Support & FAQ - Long Island Electrician
Lighting
QUESTION: I put new bulbs in my recessed lights and they turn on, stay on for a while, and they go back out. After a while, they will come back on again. What’s going on?
ANSWER: Recessed lights are supplied with a thermal overload protector. Because the fixture is inside your ceiling, it is important that excessive heat from the bulbs do not cause a fire. Because of this, the thermal overload acts as a thermometer, so when the heat reaches a preset temperature, it will disconnect the electric. When the fixture cools down, the electricity is reconnected. To avoid this problem, using lower wattage lamps will generate less heat, so try changing them. The recessed light should have a sticker on the inside of it listing which lamps are compatible with it.
NOTE: These thermal protectors are known to stop functioning properly, and cause any wattage bulb to turn off and on constantly, if this is the case please called a qualified electrician to change this part.
QUESTION: When I go to turn my dimmer off, it is very hot to the touch. Is this a fire hazard?
ANSWER: Dimmers are rated for how many watts they are designed to handle. If a dimmer has to operate at or close to it’s full capacity, it will heat up, this is normal. Dimmers are designed to dissipate heat, as they dim the light. If a dimmer is operating over the designed specifications it will get very hot and eventually cease to function. You can either reduce the wattage connected to the dimmer to alleviate the problem, or put in a larger-rated dimmer.
QUESTION: My lights seem to flicker from time to time. Why?
ANSWER: There are many reasons lights will flicker & dim. If it happens rarely, or from time to time, it may be because of a large turnover load, like when the compressor for your refrigerator, or air conditioner turns on. This would be normal. If it happens often or regularly, it could be loose wiring within the dwelling or a loose connection with your power company. Both situations should be fixed immediately, please contact a qualified electrician.
Power Distribution
QUESTION: We still have the round fuses instead of circuit breakers. Is this a safety issue?
ANSWER: No, it is not a safety issue unless the fuse box is damaged or deteriorating. Fuses are actually more sensitive than circuit breakers; therefore they are safer than circuit breakers. Note: the majority of insurance companies now require that fuse boxes be replaced with circuit breakers.
QUESTION: Are our 2-prong outlets still ok to use in our home?
ANSWER: Most appliances and electrical devices today come with 3-prong plugs. The third prong is for grounding purposes. For safety issues, it is advisable to have everything in your home properly grounded; therefore, you should have them changed by a qualified electrician.
QUESTION: What is a GFI?
ANSWER:A GFI is an abbreviation for a Ground Fault Interrupter. It is a specially designed outlet normally used in wet locations to protect an individual from electrical shock. A GFI measures the resistance on the “positive” and “negative” loads connected to it. If there is more resistance in either of the 2 loads, the GFI trips. The electrical code requires that GFI’s be installed in all kitchens, baths, and laundry areas.
