DIYbanter - View Single Post - 3 way switch. 2 switches 2 recessed lights in the hall way

micky

On Thu, 30 Jan 2014 10:43:21 -0800 (PST), wrote:

About a year ago I had two recessed lights installed in the hallway. They were previously regular lights, so I was told it was just cutting a hole out and hooking the wiring back up. He also changed the switches to the newer flat switches. They worked for 2 months until one day it just stopped working.

Did they trip the breaker that time they stopped working? Did you turn
the lights to the off position, even though they weren't on, then reset
the breaker and just not turn those lights on again?

If not, what did happen then?

I'm not too keen working with electricity.

Just a few weeks ago I called the actual makers of the recessed lighting and they said that it "sounds" like a problem with both of the actual units internal components. Seemed a little weird to me, i thought it had something to do with the wiring. But I got the new units, thinking that will an easy fix on my side. Since all the wiring is set up I could just match the connections with the new identical unit.

Was the maker of the fixture saying there had been a problem with the
lights for a while? (Maybe this doesn't matter much since they said
there was a problem with yours.)

Switched off the power to the hallway, tested making sure I turned off the right breaker. Then installed white to white / black to black / ground to ground on one of the units, leaving the other one alone. Put a light in, and as soon as I switched on the breaker, I heard a pop near the actual light. And the breaker popped to the middle position. Looked up online which said it's in the neutral position after being popped.

The two lights are meant to go on at the same time, right?

So if there were a short in the light you did NOT change, that would
account for the breaker tripping this last time.

If I were in your shoes, I'd disconnect the black wire going to the
black wire of that second light. I'd put a wire nut on each
disconnected wire, in case they end up being left unconnected.

Then I'd reset the breaker and see if the one you replaced works.

If it does, I'd replace the second one like you did the first.

If it doesn't, I guess I'd recommend an electrician.

I checked the other light and it is black to black / white to white / ground to ground. I didn't think it could be a problem with the wiring since it for sure worked for a couple months.

Exactly.

But a short could have developed in one or both lights. Most likely
only one, and not the one you replaced, if the one you didn't replace
still has a short.

If replacing the second one fixes things, there's a good chance the
first one you removed was okay, This might matter if you still have
it.