Electrician FBGs? (1 Viewer)

[McGarnicle]

We have 4 recessed lights in the kitchen controlled by a single switch. One day two of them suddenly made a popping sound and died. The other two are fine. The breaker was not tripped and there are no other electrical issues in the kitchen.

HOW IN THE HELL DID THIS HAPPEN?

How do these things work anyway? Is there a ballast up there? How do I know if I replace the fixtures that this won't happen again?

 

[ChiefD]

Are they can lights or florescent lights?

 

[McGarnicle]

Are they can lights or florescent lights?

Can.

 

[Carolina Hustler]

Are they incandescent, or halogen? Have you tried changing the bulbs? Is there attic space above? Or a second level? Is there insulation tight around the light that can be pushed back/away to keep them from over heating?

If the lights aren't rated for insulation contact, but are covered with insulation, they could have over heated.

2 lights going out sounds like a bad connection in a series of lights. Are the lights that are still working activated by the same switch?

This could be as simple as moving insulation, or opening up the box on those lights and redoing the connections.

If you heard a pop, and then 2 lights went out instead of only one, then I assume for incandescent: a bad connection in the series. And if Halogen: a bad transformer.

 

[Fat Nick]

There could've been something that broke the circuit to the last two lights. There are several ways to wire things up, but most will look like THIS. Just reproduce the wiring on the left light x2 to get what 4 lights would look like. If there was a disconnect in the wire bridging the 2nd and 3rd lights, it would cause the 3rd and 4th to break their circuit without impacting the 1st or 2nd.

BE VERY CAREFUL if you don't investigate this further. If there is an exposed wire or loose connection on this wire, and the wire is hot, you run the risk of arcing if the there is only a small gap in the circuit. Arcing can cause fires.

I'd pull down the 2nd and 3rd can (if you can guesstimate the way the wires go) and use a tester to see if power is getting to the 3rd can or if it's an issue where the line comes out of the 2nd can. Either way, just use a tester to follow the flow of electricity until you find your problem. It's probably either at the 2nd can, or at the 3rd. Hopefully the wire in the ceiling is fine.

ETA: Not an electrician, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night...