Electricity yay
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A year or so ago we replaced the light in our bedroom with a ceiling fan / light combo. Since it's a retrofit the fan controls are on a different wall to the light switch.
For the last few weeks we've been having issues with the light: sometimes it won't turn on. There are no issues with the fan. When the light does turn on, it stays on until the switch is turned off. When the light doesn't turn on, flipping the switch again doesn't help; it generally won't turn on until quite some time later (maybe a few hours). The light bulb is secure in the socket. It's a CFL bulb.
Any ideas on what I should look for to find out what's going on here?
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@Scarlet_Manuka said in Electricity yay:
Any ideas on what I should look for to find out what's going on here?
You've tried a different bulb?
Other than the bulb, it could be an intermittent connection/fracture in the wires to the luminaire or switch. Heating of the poor connection can explain why it keeps working once it starts, I've seen this effect.
What test equipment do you have?
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@Cursorkeys said in Electricity yay:
What test equipment do you have?
A fan and a CFL bulb, from the sound of it
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@Cursorkeys said in Electricity yay:
What test equipment do you have?
Yeah, I would remove the bulb and see if you're getting current to the socket. Like, start with something like this:
They're cheap and easier to use than a full on multi-meter. Just touch the right parts of the socket and see if the light comes on. But using a new bulb might be just as good and you probably already have one.
The setup isn't completely clear. You have a wall switch for both the fan and the bulb? Assuming yes, I'd open it up and make sure everything looks good there (and you can also do the same test to see if juice is coming out the switch the way it should). If so, I'd next look at the wiring on the light fixtures end and test as necessary. It seems unlikely that the problem is in the wire between the wall and the fixture.
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@CHUDbert said in Electricity yay:
@Scarlet_Manuka said in Electricity yay:
It's a CFL bulb.
There is your problem.
@Cursorkeys said in Electricity yay:
You've tried a different bulb?
My vote's on this. The ballast is acting up. If it's in the bulb, change it. If it's not, you might be able to find a spare for your contraption, otherwise it's a goner.
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I'd start with the bulb, too. Put a cheap LED bulb in and see if it's any different. LED's are good enough and cheap enough now that it's time to pretend CFL's never existed.
