Dome light problem

Thanks for all your help, turns out the switch was bad. I swapped it out from a light we dont use much and have a new switch on order. You all made my job much easier!!

If the fixture swich does prove to be bad just wire across it to make the fixture on all the time and controll it with the wall switch .
Good Luck, Mike

FLY 4 FUN wrote:
I have had the switches fail on those several times. The wall switch may work....but the switch on the actual dome light fails. Try putting 12v to each of the bulbs, I bet they work and the switch died!

Daryll

Yeah the bulbs all still work (I tried them in the other fixtures). Once I get home I will be able to test the wiring and switches. Worst case scenario I can swap out for one of the fixtures that doesn't get used much and find a replacement light fixture that matches after our trip.

FLY 4 FUN wrote:
I have had the switches fail on those several times. The wall switch may work....but the switch on the actual dome light fails. Try putting 12v to each of the bulbs, I bet they work and the switch died!

Daryll

Good point and with a multimeter or test light, you can check the wiring at the back of the fixture, before the switch, to see if you have power. And as noted above, LED have to be hooked up with the correct polarity, ie, there is a definite hot and ground. Old incandescent bulbs don't care. But as you noted, you tried other bulbs and they don't work either so the problem is probably a bad wire or bad switch. The meter or test light will tell the story.

I have had the switches fail on those several times. The wall switch may work....but the switch on the actual dome light fails. Try putting 12v to each of the bulbs, I bet they work and the switch died!

Daryll

westend wrote:
I'd suggest you get a hand held meter and a cheap 12v test light. You could probably diagnose a simple light fixture problem with a known-to-work bulb but there will be a next time for something electrical and you'll be in the same diagnostic quandary. Harbor Freight sells very cheap meters and I have a couple of them. They are about the cheapest but will work for awhile. Any large store will sell better meters that will have better durability. Expect to pay $20-$75 for a better meter, the higher end ones having DC amperage measurement capability.

Your light fixture sounds like it has no power. Remove the fixture to access the back with wiring. Inspect for loose or broken connections. If none are observable, follow the wiring back to the next fixture in the electrical path to find the issues, same process, remove and inspect.

Good luck with the repair.

Im going to stop by Walmart after work so I can hopefully fix the problem this evening. Heading out on a trip this Saturday so I need it fixed before that. hoping its just the wiring. Its just strange that before I pulled the old bulbs out it all worked just fine. . . .

Sea'scape wrote:
Another possible dumb question. Is there a wall switch for that fixture? I have two fixtures that have both a wall switch and the one on the fixture. One is in the bathroom and the other is by the entry door. Both switches have to be on.

All three ceiling lights are on the same switch, 2 work 1 doesnt.

I'd suggest you get a hand held meter and a cheap 12v test light. You could probably diagnose a simple light fixture problem with a known-to-work bulb but there will be a next time for something electrical and you'll be in the same diagnostic quandary. Harbor Freight sells very cheap meters and I have a couple of them. They are about the cheapest but will work for awhile. Any large store will sell better meters that will have better durability. Expect to pay $20-$75 for a better meter, the higher end ones having DC amperage measurement capability.

Your light fixture sounds like it has no power. Remove the fixture to access the back with wiring. Inspect for loose or broken connections. If none are observable, follow the wiring back to the next fixture in the electrical path to find the issues, same process, remove and inspect.

Good luck with the repair.

Another possible dumb question. Is there a wall switch for that fixture? I have two fixtures that have both a wall switch and the one on the fixture. One is in the bathroom and the other is by the entry door. Both switches have to be on.

Bob/Olallawa wrote:
If the fixture is last in line and no power to it, check the next one back for a dropped wire that supplies either ground or power to the dead fixture.

X2 also check the problem fixture to make sure that the are attached. The slices that they make in the RV industry is a rather haphazard job, sometimes you will find that a wire didn't get properly seated before the crimp was put on.