Lighting Problem (heat, installed, kitchen, compare)

[Blondy]

I have 6 can lights in my kitchen.

Also, 2 can lights over an adjacent kitchen bar on a different switch.

Recently, they are not working right and the lights go out and come back on in both places in no discernible pattern.

Couple cans will go out. Then they come back on. Then others go out. And then they come back on.

Any idea what would cause this or anything I can do before calling an electrician?

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

I hate those can lights. Is it possible they are just not screwed in all the way?

I had a friend who was a bar tender many years ago and the bar had a big mirror in back, with the round lightbulbs all around it. One of her jobs was to dust and screw all the lights back in, because gravity would eventually unscrew them.

Just a thought.

[Blondy]

Thanks, but we checked that and they are all screwed in.

[K'ledgeBldr]

Most recessed fixtures have thermal switches-

Got the right type of bulb installed?

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Bummer. That would have been nice and easy.

[Blondy]

Originally Posted by K'ledgeBldr

Most recessed fixtures have thermal switches-

Got the right type of bulb installed?

Hmmm......how do I know whats the right type of bulb? As far as I know, they are the same type of bulbs that were there when we bought the house. Cant swear to that.

Where are the thermal switches? and what does that have to do with things?

[Blondy]

Originally Posted by K'ledgeBldr

Most recessed fixtures have thermal switches-

Got the right type of bulb installed?

OK after rethinking, are you saying do I have the right wattage installed in each can?

And, if its too high this thermal switch is shutting them down?

If so, if I look inside the can will it say the max wattage and that's the solution?

[JonahWicky]

Originally Posted by Blondy

OK after rethinking, are you saying do I have the right wattage installed in each can?

And, if its too high this thermal switch is shutting them down?

If so, if I look inside the can will it say the max wattage and that's the solution?

Yes, there should be a label inside the can listing the max. wattage for various types of bulbs. The thermal switch acts like a thermostat, opening the circuit if the temperature gets too high, then closing it again when the fixture cools down.

If you replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs or LEDs, heat becomes a non-issue. Just look for ones that are approved for recessed cans (most are).

[shortel]

Originally Posted by JonahWicky

If you replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs or LEDs, heat becomes a non-issue.

cfl's and leds put off heat. Where did you hear they dont? Go grab the base of one of those bulbs after its been running awhile and tell me they are not hot.

[JonahWicky]

Originally Posted by shortel

cfl's and leds put off heat. Where did you hear they dont? Go grab the base of one of those bulbs after its been running awhile and tell me they are not hot.

Compared to incandescent, which most older cans are rated for, there is significantly less heat. I didn't say they don't put off ANY heat, just that it's not enough to cause thermal issues.