Now it Works!
A home's value is in direct proportion to its upkeep. Fixing the things that are not working properly or are broken as soon as possible will help the homeowner keep track of the appreciation value. Ceiling lights are an example of something that commonly breaks around a home but can be easily fixed by learning how they operate and performing the necessary repairs as they are needed. Caution is advised when the ceilings are higher than 8 feet.
Instructions
1. Turn off the breaker that feeds electricity to the light. Clean the area around where you will be working for the step ladder. Set the step ladder in place and remove the light cover. Set this aside in a safe place to prevent breaking it during the process.
2. Inspect the wiring of the fixture for breaks in the wire insulation. A small flashlight will help reveal small breaks. Remove the electrical tape and wire nuts (if applicable) connecting the light to the power feed. Inspect the condition of the bare wire for damage. In some cases, the bare wire breaks away from its source, disconnecting the flow of electricity.
3. Clean the ends of the wire. If wire nuts were not used, there will be residue from the electrical tape. Scrape the bare wire clean. If the residue won't come off, clip the bare wire and strip one-quarter-inch of the insulation from the wire to create a clean connection. Repeat this for each of the wires. For a detailed look at ceiling light wiring, see "Wire a Ceiling Fixture" in the Reference section of this article.
4. Check the wires coming from the ceiling for the same problems. If no problems can be found, have someone turn the power on while you check the wiring with a volt meter. Place the leads on the appropriate wires: red to positive and black to negative. Wires should be color coded. If there is no reading on the volt meter, the problem lies between the breaker and the ceiling light. The next checkpoint is the breaker itself.
5. Inspect the wiring in the ceiling light fixture. Pay special attention to the connections to the bulb sleeve. If the connection is broken, replace the ceiling light with a new one.
Tags: bare wire, ceiling light, electrical tape, Inspect wiring, step ladder