Yard light quit working

[Gator Fan]

My yard light stopped working. Replaced the bulbs and still didn't work. Replaced the light sensor and still didn't work. The circuit breaker is fine and all the wire connections are tight. The bulbs are good. Any other suggestions? Thanks.

[kittygilchrist]

I have no idea but I'm watching to see who knows!

[LyndaS]

Check to see if the GFI outlet in the Garage is tripped.

[DangeloInspections]

Greg,
You have done all of the correct things. If you have a TIC tester that would help. The post light normally runs off of a 15 amp breaker that is NOT part of the GFCI in the garage.....normally.

Just a few things here. Sometimes the electric eye takes a few minutes to activate after you cover it up. You might not be giving it enough time.

A TIC tester will help, as the first step would be to see if you are getting power to the electric eye before the electric eye. If you are, then you know it is not the underground wire or the breaker. If you are not, then it is one of those two things. Next, wire the electric eye, cover it up, cover it up WELL, then wait a bit and see if you are getting power past the electric eye. if you are, then it must be the wiring of the fixture. Sometimes you might not have a good ground on the fixture. If you are not, it is a bad electric eye.

Lastly, check the fixture wiring. Check the prong at the bottom of the socket, and each socket, (if you have the 3 light type).

Common problems I have found in this project are;
1) Not giving enough time for the electric eye to activate. Sometimes they activate instantly, sometimes they take up to 3-4 minutes.
2) Bad ground.
3) Landscaper cuts the underground wire.
4) Bad socket(s)
5) Blown bulb(s)
6) Defective electric eye

Sounds like you very much know what you are doing....hope this helped a bit. Good luck!

Respectfully, Frank D.

[getdul981]

If you have had any landscaping done, the workers may have nicked or cut the wire. If you are getting power before the electric eye, then this is not the problem. Just wondered if you had any landscaping done recently.

[leftyf]

Take the light fixture off and pull out the wires and check the incoming line (the one in the plastic casing) for 110 volts. If you have power there, it's the sensor, bulb or fixture. If no power there, it's in the garage or the line. You'll have to track it back with a tester.

[TheVillageChicken]

Cut the power by flipping the breaker and then clean the socket. Did I mention that you should cut the power before doing this? When I moved in, mine was not working. Took out the bulb and there was a bunch of dead bug debris and dirt both in the socket and on the bulb electrodes. The bulb couldn't even be screwed in all the way. It is true that it takes a little while for the sensor to switch the bulb on after you block the light, most of them will instantly turn the bulb on for a short while as soon as power is applied, i.e. after the circuit breaker is turned on.

[DonH57]

I know our lamppost is off a g.f.I. breaker for the garage circuit.

[Gator Fan]

Cut the power by flipping the breaker and then clean the socket. Did I mention that you should cut the power before doing this? When I moved in, mine was not working. Took out the bulb and there was a bunch of dead bug debris and dirt both in the socket and on the bulb electrodes. The bulb couldn't even be screwed in all the way. It is true that it takes a little while for the sensor to switch the bulb on after you block the light, most of them will instantly turn the bulb on for a short while as soon as power is applied, i.e. after the circuit breaker is turned on.

I took the light apart again and re-checked all the connections, but it looks like the real culprit was the accumulation of bugs and debris. Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond to my post.

[Sable99]

I was going to suggest either an animal or a landscaper. We have had both! Our gas company in Michigan told us a swarm of bees ate through their wire. And, landscapers cut an air conditioning wire at our condo on St. Augustine Beach! Go figure!

[chachacha]

i just had to change my bulb and replaced it with what i had handy, a 25 watt candle type glass bulb...is this ok for an outside lamp? the old one was 15 watts regular style bulb as far as i could tell. please advise :)

[philnpat]

It's ok to use that type of bulb but you should consider replacing it with an LED bulb the next time. They are more expensive but have a lifespan of
20+ years.

[SantaClaus]

An LED will attract fewer bugs, too. You can apply a LIGHT coat of Vaseline on the threads of the bulb, too, to help conductivity, especially on outdoor fixtures. Just don't smear it across the black glass insulator onto the button on the bottom; just on the screw threads. Should help you never having to replace that bulb again!

[Debfrommaine]

My yard light stopped working. Replaced the bulbs and still didn't work. Replaced the light sensor and still didn't work. The circuit breaker is fine and all the wire connections are tight. The bulbs are good. Any other suggestions? Thanks.

We have been having same issue. We just changed (again) the yard lamp and when that blows the kitchen lights go out! Your thoughts?

[SantaClaus]

Sounds like a gfci is tripping. Is water collecting in the lamp? Does it happen when it rains? Do you have to reset a breaker to get the kitchen light back on?

[Gator Fan]

We have been having same issue. We just changed (again) the yard lamp and when that blows the kitchen lights go out! Your thoughts?

I don't know why your yard light is "blowing", but I found that my yard light and some kitchen outlets were on the same circuit breaker, so that is why they would both go out at the same time, if yours is wired the same.

[Debfrommaine]

Sounds like a gfci is tripping. Is water collecting in the lamp? Does it happen when it rains? Do you have to reset a breaker to get the kitchen light back on?

correct - we have to reset the kitchen lites too.

[SantaClaus]

My suspicion is either corrosion in the bulb socket, or water intrusion. Either of these could cause the bulb to blow and to trip the gfci. My suggestion is to make 100% certain power is off to the circuit (not just switched off with a wall switch), remove the bulb and clean the inside of the socket with steel wool, both the screw threads and the sprung contact at the bottom. Make sure the sprung contact is springy, not laying flat against the bottom; if it is bend it up a bit. Place a small dot of Vaseline on the sprung contact (or better, dielectric grease, but Vaseline will work). Replace the bulb with either a hardened incandescent (garage opener, work light, rough service bulb) or better a LED bulb. These will do a better job of resisting blowing in less than ideal conditions. Put a thin coat of Vaseline on the BULB threads, not down to the glass insulator, and certainly not bridging the threads to the button on the bottom. Screw the bulb in, all the way til snug. Use a little more Vaseline to "caulk" the joint between the socket and the bulb. This will help waterproof the socket. Make sure that if there are weep holes in the bottom of the fixture that they are not blocked with debris. Put the lamp back together and turn the circuit back on. Hopefully that takes care of it. If not, the next thing to try is replacing the whole socket. If that doesn't work, the is likely damage to the buried electrical line. Hope it helps.

[getdul981]

FYI, I don't believe any of the homes in TV have a wall switch for the yard light. They are all wired in with the garage door circuit and have no way to turn them off except tripping the breaker.

[SantaClaus]

I was thinking a "yard light" may have been either a lamppost or a floodlight, so I thought mentioning that turning off a wall switch is not sufficient protection, just to be safe.