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dchapman55 · Jul 7, 2013, 06:52 AM

I have 2 track lights, 4 bulbs each that just stopped working. Ive changed breaker, put in new bulbs but still nothing. All other lights and recepts in home work. Both lights quit at same time. Any advice?

hkstroud · Jul 7, 2013, 07:06 AM

Are these track lights on the same switch? If so, have you examined the switch? Could the switch be a dimmer switch?

dchapman55 · Jul 7, 2013, 07:33 AM

Im hoping you got my reply. This is my first visit to this website so please bear with me.

dchapman55 · Jul 7, 2013, 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by hkstroud

Are these track lights on the same switch? If so, have you examined the switch? Could the switch be a dimmer switch?

Each has it's own switch, I've not examined either and neither is a dimmer switch.

hkstroud · Jul 7, 2013, 08:22 AM

Assuming we are talking about a wall switches, remove switch from box. Are switches wired using the "quick connect" hole in the rear? If so change to screw on side. The quick connects some times develop bad connections.

dchapman55 · Jul 7, 2013, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by hkstroud

Assuming we are talking about a wall switches, remove switch from box. Are switches wired using the "quick connect" hole in the rear? If so change to screw on side. The quick connects some times develop bad connections.

Thank you. I'm heading out there in a while and will try that.

ma0641 · Jul 7, 2013, 09:07 AM

Bet it is a loose or disconnected wire and they jumped from one switch to the other with a pigtail.

dchapman55 · Jul 7, 2013, 07:01 PM

I checked wall switches and both are wired to side of switch, no loose connections and breaker is good. Why aren't track lights working? These are the only two lights in home not working.

dchapman55 · Jul 7, 2013, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by dchapman55

Each has it's own switch, I've not examined either and neither is a dimmer switch.

Okay, both switches are wired to the sides and no loose connections. Still no power going to track lights. New breaker, new bulbs, everything else in home works. What can I do?

ma0641 · Jul 7, 2013, 07:41 PM

Check voltage at switches and lights. Got to be a disconnect somewhere. Another possibility is a switch loop circuit that has been connected wrong. We can't see it and you wired it so we are at a bit of a loss.

dchapman55 · Jul 7, 2013, 09:02 PM

Actually, I didn't wire it. The home belongs to some friends of mine who are getting it ready to put on the market and the realtor suggested getting it fixed. They bought the home new about 9 years ago and have never had an issue with these lights until a couple months ago. Because they can't afford to hire an electrician they asked me if I might be able to help. My experience with this is limited but it didn't seem like a big deal when they told me about it. I know enough to check and replace breakers and switches and a few other things but this I need help on so that's why I'm here. Could the switch loop circuit you mentioned work great for 7 or 8 years than quit? That's what I don't understand is how it would work for all this time and all of a sudden stop working. Anyway, the comments and suggestions are appreciated and believe me I wish it was you seeing it and not me. :)

ma0641 · Jul 8, 2013, 06:41 AM

The only thing you can do is start measuring voltages. Start at the wall switch. Power there? Power through the switch? Go to the ceiling box. Power there? Switch controls power? Do you know how a switch loop works? Those are fairly common in kitchens and ceiling fixtures. What color wires on wall switch? If you have a black and white wire on the wall switch you have a switch loop. Could be as simple as a loose wire under a wire nut, particularly if it is twist wire and solid wire.

dchapman55 · Jul 8, 2013, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by ma0641

The only thing you can do is start measuring voltages. Start at the wall switch. Power there? Power through the switch? Go to the ceiling box. Power there? Switch controls power? Do you know how a switch loop works? Those are fairly common in kitchens and ceiling fixtures. What color wires on wall switch? If you have a black and white wire on the wall switch you have a switch loop. Could be as simple as a loose wire under a wire nut, particularly if it is twist wire and solid wire.

Thanks for the info. I just spoke with homeowner and was told there was a water leak in the ceiling at one time. Apparently someone was sent out to repair and not long afterwards is when the problem started. Don't know if this is helpful but would have been nice to know this a few days ago. I have checked power to wall and ceiling and there's none. And yes, black and white wires are on wall switch.

ma0641 · Jul 8, 2013, 07:14 AM

You have a switch loop. In the ceiling should be 2 cables each with black, white and ground. One cable is hot, one is the switch loop. You need to find the ceiling hot cable, it is not switched. White from the hot cable goes to the fixture white. White from the other cable goes to the hot black. This wire goes back to the wall switch. Black from wall switch cable goes to black on fixture, grounds connect. Put a piece of black tape on wall switch white. Tell us what happens.