Discuss LED Lights Flash and go off - not tripping in the Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net

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I've put some new post lamps outside, onto existing wiring.

They are setup as follows Switch > L1 > L2 > L3 > L4 > L5 > L6. Cabling was already in and is concreted in so it wasn't really viable to replace. All 230V.

The new lights are LED 6W instead of the old 60W halogens, so the draw should be much lower. However when I now turn these lights on they flash and then go off instantly. Initially I thought it was tripping the circuit, but when I checked outside the first light (CFL) was still on

If I put a bulb at the "end" of the circuit it stays lit after the LEDs have flashed and gone off. So it doesn't seem to be a lose connection or lack of voltage.

Anyone have any ideas as to the cause, or possible fix. I'm not against removing the LEDs - they just looked like old filament bulbs so suited a little better. The bulbs work fine in the house on a normal lamp.
 
Totally new lamps, took the old ones off and popped new fittings on all of them. Tested all, gets the full voltage on each. Tested also with a 9V battery to see if there was a lot of resistance or possible earth. All Okay

I just can't understand them lighting for a fraction of a second and then going off, all at the same time.
 
If the replacement LED's work in other fittings in the house but not in the outside lights then it would suggest a wiring fault in the outside lights. How are you testing for voltage at the fittings? Are you certain both L and N are present at each fitting and how have you verified that?
Logically if the lamps work on other fittings with 230v then they will work in the new ones if 230v is present and correct. I would suggest a bad N connection somewhere.
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They are not the type with a photocell built into the side of the lamp?
I am reading it that the lamps work elsewhere
 
They are not the type with a photocell built into the side of the lamp?

Definitely not, this was my initial thought
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If the replacement LED's work in other fittings in the house but not in the outside lights then it would suggest a wiring fault in the outside lights. How are you testing for voltage at the fittings? Are you certain both L and N are present at each fitting and how have you verified that?
Logically if the lamps work on other fittings with 230v then they will work in the new ones if 230v is present and correct. I would suggest a bad N connection somewhere.
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I am reading it that the lamps work elsewhere

Tested at the cable as it pokes out of the wall. Live/Neutral both seem fine.

Interestingly, they won't turn back on (even flash on) if you turn them on straight away after they go off, if you leave it 10 mins you'll get the flash again.

EDIT: I've just turned them on and they've stayed on for 15 minutes so far. Which makes me think it's not the wiring. Totally at a loss
 
If the replacement LED's work in other fittings in the house but not in the outside lights then it would suggest a wiring fault in the outside lights. How are you testing for voltage at the fittings? Are you certain both L and N are present at each fitting and how have you verified that?
Logically if the lamps work on other fittings with 230v then they will work in the new ones if 230v is present and correct. I would suggest a bad N connection somewhere.
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I am reading it that the lamps work elsewhere

After staying on for the best part of an hour on Friday they all went off, waited 10 minutes and then turned them back on again - back to flashing and going off instantly.

I spoke to the previous owners of the house and they've advised that it always used to trip the lights when it rained, so it makes me think the wiring is suspect somewhere.
 
After staying on for the best part of an hour on Friday they all went off, waited 10 minutes and then turned them back on again - back to flashing and going off instantly.

I spoke to the previous owners of the house and they've advised that it always used to trip the lights when it rained, so it makes me think the wiring is suspect somewhere.

Are they just on a switch or is it a PIR?
What are the IR results?
It sounds like an odd fault if it distinguishes between halogen and LED, but I'm hesitant to it's not a fault as Lucien or DS will arrive and explain my error :D
 
It sounds like you have changed both the fittings and the lamps. I suspect one or the other has some hidden functionality. Please could you post links or details for both products, and/or correct me if I misunderstood what has been changed.
 
Lurch1989: I suspect you have a defective switch with low conductance contacts or there is a low conductance section in the wiring (perhaps even before the switch). To investigate the former temporarily bypass the switch and see what happens. You can do this by putting both line and switched line into the same switch terminal. REMEMBER TO TURN OFF ALL ELECTRICITY FIRST.

I wonder whether the L1- L6 LEDs have a distorted sine wave voltage waveform as a result which is preventing their correct operation. The OP mentions a CFL (Non-linear) before L1-L6. I note an ordinary resistive lamp (tbc) at the end of the line illuminates ok since it is not bothered about a distorted sine voltage waveform.

You should call in an electrician anyway to check the state of the wiring - the previous owner's remarks on tripping during rainy periods suggest a problem which needs specialist test equipment to find.
 
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