Any electrical savvy people able to help? - Lighting

[TheCarMadDad]

Hi chaps

I'm scratching my head here...

In my lounge I have a ceiling light fixture with 5 G4 bulbs attached to it. The same as this one here...

http://www.diy.com/departments/aero-chrome-effect-...

Turned the lights on this morning and four of the bulbs had gone, replaced all four but they still wouldn't work. Went down to B&Q to get another fixture and replaced, four bulbs still not working.

I'm totally puzzled now, could it be the electrics in my house? I hope not as its only a year old!

Anyone ever experienced anything similar?!

Thanks in advance...

[Laurel Green]

I wouldn't expect it to be the house lighting circuit if one of the bulbs is still working; more likely to be the wiring in the fixture.

[Salesy]

If you've changed the fitting and 4 lamps do not work i would suggest you have dodgy lamps. Try moving the known working one to each holder and see what happens.

[TheCarMadDad]

Just tried the one working bulb in the 4 none working sockets, it didn't work in any of them, thinking it's got to be wiring now?

[Rickyy]

I'd imagine the light probably has a transformer and associated wiring built into it, it's most likely an internal wiring fault as opposed to the house wiring.

[SS2.]

Wiring in the fitting, perhaps - not likely to be house wiring external to the fitting because, as has already been said, you've got one working bulb which shows there must be juice getting to the fitting.

Do you have a multimeter ? If so, you could [carefully] check the voltage at each bulb holder. The meter could also be used to check continuity between each of the brown / blue [output] wires in the fitting to each side of each bulb holder.

Do not do this if you are in any way unsure what to check for !!

I take it you did pick up the correct voltage G4 capsules (ie does the fitting use a 240v > 12v transformer or are the bulbs straight mains powered) ?

Edited by SS2. on Monday 19th September 20:25

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Just to be clear, when you removed the light fitting from the ceiling, what wires were coming out of the ceiling? We need to figure out whether the bulbs are powered separately (doubtful) or powered altogether (much more likely).

Were there three twin-and-earth cables protruding from the hole in the ceiling plaster? I.e. two cables for the ring, and one acting as feed and return to the light switch? If that's the case then the whole light fitting is powered as if it were a single light (this is nearly always the case), and hence it is impossible for the house wiring to be providing power to just one of the bulbs without powering the others. In that case, it must be a problem with the wiring of the light fitting - but in that case how come the replacement didn't work either?

What type of bulb are they?* That will give us a clue as to whether the light fitting has a transformer in it (e.g. if the bulbs are 12V MR16). Do the bulbs have screw fittings or bayonet? Do they have stubby contacts or pin-like contacts, or are the contacts flat 'domes' of metal?

Pictures may also help.

Edited to add: If the link you supplied is for the exact fitting you're talking about, then it says it takes G4 capsules, which are 12V so there must be a transformer built into the base. If you've had two fittings with the same fault, then perhaps there's a common design fault that causes four of the bulb feeds to fail and leaves one working.

* Sorry, I've realised you did say G4.

Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Monday 19th September 20:44

[richelli]

Could you post a photo of the connections on the base of the lamp

[TheCarMadDad]

Chaps,

Really appreciate the help so far.

I'm going to whip it back off again tomorrow and post some pics and come back with all the relevant info. I can't get it off again now as it's my only light source.

Will report back

[TheCarMadDad]

Morning,

Here is a pic of the fixture itself. As you can see it has a transformer inside and takes 12v G4 bulbs. Is there anyway of telling if the transformer is shot or would all bulbs not work if it was buggered?

Think I'm going to have to try a new fixture all together.

[Sheepshanks]

It's baffling (at least to me) why you should get the same result from both fittings, and why it should suddenly fail on 4 of the bulbs. You're not using LED bulbs, are you?

The only thing I will say it we had a multi arm fitting which used 10W versions of the same bulb, but had 10 of them, and the contacts in the holders deteriorated such that some wouldn't work at all. But that happened over a period of time.

[turbospud]

unscrew the transformer and check the connection from transformer output flex onto the singles going to each lamp,its usually not soldered properly

[TheCarMadDad]

I too the transformer and main part of the fixture apart and found this.... doesn't look too healthy! 😉



So a new light fixture it is. At least the missus will be happy!

It doesn't solve the new one not working, ah well maybe they're just all st in this particular fixture.

Thanks for all your help chaps, greatly appreciated!

[stanwan]

Where on earth did you buy that from!???

[SS2.]

Blimey. That's, err, shocking..

[dazwalsh]

From.the link in Op, looks to be B+Q

[turbospud]

cheap chinese rubbish,see it all the time,keep paying the insurance

[Sheepshanks]

TheCarMadDad said:

It doesn't solve the new one not working, ah well maybe they're just all st in this particular fixture.

Didn't you say the new one exhibited the same fault?

If it does, then those fittings ought to be withdrawn.

[essayer]

turbospud said:

cheap chinese rubbish,see it all the time,keep paying the insurance

terrifying that this stuff is allowed to be on sale, no doubt in a pretty box but manufactured for the lowest possible price - sellers should be prosecuted for selling tat like this, major PLC or not

[essayer]

OP, I'd be inclined to report this to Trading Standards