I have 7 can lights and 3 to 4 of them flicker and burn out faster then the others

Steve B
by Steve B
I have checked the heat and all 7 are about the same. All 7 lights work off one switch. I checked for a loose connection at the switch
  5 answers
  • 3po3 3po3 on Feb 09, 2012
    Sounds like a wiring problem along the line to those bulbs. I know there are some electricians in your area who are listed here on Hometalk. You can find them at the top of the page. It should be a quick fix for them, and it will save you the expense of replacing all those bulbs all the time.
  • These can lights may be overheating. What is surrounding the light fixtures on the other side? If they are covered with to much insulation or there is not enough clearance as suggested by the manufacture of the light that can be the issue. Also bulb type has a lot to do with it. If you look into the can itself there will be a picture of the types of bulbs that you can use in this type of fixture along with the max wattage allowed. Be sure your following the suggestion of the fixture. You can always convert the fixtures to LED or CFL system. The LED are the most expensive, but they will last a very long time, put out very little heat and some come with a sealing kit to help keep the heat of the room from escaping out of the house through the vent holes.
  • The easiest fix, is put compact fluorescent style bulbs in the cans were installed wrong and the heat sensor is turning them off for safety
  • Solutions Electric, Inc. Solutions Electric, Inc. on Apr 06, 2012
    Seach for 130V lamps...they cost a little more but will last longer.
  • Brighten Electric, Inc. Brighten Electric, Inc. on Apr 08, 2012
    It is most likely the socket, if just certain fixtures are burning out bulbs faster. If the connection to the socket is loose, more heat will generate at the bulb causing the bulb to overheat and have a shorter life span. Replace the sockets. They may also be right about the heat sensor. If the fixtures turn completely off and come back on after a few seconds the heat sensors are tripping, but if bulbs just flicker it most likely is the sockets. If you still use incandescent, 130volt lamps will last a lot longer. The down side is they don't burn as bright, but they are still worth the loss of light. A dimmer that slowly comes on and off will also make the incandescent bulbs last a lot longer. www.brightenelectric.net