer so throw it away. I would suggest a qualified electrician to make sure the connections and wiring is correct and SAFE. Good electricians don't cost, they pay.

Hi,

Our landlord installed six recessed lights in our living room. The lights worked fine for a year or so. After a couple of them burnt out and we tried to replace them. We looked inside the housing and bought the 50W bulbs as recommended. However, now the thermal switch keeps going off. The landlord suggested using a 35W bulb despite the label on the housing. Is this safe?

Hi Tim,

I have recessed lighting as well as a fan in my bathroom and am wondering if it is possible to install a dimmer with a remote and if there is a specific one that you would reccomend.

Thanks!

I installed some canned lights in my office about a year and a half ago. They worked well until about six months ago when I started hearing a metallic pinging noise from them. It sounds like the metal is expanding and contracting as they warm up and cool down. I've checked the wattage on the bulbs, and gone into the attic to be sure that none of the insulation has shifted and gotten too close to them. Any ideas?

Good morning Tim,

I installed 5 non IC can recessed lamps in the kitchen. All great, But I don't like the draft they are causing. I have seen covers on line stating the covers are for IC & non IC lamps. http://www.amazon.com/Tenmat-FF130E-Recessed-Light-Cover/dp/B002XVPUAO

What is your opinion ?