Lights out

**Eliminator** · 22-04-2009, 09:12 AM

A friend is having trouble with lights under the fan he has outdoors. I've checked the sockets with power on and it gets 240+ volts to each of them but when a bulb is put in they don't work (tried bulbs on another lamp and they do work).

The problem originated when a bulb burnt out and after replacement it wouldn't work. It does have a remote control also for the fan and lights and there is over 9 volts showing on this. It has spaces for 2 bulbs and power does come to both. I can't figure this out. The only thing I can come up with is that the remote section in the box above has a problem when a bulb is put in.

Any help with this on what could be wrong and how to fix it, please let me know. Thanks.

**lob** · 22-04-2009, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by Eliminator

A friend is having trouble with lights under the fan he has outdoors. I've checked the sockets with power on and it gets 240+ volts to each of them but when a bulb is put in they don't work (tried bulbs on another lamp and they do work).

The problem originated when a bulb burnt out and after replacement it wouldn't work. It does have a remote control also for the fan and lights and there is over 9 volts showing on this. It has spaces for 2 bulbs and power does come to both. I can't figure this out. The only thing I can come up with is that the remote section in the box above has a problem when a bulb is put in.

Any help with this on what could be wrong and how to fix it, please let me know. Thanks.

difficult from afar. are they screw in lamps ?. if so try a faint smear of Vaseline on the thread. ive had the same prob with cheap downlighters, cheap being the prob.

**Jesus Jones** · 22-04-2009, 02:22 PM

^As he said, and make sure the 2 contacts inside the light fitting are ok, they may have rusted. Obviously make sure you turn the main power off before doing anything to the light fittings first.

**lom** · 22-04-2009, 02:23 PM

Could it be that the lamp has a built-in dimmer in which case you prolly need to use
traditional bulbs and not neon type bulbs.

**Thetyim** · 22-04-2009, 02:27 PM

If it is MES screw-in then check that the centre contact is actually making contact with the bulb.
It might need a quick tweek

**Jesus Jones** · 22-04-2009, 02:30 PM

If he has tested it at 240v at the contacts then there shouldn't be an issue. Normal incandescent or flourescent with ballast (not the tube type) can be used.

**Thai Pom** · 22-04-2009, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by Thetyim

It might need a quick tweek

Power off !!!!

**lom** · 22-04-2009, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by Jesus Jones

If he has tested it at 240v at the contacts then there should be an issue. Normal incandescent or flourescent with ballast (not the tube type) can be used.

Nope.
Most thyristor based dimmers have a minimum load requirement of ~20-25W and
wont work with energy saving neon bulbs.

**DrAndy** · 22-04-2009, 02:55 PM

I had a similar problem on a spotlight, so it was fairly obvious that the fitting was at fault,not the bulb

as has been said, make sure the contacts inside the fitting are correctly aligned and not rusty

if it is more than one bulb not working, then that may be a different cause!

when one blew out, was the other still working?

**Jesus Jones** · 22-04-2009, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by lom

Originally Posted by Jesus Jones

If he has tested it at 240v at the contacts then there should be an issue. Normal incandescent or flourescent with ballast (not the tube type) can be used.

Nope.
Most thyristor based dimmers have a minimum load requirement of ~20-25W and
wont work with energy saving neon bulbs.

I wasn't refering to neon bulbs. Hence me quoting incandescent or flourescent with ballast (3U type) And if he's tested it at 240v then he hasn't dimmed or has a dimmer switch.

**Whiteshiva** · 22-04-2009, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by Jesus Jones

Obviously make sure you turn the main power off before doing anything to the light fittings first.

I almost felt like redding you for that - looked like were about to have a Darwin Award nomination coming up......

**Jesus Jones** · 22-04-2009, 04:18 PM

^Please do, I haven't had one for a while.

There are those that do the most stupidest things.

**More Volts Igor** · 22-04-2009, 04:58 PM

I think the OP is close when he says the remote electronics is dead.

It's quite possible that the fitting electronics is fried. Any leakage through the module will give you a full mains reading on your digital meter.

Bridging across the input / output will return light power, but no remote.

**Eliminator** · 23-04-2009, 06:52 AM

I tired both types of bulbs and neither of them work. I even pull out the center contact a bit to make sure it was making contact with the bottom of the bulbs. Thanks guys and MVI, I'll check with my friend to see if he wants me to bridge it and do away with the remote and see if it works.

**HINO** · 23-04-2009, 08:22 AM

Without being able to see the light bulb socket i may venture a guess?

I had a couple of lights that i wanted to change the type of bulb. When I screwed in the bulb from a known working fixture the light would not work. When i removed it and put into another fixture is worked fine.

What I finally figured out was the lamp fixture had a plastic inner reflector ring that would not allow the base of the bulb to screw all the way in and seat at the base and hence no contact with the center contact of the socket. I determined I could only use a light bulb with a specific diameter that would clear the plastic reflector ring and screw all the down in to the socket

So is it possible this is a problem here?

**DrAndy** · 23-04-2009, 02:12 PM

do you get a shock if you put your finger in the light socket?

**lob** · 23-04-2009, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by DrAndy

do you get a shock if you put your finger in the light socket?

stoppit, stoppit.

**DrAndy** · 23-04-2009, 09:58 PM

The rules in Thailand vary from village to village

some "electricians" use their fingers as a test method, others use their friends, or customers

I have yet to see anyone use a dead frog, which is an excellent test meter

There is talk of the use of soi dogs in Udon

**Eliminator** · 24-04-2009, 05:49 AM

Hino, it's just a basic socket and no ring around it, so that's not the problem.

drandy, you're welcome to come stick your big nose into the socket as I'm sure I'll get better info from that rather than your childish attempts at humor on here.

**DrAndy** · 24-04-2009, 02:07 PM

oh dear Eliminator

sorry you have no room in your life for a little humour, but no need to be rude

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