problem with kitchen lights

[janey556]

Hi there,

I have a problem with my kitchen lights, I switched it on and doesn't go on, but there is a buzzing noise its either coming from the switch or the light itself, its hard to ascertain which one and all 4 bulbs are not lighting up.

Do you think it would be worth getting 4 new bulbs and trying them or would I be better changing the light fitting or the actual switch?

Any advise would be welcome as I have not got a clue about any electrics and dont want to get a costly electrician out if I am just being blonde

I have checked and all other lights in the flat are working so the fuse hasnt gone.

xx

 

[bernardgreen]

A buzzing noise could be failed transformer if the lamps are 12 volt ones.

But most often it is a loose connection and that is a serious problem as the loose connection will heat up. The buzz is the arc jumping across the loose connection The fuse / MCB will NOT operate on this fault as it does not take much more current than the bulbs would normally take.

If it is in the swith then it can be a DIY job to change the switch ( make a note of where the wires go in the old switch before removing any and TURN OFF THE MAINSWITCH before removing the switch.

But if you have any doubts call in an electrician.

 

[riveralt]

Assuming you have four cluster spotlights and not a fluroescent light it sounds like you have a loose connection - either at the switch or the lamp itself.

What you do about it depends on your level of competence and your level of confidence.

The critical thing is before doing anything to either the switch or the lamp is to ensure that the circuit is dead.
You will be better off starting at the switch by seeing if any of the wires have come loose - if they have an you can see which terminal they have come out of simply put them back and tighten up the terminal.
If there are no loose wires at the switch then you will have to do the same at the lamp itself - get someone to help you because you will have to hold the cluster while you check the wires behind it.