4 Can Lights only shine dimly (ceilings, rooms, detector, kitchen)

[Johnhw2]

18 year old home. One of the main light sources in my kitchen is from 4 can lights all on the same circle. After 8 years of normal functioning, when turned on last evening, the lights all only came on very dimly.


What could this be? All can lights uniformly dim. No rheostat, to adjust brightness, on this circuit as on some in my home.



Any thing I should try before calling my electrician out?

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by Johnhw2

After 8 years of normal functioning, when turned on last evening, the lights all only came on very dimly.
Any thing I should try before calling my electrician out?

Change a bulb.

[Johnhw2]

Originally Posted by MrRational

Change a bulb.

Ok thanks will do, I flipped thr breaker and that did not fix it. I have one bulb out, will change it and see what happens. Im pretty certain this bulb was out when this occurred, well both before and after, but will try it then call an electrician if this doesnt fix it.



Got a short burst noise from one smoke detector too on my 20 foot ceiling. Put a lithium battery in all these about 5 years ago and was told they are 10 years batteries so calling him out on that claim and to fix it.

[JonahWicky]

Change the cans to LED bulbs and you won't have to worry about them for 10 years.

[K'ledgeBldr]

Change one bulb with a known new same wattage bulb. If the output looks the same it maynot be anything. But if the same bulb puts out more light in a different fixture I'd say you probably have a voltage drop/resistance, possibly at the switch.

[Johnhw2]

I replaced a bulb shortly before this happened. I did not check to see the bulb was the same as the others in place.



Is what happened the outcome I migh expect if the bulb is a different wattage bulb?


Thanks

[lvmensch]

Check the switch. Most likely suspect as all 4 are dim. Whatever is doing it is likely to be hot as well.

[Johnhw2]

Thanks very much. Will check it first then look at the bulbs for one not consistent wattage to change out

[Johnhw2]

Fixed it, replaced all four with LED 90 watt can lights. All are bright as can be now. Man that bulb was nearly twice the weight of the old bulbs replaced which were not LED. Thanks CD


This was the highest brightness available at the walmart super store. My wife's verdict is its too dim. How bright do these things go at a full service light source? Im searching amazon

[Johnhw2]

Now my wife thinks the chandelier lights, all bulbs are working, is not as bright as it use to be. We have not changed a bulb for years if ever (been in this home 8 years now when we put this fixture in). This is in the breakfast room which is adjacent to the kitchen where I had the issue on can lights which started my thread. Wife thinks it is not as bright as it once was, but Im not sure it could just be the LED light vs the old bulbs?


Can these two dim lights in adjoining rooms be related? I cant imagine how as they are separate circuits on different breakers, they might have wiring behind the walls and ceilings that are near each other is all I can think might be related?


Thanks in advance again.


If I had a device to measure the voltage at the switch would that show me if there was less power than expected at that point?