Short answer
First try a bulb you know for certain works. If that does not work either, check whether the circuit in the meter cupboard has tripped. If the rest of the room does work, the problem is in the switch, in the fitting or in a connection behind it. From that point on it is work for an installer.
Who this article is for For the moment a light somewhere stops working. You can do the first three steps yourself, provided the circuit is off when you touch a fitting.
1. The bulb
The most common cause, also with LED. An LED rarely fails suddenly, but the driver inside it does. Try a bulb you know for certain works.
2. The circuit
Check in the meter cupboard whether the breaker or the RCD for that room has tripped. If something has tripped, this is a different story. See breaker keeps tripping.
3. The lampholder
Switch the circuit off first. Then look in the lampholder: discolouration, a black edge, a spring contact that has sagged. Especially in old fittings with halogen or incandescent bulbs, the lampholder has been hot over the years.
If the bulb feels stuck or crunches when you unscrew it, heat has usually been involved.
4. The switch
If the rest of the room works and this light does not, the switch or the wiring behind it is suspect. A switch whose click no longer feels like it used to is often worn out.
This is where DIY stops: there is voltage behind the switch, even when the light does nothing.
What it usually turns out to be
| Symptom | Most common cause |
|---|---|
| One light, the rest works | bulb, lampholder or switch |
| All lights in a room | the circuit, or a connection in a box |
| Light flickers or buzzes | LED with an old dimmer, see dimming LEDs |
| Light keeps glowing | leakage current, a capacitor solves it |
| Bulb often fails | too much heat in an enclosed fitting, or a bad connection |
That last one is the most important
A bulb that keeps failing in the same place is not bad luck. It is heat or a bad connection. That is exactly the kind of fault that slowly gets worse, and it is worth having it checked before it becomes a burnt-out box.
This is the moment to have it checked, not to buy another bulb.
From my own work
A customer in Schinnen had a ceiling light that had not been switched on for months because it did not work. The fitting held a 40 watt bulb from another era, and the lampholder had burnt from the heat. New lampholder, LED bulb in, and done. There was nothing wrong with the installation.
When to call an electrician
- Several lights in a room are not working
- You see discolouration or smell something at the fitting
- The switch feels warm or makes a noise
A warm switch is no small matter. Call +31 43 204 18 26 or outside office hours use the 24/7 fault service.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a bulb keep failing in the same place?
That is heat or a bad connection, not bad luck. That is exactly the kind of fault that slowly gets worse.
Can I replace a light fitting myself?
On an existing point you may, provided you switch the circuit off and check that there is no voltage left.
Can a dimmer damage an LED bulb?
A non-dimmable bulb on a dimmer will fail sooner or later, and dimmable bulbs on the wrong dimmer have a shorter life.
Further reading
Installing outdoor lighting: what goes on underground
The light is the fun part, the cable the most important. Lay an empty duct now and you can extend later without digging.
Dimming LEDs: why they flicker, buzz or do not switch off
Almost every LED dimming problem comes from a dimmer made for incandescent bulbs. A new dimmer solves it.
Smart lighting without the hassle: what works and what to avoid
Smart bulbs are fun until someone presses the ordinary switch. Smart switches are more boring and work better.
Questions and comments
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