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Help with can lights/switch, not sure which

Posted on 4/19/21 at 7:50 am
Posted by VanRIch
Wherever
Member since Sep 2007
10998 posts
Posted on 4/19/21 at 7:50 am
I have a switch for our two front porch can lights, similar to the one posted below. Couple nights ago I noticed both lights were off. First thing I did was see if the programming on the switch was reset so tried manually turning them on, no luck. Next I obviously assumed that both bulbs had gone out, nope. I pulled the cans out to check for loose wiring but they seem to be good. My next guess is maybe the switch is hosed due to the power blinking off and on during the last few thunderstorms. But the switch is receiving power and other than the lights not working it seems to be functioning normally. What's the best way to test different components to narrow down the problem? Get a new standard switch and wire it up and see if the lights work? Something else? TIA


Posted by skidry
Member since Jul 2009
3439 posts
Posted on 4/19/21 at 8:08 am to
Did you check for power at the cans with a meter with the switch on? Some can lights are rated for a certain wattage and if they get too hot will shut down. However I wouldn’t think they would both go off at exactly the same time and they should come back on after a while.
Posted by VanRIch
Wherever
Member since Sep 2007
10998 posts
Posted on 4/19/21 at 8:10 am to
I did not. I got my multimeter out a week ago for something else and somehow one of the wires got pulled out. So I need to run by HF and pick up another.
Posted by skidry
Member since Jul 2009
3439 posts
Posted on 4/19/21 at 8:28 am to
You could pull the switch and short the hot to neutral. If they come on them you’re switch is bad.
Posted by VanRIch
Wherever
Member since Sep 2007
10998 posts
Posted on 4/19/21 at 8:43 am to
Are you saying touch the white and black wires to themselves coming out of the wall? Will I not electrocute myself? Sorry, electricity makes me nervous.
Posted by skidry
Member since Jul 2009
3439 posts
Posted on 4/19/21 at 9:00 am to


You could. If you know which breaker you could turn it off. If not, a good set of tools will keep you from getting shocked. Not worth it if you’re not comfortable.

ETA yes touch the black and white together.
This post was edited on 4/19/21 at 9:03 am
Posted by VanRIch
Wherever
Member since Sep 2007
10998 posts
Posted on 4/19/21 at 9:36 am to
Ok, just pulled the switch and here’s what it looks like. Hot, Load, Neutral and Ground? So try connecting the hot and the neutral from the wall?

ETA: Well I tried this and turned the breaker back on and it just kept tripping. But I didn't do anything with the black that is daisy chained to the load wire? So what now? haha


This post was edited on 4/19/21 at 9:44 am
Posted by skidry
Member since Jul 2009
3439 posts
Posted on 4/19/21 at 9:52 am to
I’m an idiot. You have to short the load and hot wires. If you short hot to nuetral you will in fact trip the breaker.
This post was edited on 4/19/21 at 9:54 am
Posted by kengel2
Team Gun
Member since Mar 2004
32880 posts
Posted on 4/19/21 at 9:56 am to
Did you try resetting the switch? Find the instructions and there is probably a button to hold to reset it.

Posted by VanRIch
Wherever
Member since Sep 2007
10998 posts
Posted on 4/19/21 at 9:59 am to
So I was able to wire it up based on a diagram I found on the internet but the lights still didn't come on. I guess maybe the first can in the run is bad?
Posted by skidry
Member since Jul 2009
3439 posts
Posted on 4/19/21 at 10:10 am to
I wouldn’t expect them to be in series so that one causes the other to fail.
Posted by VanRIch
Wherever
Member since Sep 2007
10998 posts
Posted on 4/19/21 at 10:11 am to
Another update, I found the switch that I took out when I put this programmable one in and I was to get in touch with my nephew who used to work for an electrician and he told me the right way to wire it up. Lights came on so I have a bad switch evidently. Thanks for the help H&G!
Posted by VanRIch
Wherever
Member since Sep 2007
10998 posts
Posted on 4/19/21 at 10:12 am to
quote:

Did you try resetting the switch? Find the instructions and there is probably a button to hold to reset it.


Yes, I tried this before doing anything.
Posted by UPGDude
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2021
646 posts
Posted on 4/19/21 at 11:25 am to
All that's gonna do is make sure the breaker works! Don't do that!
Posted by tbrud
Thibodaux
Member since Sep 2004
153 posts
Posted on 4/19/21 at 12:22 pm to
If you checked breaker already, check to see if you have a GFI on the same circuit and reset it.
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