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-   -   Ikea radium 5 light flexible track light won't work (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=380419)

  • Jul 27, 2009, 11:57 AM
    swinix2
    Ikea radium 5 light flexible track light won't work
    HI I've now purchased 2 Ikea radium flexible track lights for installation in my kitchen and neither has worked for longer than a few seconds. As I assumed that the first one was a bad transformer and no longer had the receipt etc, we drove down to Ikea and bought another set. If you know this set you know that I have several holes in my ceiling to hold the track so getting a different kind of light didn't seem reasonable and similar lights at HD were more than 2x the price. We installed this light and began to connect the individual lights. Each one originally lit but when all five were mounted they were very dim. When we removed one and tried again it went out and will not come back on. I find it hard to believe I had the misfortune of getting two bad transformers but Ikea's only help is to say that I'll have to return it. What I really want is for it to work. Can anyone help me with this? I have a 49 year old home and the electrics have not been updated. However, this is the only issue I've ever had with lighting and have installed plenty of fixtures. I recently installed a 4 bulb halogen light in another part of the kitchen (not on a track) without issue. Anyone have a clue for me? Thanks.
  • Jul 28, 2009, 02:39 AM
    tkrussell
    Best I can offer is to measure the volts at the light outlet, should be 120 volts. Connect the light, be sure all connections are tight. If the light still does not work, then all you can do is return it.

    Should be a no brainer to connect, and I know you know that, makes it even more frustrating.

    I would be finding some other brand light fixture.
  • Jul 28, 2009, 09:34 AM
    swinix2
    Thank you for your time. I will test the light outlet again. Last time it was obvious that the transformer was dead. There was no output but the source had 120 volts. I just wish I didn't have all these holes in my ceiling that make putting something else up there more work! Thanks again.
  • Nov 29, 2010, 03:36 PM
    edgmon
    I bought two of these Radium track lights for my kitchen. They worked for a while and eventually stopped, though not at the same time. Turns out, that, the connection of the 12 vdc out on the converter and the cord that connects to the track overheated had burnt through one of the wires. A real fire hazard! Check the connections... tug on them... look for charring, I missed it the first time I looked. Hope you have better luck returning them than I am.
  • Nov 29, 2011, 12:20 AM
    SkiCop
    Just checked the wires from the transformer to the fixture one our Radium fixture and they were fried too. Just at the connection from the braided insulate to the black plastic connection. Looks like the way they mounted the wires each lead crosses the other. Not surprising a hot spot could develop there if the insulation is even a little weak. Yikes. I replaced the bad transformer base with one from a second fixture set we were going to put in another room. Now I'm thinking of pulling that one out too.

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