diodes in cans

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mnbiker

mnbiker

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Howdy, This is my first post, I have been reading this forum almost everday for the past couple of years, and I have gained a lot form it, thanks. Yesterday while i was changing some halagon floods to some compact flouresent floods about a dozen would not light. 38 total around perimeter of building. while trouble shooting I noticed I was only getting 60 volts to the recessed can sockets. When I opened up the j-box on the cans I saw what I think is a diode wired in seris with the lamp. After removing it all was fine. What would be a reason for having this set-up. thanks again for a excellant forum. Ted
 
No, i am not sure they are diodes, the are marked leviton, 300 watt, 120 volt and the line side is marked with a +, and a load side. cat #654. thanks Tedd
 
those were thermal overloads. for some reason compact fluorescents can cause problems with them.

i've called the manufacturer of the recessed lights i use, and they couldn't give me an answer as to why it happens. they're making a new recessed light now that says its specifically for a screw-type CFL. haven't checked the specs, but i'm guessing major difference is the thermal overload.
 
mnbiker said:
No, i am not sure they are diodes, the are marked leviton, 300 watt, 120 volt and the line side is marked with a +, and a load side. cat #654. thanks Tedd
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I believe diodes are sometimes used to extend incandescent lamp life.
 
These units were only in a few of the cans, and they were located in the j-box, not any where near the lamps. these cans are about 30 years old and are not IC rated.
 
mnbiker said:
No, i am not sure they are diodes, the are marked leviton, 300 watt, 120 volt and the line side is marked with a +, and a load side. cat #654. thanks Tedd
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Diodes are not rated like that. A diode spec would be something like 300 Reverse Bias Volts @ 10-amps forward bias. There is no wattage specification for a diode

The other thing that is throwing me is your voltage reading. You said you measured 60 volts, correct?
 
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yes, 60 volts from hot to neutral and hot to ground. the cans that did not have the unit in, I got the normal 120 to neutral/ground. one thing i noticed was the only cans that had the unit in them were the ones around the ceo,s offices. you can tell that these unit were added when the cans were first wired. thanks Ted
 
dereckbc said:
Diodes are not rated like that. A diode spec would be something like 300 Reverse Bias Volts @ 10-amps forward bias. There is no wattage specification for a diode

The other thing that is throwing me is your voltage reading. You said you measured 60 volts, correct?
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Not so fast, sir. It is possible that the manufacturer has enclosed a diode and some other components and given them thier own designation. All the info provided by the OP suggests a diode...

I did a search on Leviton's website and came up blank, but not surprising if the device is as old as the OP indicated. :grin:
 
I have installed a diode across the hall bath light switch, so it acts as a night-light.

Of course, this may not make UL happy, but I've only done it in my own house.
 
LarryFine said:
I have installed a diode across the hall bath light switch, so it acts as a night-light.

Of course, this may not make UL happy, but I've only done it in my own house.
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Thats an old trick from the 60's to make them old tube type TV sets be instant on.Not sure how safe this would be in a plastic box.
 
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