- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
I went on a service call to check nonworking outside lights. I went as a favor for an electrician that wired it but lives too far from the area. Was told it was probably a bad photo cell. I don't just take someone's word without checking so that's what I did.
I found the PC had been taped up and was not functioning. I replaced it with new but still the lights didn't work. There were (8) gooseneck lights with Par38 bulbs and (8) wall sconce lights. The sconce lights all worked but none of the gooseneck lights.
I traced the wiring from the lights to a junction box. All the lights were connected from the PC under one wirenut. Figuring I had a bad connection, I re-did all the splices and replaced the wirenuts. Still no gooseneck lights.
I decided to check at one of the lights, I put in a regular bulb and it worked. I checked the flood bulb with my meter and it showed bad. I then checked the light next to it and found it was also blown. Since the lights were extremely hard to get to I didn't check the remaining lights. Just hoping (assuming) that they were blown as well since two of them were.
I don't think I have ever had so many lights not working and it be the bulbs. My thinking is:
Since the PC was taped up that the bulbs stayed on too long and all blew
or
They took a surge and blew
or
They went out one (or more) at a time (over time) and no one noticed until they were all out.
Thoughts as to what might have happened?
Also, this building is only a year or two old.
I found the PC had been taped up and was not functioning. I replaced it with new but still the lights didn't work. There were (8) gooseneck lights with Par38 bulbs and (8) wall sconce lights. The sconce lights all worked but none of the gooseneck lights.
I traced the wiring from the lights to a junction box. All the lights were connected from the PC under one wirenut. Figuring I had a bad connection, I re-did all the splices and replaced the wirenuts. Still no gooseneck lights.
I decided to check at one of the lights, I put in a regular bulb and it worked. I checked the flood bulb with my meter and it showed bad. I then checked the light next to it and found it was also blown. Since the lights were extremely hard to get to I didn't check the remaining lights. Just hoping (assuming) that they were blown as well since two of them were.
I don't think I have ever had so many lights not working and it be the bulbs. My thinking is:
Since the PC was taped up that the bulbs stayed on too long and all blew
or
They took a surge and blew
or
They went out one (or more) at a time (over time) and no one noticed until they were all out.
Thoughts as to what might have happened?
Also, this building is only a year or two old.