Illuminated bathroom mirror

[nesty1760]

Hi

I installed a illuminated bathroom mirror today.

I followed the instructions connected it all up, however the fluorescent lights don’t work. I’ve checked the feed and current appears to be getting through to the bottom of the light connections.

However, it’s one of these infrared switched ones. Does there have to be a red light emitting from the bottom, as it isn’t lit up?

I am wondering if both fluorescent lights are faulty and possibly damaged in transit. Are they delicate?

Anyone else had this problem?

Thanks

 

[17thman]

Just a thought.

How have you checked the "live feed", if it is with a neon screwdriver you may get an indication of voltage present but you may not have a circuit, as in the neutral is not connected properly. Have you screwed down onto the insulation of the neutral conductor at its termination.

 

[nesty1760]

I got a digital electrical tester & I checked the points of where the current passes through and all ok. I even tested the ends where the light twist in to and there is power there.

I have contacted the supplier. I am going to try and get some replacement tubes and see if it's them. If not I can take them back.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I’ve checked the feed and current appears to be getting through to the bottom of the light connections.

Clearly it's not.

You may or may not have correctly detected a voltage present, but no current is flowing - that's why the lights aren't on.

However, it’s one of these infrared switched ones. Does there have to be a red light emitting from the bottom, as it isn’t lit up?

I don't know.

What's the red light for?

You can't see infra-red, BTW.

I am wondering if both fluorescent lights are faulty and possibly damaged in transit. Are they delicate?

They are fairly delicate, but I think you'd have noticed if they were smashed. If they aren't smashed then they are OK.

Anyone else had this problem?

I think there's a chance that they have.

I got a digital electrical tester & I checked the points of where the current passes through and all ok.

What do you mean by a digital tester?

Does it have 2 poles?

What did you measure between?

I even tested the ends where the light twist in to and there is power there.

Where did you take the supply for the mirror from?

It wasn't the light switch, was it?

 

[nesty1760]

I’ve checked the feed and current appears to be getting through to the bottom of the light connections.

Clearly it's not.

You may or may not have correctly detected a voltage present, but no current is flowing - that's why the lights aren't on.

However, it’s one of these infrared switched ones. Does there have to be a red light emitting from the bottom, as it isn’t lit up?

I don't know.

What's the red light for?

You can't see infra-red, BTW.

I am wondering if both fluorescent lights are faulty and possibly damaged in transit. Are they delicate?

They are fairly delicate, but I think you'd have noticed if they were smashed. If they aren't smashed then they are OK.

Anyone else had this problem?

I think there's a chance that they have.

I got a digital electrical tester & I checked the points of where the current passes through and all ok.

What do you mean by a digital tester?

Does it have 2 poles?

What did you measure between?

I even tested the ends where the light twist in to and there is power there.

Where did you take the supply for the mirror from?

It wasn't the light switch, was it?

Hi thanks for the reply

The lights are not smashed or darkened, but if you lightly shake them they rattle, wasn't sure if that anything? Though as these type don;t have filaments it N/A?

I tested the circuit with a digital voltmeter. It's one of those cheap pen ones with a reading. Not sure it does 2 poles, it can checks earths as well. How can I test the netural?

I don't know where the feed has ben taken from exactly. Electrican did it ages ago when the house being renovated.

Gonna do some more tests today. The item has a shaver socket on it as well. I'll see if my shaver works in it. If that works ok on the supply then surely it must be the bulbs?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I tested the circuit with a digital voltmeter. It's one of those cheap pen ones with a reading. Not sure it does 2 poles, it can checks earths as well. How can I test the netural?

They don't provide a reliable indication of voltage - you need a meter with two probes which you use to measure between live and neutral.

I'll see if my shaver works in it. If that works ok on the supply then surely it must be the bulbs?

Or the PIR, if that only switches the lights, not the socket as well.

 

[nesty1760]

Ok thanks.I was thinking of getting a decent tester anyway. Mainly for this reason!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

This looks ideal for a household starter set - multimeter, voltage indicator and dedicated continuity tester, all in a handy case:

http://www.amprobe.eu/de_DE/showproduct/115/Junior-Set/

PDF brochure: http://www.amprobe.eu/de_DE/downloadfile/115/beschreibung_1/

All in German, unfortunately, as is the blurb on each product:

Multimeter: http://www.amprobe.eu/de_DE/showproductdata/487/Hexagon_55/

Voltage indicator: http://www.amprobe.eu/de_DE/showproduct/116/2000_α_(alpha)/

Continuity tester: http://www.amprobe.eu/de_DE/showproduct/481/TESTFIX/

but it is sold in the UK - the company is now owned by Fluke, and I guess they haven't got all the websites sorted out yet - contact them

(http://www.fluke.co.uk) for info on where to buy.

Right now the English specs are still lurking on the Internet Time Machine from when Beha was an independent company:

http://web.archive.org/web/20060920022629/http://www.beha.com/files_uk/multimeter/93549.pdf


Also see another discussion here: //www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=26282 It's a few years old, so specific model number advice may be obsolete (and prices will be higher), but the generic advice is still sound.

 

[17thman]

lets look at this.

If the shaver socket works, it is the lamps or an internal connection problem or a problem from the pir to the lamps

If you are getting voltage at the line(live) indicating, as i said you may have pinched the neutral insulation when terminating.

The neutral from where the cable is fed from is not connected correctly.

Are you twisting the lamps into their connectors after slotting them in?

 

[nesty1760]

Just to say. It's all working fine now!

The digital voltmeter I was using maybe a bit of an incorrect reading? Saying there 12v voltage!

Anyway, I thought what else runs in the bathroom which electrical and I have air spa which runs off an RCD. I put the RCD on & the mirror came on fine. Obvouisly the wire connected to the RCD. I completely forgot about the RCD! I can't believe I did that.

Thanks for the replies for help. Got there in the end!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The digital voltmeter I was using maybe a bit of an incorrect reading? Saying there 12v voltage!

It is not a DVM....

I completely forgot about the RCD! I can't believe I did that.

I find that it's usually a good idea to be aware of what's going on when doing electrical work....

 

[nesty1760]

The digital voltmeter I was using maybe a bit of an incorrect reading? Saying there 12v voltage!

It is not a DVM....

I completely forgot about the RCD! I can't believe I did that.

I find that it's usually a good idea to be aware of what's going on when doing electrical work....

Ok point taken re the voltmeter!

Thanks for the advice. Least it sorted now!.