whats wrong with my light?

[loltolhurst]

Hi,

I have halogen recessed spotlights in my kitchen ( 10 ) and with one of them the light is not working. I assumed it was the bulb so replaced it and it worked. about 4 weeks later it stopped working again so i replaced the bulb again and it worked for another week. It now does not work again. Its not the bulb as if I swap it with another it works ( in the other socket ).

I presume its the socket is there anything I can do to get it to work? all the other sockets are fine.

Thanks

[Road2Ruin]

loltolhurst said:

Hi,

I have halogen recessed spotlights in my kitchen ( 10 ) and with one of them the light is not working. I assumed it was the bulb so replaced it and it worked. about 4 weeks later it stopped working again so i replaced the bulb again and it worked for another week. It now does not work again. Its not the bulb as if I swap it with another it works ( in the other socket ).

I presume its the socket is there anything I can do to get it to work? all the other sockets are fine.

Thanks

Sounds like a loose conection as the act of changing the bult must move it slightly and make a conection temporarily. Try taking it out and having a look. It might also be the conectors to the bulb in which case it will need replacing.

[loltolhurst]

how do i take it out as the wires wont pull down any further - does the whole unit pull down or will i just rip it off / out?

thanks

[pmanson]

Should be able to pull the whole unit down (it'll be held in by two flexible retaining clips.

Worth getting a test light to check for live connections beforehand though

[Plotloss]

12v or 240v?

If its a 12v the transformer could be fked.

[loltolhurst]

now what?! the light bulb says 12v on it if that helps

[Road2Ruin]

Plotloss said:

12v or 240v?

If its a 12v the transformer could be fked.

Doesnt more than one light work from each transformer though? If so then more than one light would stop working.

[mk1fan]

Going on the photo it looks like you have eiher;
a, individual transformers per fitting. In which case check it's wired / connected properly. If it is then the transformer is broken.
b, you have one transformer serving multiple units. In which case you've got a short in the wiring somewhere.

[Streetrod]

mk1fan said:

Going on the photo it looks like you have eiher;
a, individual transformers per fitting. In which case check it's wired / connected properly. If it is then the transformer is broken.
b, you have one transformer serving multiple units. In which case you've got a short in the wiring somewhere.

+ 1 on that. It is probably a short in the light unit itself

[Plotloss]

Road2Ruin said:

Plotloss said:

12v or 240v?

If its a 12v the transformer could be fked.

Doesnt more than one light work from each transformer though? If so then more than one light would stop working.

Depends how they are wired.

A transformer per fitting is the more common way to do it.

I still reckon the transformer is fked.

Robots in disguise, the crafty fkers.

[Z4monster]

You could try replacing the ceramic holder/connector first of all. I had an enclosed shower light which kept blowing bulbs. Once i'd replaced the tail withthe buld holder on the end it worked ok again. They are pretty crap really and can short against the bulb prongs.

[Gingerbread Man]

Take the bulb out and put a meter on the connections. See what you are getting with it turned on.

Undo the black box on top of it and check the wiring. From the picture it doesn't look shut properly, have you been playing or is this just how it is?

[loltolhurst]

right have narrowed it down to this thing - what are they called and where do i get one?! Thanks!

[PH5121]

I would refer to it as a low voltage lamp holder.
You can purchase them from Electrical wholesalers such as City Electrical Factors, Edmundson Electrical, Newey & Eyre etc (there are hundreds of them, just find one local to you)

[loltolhurst]

PH5121 said:

I would refer to it as a low voltage lamp holder.
You can purchase them from Electrical wholesalers such as City Electrical Factors, Edmundson Electrical, Newey & Eyre etc (there are hundreds of them, just find one local to you)

thanks