Maria:

MB Please forgive this probably stupid question but I know absolutely
MB nothing about these things. I have a ceiling hallway light that has

We all had to starting learning at some point!

MB stopped working. I have checked and replaced the bulb but it still
MB doesnt work. Here is what happened.
MB
MB Several months ago this llight started diming for a second or two then
MB going back on fully. It did this for a number of weeks until it
MB diming and finally went out. Will not work at all now.
MB
MB What do I need to do?

The problem is a bad contact in the circuit. If your house is older
it may be the springy flat piece of metal at the base of the light
fixture isn't making good contact. WITH THE POWER OFF to the light
fixture take a small screwdriver or something similar and pull the
springy contact out about an eighth of an inch. Replace the lightbulb.
(It is a good light bulb, right? They can be bad directly out of the
box.)

If that's not the problem then possibly the light fixture is faulty --
I had one where it pretty much fell apart because of a reaction
between dissimilar metals (the rivets holding the pieces together
essentially dissolved). Could also be a problem with a loose wire to
the light fixture, at the switch, or the switch itself.

This is a good beginner's project but I would suggest doing it under
the supervision of a knowledgeable friend as electricity can be
dangerous. If no one is available and you still want to do it
yourself a basic "wiring switches and light fixtures" book from the
store or the library with lots of pictures (diagrams are sometimes
better than photos as can be clearer).

-
¯ barry.martinþATþthesafebbs.zeppole.com ®

* Studies show that 51% of Americans are in the majority.
---
þ RoseReader 2.52á P003186
þ The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA 563-359-1971
---
þ RIMEGate(tm)/RGXMod V1.13 at BBSWORLD *

According to barry martin :
The problem is a bad contact in the circuit. If your house is older
it may be the springy flat piece of metal at the base of the light
fixture isn't making good contact. WITH THE POWER OFF to the light
fixture take a small screwdriver or something similar and pull the
springy contact out about an eighth of an inch. Replace the lightbulb.
(It is a good light bulb, right? They can be bad directly out of the
box.)

As a reminder, "WITH THE POWER OFF" means turn off the corresponding
breaker or pull the corresponding fuse.

Sticking a screwdriver into a lightsocket isn't the time to find
out that the electrician is switching the neutral, not the hot
wire. It happens.
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.

CL According to barry martin :
CL The problem is a bad contact in the circuit. If your house is older
CL it may be the springy flat piece of metal at the base of the light
CL fixture isn't making good contact. WITH THE POWER OFF to the light
CL fixture take a small screwdriver or something similar and pull the
CL springy contact out about an eighth of an inch. Replace the lightbulb.
CL (It is a good light bulb, right? They can be bad directly out of the
CL box.)
CL
CL As a reminder, "WITH THE POWER OFF" means turn off the corresponding
CL breaker or pull the corresponding fuse.
CL
CL Sticking a screwdriver into a lightsocket isn't the time to find
CL out that the electrician is switching the neutral, not the hot
CL wire. It happens.

Yes. The light switch alone will interrupt the circuit but may have
been accidentally wired to the neutral, even though it is a wire with
black insulation around it. While a light bulb may not work someone
working on the circuit standing on a metal ladder in stocking feet
might make a good conductor.

And yes, I have worked on circuits using just the wall switch to power
off the circuit. Previously have checked the circuit was wired
correctly. Also have put tape over the switch even when no one else
was home -- can absent-mindedly flip a switch on out of habit (gee
it's dark in here -- ZAP!!) Ever flip the light switch on during a
power failure?!

-
¯ barry.martinþATþthesafebbs.zeppole.com ®

* Paradox \par'-u-doks\: two physicians
---
þ RoseReader 2.52á P003186
þ The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA 563-359-1971
---
þ RIMEGate(tm)/RGXMod V1.13 at BBSWORLD *