Home and Auto Electricians: Chandelier went out but it's getting current

wutamess · 11-20-2012, 07:37 PM

Couple of months ago our family room chandelier went out cold turkey. I'm just now getting time to get to it.

I originally thought it was the switch as I bought one of those non contact voltmeters and it went crazy at t he chandelier. Took off the dimmer and it went crazy inside of the switch box also.

Replaced the switch at Lowes and NOTHING. It still went crazy at the chandelier.

Thought, "that's odd." replaced one bulb and nothing. Tried the same bulb in another room's chandelier and it worked. Any ideas? I'm hurting here for suggestions.

Dayze · 11-20-2012, 07:39 PM

Replace the antifreeze in the fuse
Box?

.....I got nothing. Well, unless you'd like to accidentally electrocute yourself. I pretty sure I could do that

ChiefButthurt · 11-20-2012, 07:55 PM

Man....wutamess.

Dayze · 11-20-2012, 07:57 PM

you're absolutely sure it has current? you could hire an electrician but he'd probably charge you.

**Bugeater** · 11-20-2012, 08:07 PM

I've had those non-contact deals indicate power when there isn't any before. Put a real voltmeter on it. With that said, other than the switch, there isn't really much that can go wrong with a light fixture.

Toadkiller · 11-20-2012, 08:15 PM

Lick it, like a nine volt battery. See if it is good or not.

UberSparky · 11-20-2012, 08:17 PM

Lost the neutral.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 11-20-2012, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UberSparky

Lost the neutral.

thats what I was gonna say, broken wire somewhere along the neutral.

UberSparky · 11-20-2012, 08:21 PM

Non contact voltage testers are actually inductance testers they can give a false reading due to inductance.

A Salt Weapon · 11-20-2012, 08:22 PM

Yeah check voltage with a meter. Are the bulbs in series? Rare, but If so one out would cause all of them to not work. Check your switch for continuity ( remove voltage first). Bad wire in the chandelier itself, you could test the wires for continuity as well. Run a cord from the chandelier wires to an outlet and see if that lights it up.
Be careful, it's only 110 but if you fall off a ledger( eta stupid autocorrect: ladder) that could hurt you.

UberSparky · 11-20-2012, 08:23 PM

Get a real meter, a cheap one will work. Check hot to ground, then hot to neutral. Should get 120 both ways.

UberSparky · 11-20-2012, 08:24 PM

Bulbs won't be in series.

**Saul Good** · 11-20-2012, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A Salt Weapon

Yeah check voltage with a meter. Are the bulbs in series?

This is most common in chandeliers that are made out of cheap strands of Christmas lights.

UberSparky · 11-20-2012, 08:31 PM

I am a licensed master electrician. Get a ladder pull down fixture enough to see wirenuts pay particular attention to white wires. Sounds like loose wire. Nonelectricians don't twist wires I make plenty of money off of this very problem.

UberSparky · 11-20-2012, 08:36 PM

Going to sleep. I can walk you through all the steps in troubleshooting this problem. I will check this board in morning.

11-20-2012, 07:37 PM
wutamess MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Raytown Casino cash: $663887186	Electricians: Chandelier went out but it's getting current Couple of months ago our family room chandelier went out cold turkey. I'm just now getting time to get to it. I originally thought it was the switch as I bought one of those non contact voltmeters and it went crazy at t he chandelier. Took off the dimmer and it went crazy inside of the switch box also. Replaced the switch at Lowes and NOTHING. It still went crazy at the chandelier. Thought, "that's odd." replaced one bulb and nothing. Tried the same bulb in another room's chandelier and it worked. Any ideas? I'm hurting here for suggestions.
Posts: 7,784

11-20-2012, 07:39 PM	#2
Dayze Poop Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $1178395	Replace the antifreeze in the fuse Box? .....I got nothing. Well, unless you'd like to accidentally electrocute yourself. I pretty sure I could do that __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial.
Posts: 15,539

11-20-2012, 07:55 PM	#3
ChiefButthurt Veteran Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Undercover..... Casino cash: $217834	Man....wutamess. __________________ In it to win it.
Posts: 2,487

11-20-2012, 07:57 PM	#4
Dayze Poop Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $1178395	you're absolutely sure it has current? you could hire an electrician but he'd probably charge you. __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial.
Posts: 15,539

11-20-2012, 08:07 PM	#5
Bugeater Supporter Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $600683	I've had those non-contact deals indicate power when there isn't any before. Put a real voltmeter on it. With that said, other than the switch, there isn't really much that can go wrong with a light fixture.
Posts: 49,245

11-20-2012, 08:15 PM	#6
Toadkiller Garlic make my feet stank! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Portland, OR Casino cash: $528953	Lick it, like a nine volt battery. See if it is good or not.
Posts: 1,124

11-20-2012, 08:17 PM	#7
UberSparky Starter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Valley "freaking" Falls Casino cash: $266333	Lost the neutral.
Posts: 81

11-20-2012, 08:21 PM	#9
UberSparky Starter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Valley "freaking" Falls Casino cash: $266333	Non contact voltage testers are actually inductance testers they can give a false reading due to inductance.
Posts: 81

11-20-2012, 08:22 PM	#10
A Salt Weapon Starter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Alaska Casino cash: $958629	Yeah check voltage with a meter. Are the bulbs in series? Rare, but If so one out would cause all of them to not work. Check your switch for continuity ( remove voltage first). Bad wire in the chandelier itself, you could test the wires for continuity as well. Run a cord from the chandelier wires to an outlet and see if that lights it up. Be careful, it's only 110 but if you fall off a ledger( eta stupid autocorrect: ladder) that could hurt you. __________________ I will fight so my children may suffer the unknown consequences of liberty than experience the known consequences of slavery. Last edited by A Salt Weapon; 11-20-2012 at 08:23 PM.. Reason: Autocorrect
Posts: 994

11-20-2012, 08:23 PM	#11
UberSparky Starter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Valley "freaking" Falls Casino cash: $266333	Get a real meter, a cheap one will work. Check hot to ground, then hot to neutral. Should get 120 both ways.
Posts: 81

11-20-2012, 08:24 PM	#12
UberSparky Starter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Valley "freaking" Falls Casino cash: $266333	Bulbs won't be in series.
Posts: 81

11-20-2012, 08:31 PM	#14
UberSparky Starter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Valley "freaking" Falls Casino cash: $266333	I am a licensed master electrician. Get a ladder pull down fixture enough to see wirenuts pay particular attention to white wires. Sounds like loose wire. Nonelectricians don't twist wires I make plenty of money off of this very problem.
Posts: 81

11-20-2012, 08:36 PM	#15
UberSparky Starter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Valley "freaking" Falls Casino cash: $266333	Going to sleep. I can walk you through all the steps in troubleshooting this problem. I will check this board in morning.
Posts: 81

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