February 20, 2012 By ©2007-2012Author - Licensed Electrical Contractor Filed under Lighting, Recessed Can Light

2 Comments

Why Recessed Can Lights Turn On and Off

Why Recessed Can Lights Turn On and Off

 

Safety Feature of Recessed Lights Prevent Overheating

We have an existing, installed by the builder, recessed ceiling lamp located near the shower.

  • A flat toggle switch operates the lamp. My wife swears the light just comes on by itself and then off.
  • I told her to firmly switch the lamp off when using it.
  • She thinks I am the problem for not fixing a problem.
  • What is going on here (with the lamp)? condensation issues?
  • The lamp is cover by glass and has frame, any ideas?

This electrical question came from: Dan, a Homeowner from Petaluma, CA

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical question Dan.

The Safety Feature of Recessed Lights

  •  I’m very familiar with this situation. What is happening is that the recessed can lights have a high-temp safety switch mounted into the top of the can which will turn the light off when it gets too hot.
  • The light fixture then cools down and after a few minutes it will come back on. this is especially true with the Halo brand.
  • It is not a problem in fact it is a great safety feature that prevents over heating which could lead to a fire.
  • This is especially noticeable with recessed lights installed in showers because of the required tempered glass cover plate.

How To Fix This Recessed Lighting On-Off Problem

  • The remedy is to install a light bulb with a lower wattage.
  • If the bulb is a 60 watt then replace it with an energy saving 56 watt bulb and this will take care of the problem.

The Following links will assist you to Install and Wire Recessed Lighting

Lighting For The Home

Recessed lighting
halo-sm
How To Install Recessed Lighting
This article is about recessed lighting for your home electrical improvements. Discover how recessed lighting can enhance the mood of any room in your home.


Be Careful and Be Safe - Never Work on Energized Circuits!
Consult your Local Building Department about Permits and Inspections for all projects.
For Best Results Consult a Licensed Electrical Contractor in Your Area

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Comments

2 Responses to “Why Recessed Can Lights Turn On and Off”
  1. Dave Rongey says:
    October 26, 2010 at 6:09 pm

    Same thing here too Oscar, Check to see if your neutral wire is good. See the reply to Allan.
    Dave

  2. Oscar says:
    October 25, 2010 at 7:47 pm

    Dave and Dan, that is true, but my situation is somehat different. Some of the low voltage lamps in the same switch turn on and others do not. After a while some will turn off and others will turn on. I think the device has gone haywire….


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