An Easy Guide to Edison Light Fixture Repair

Light fixture repair is an essential skill when you find yourself with a busted bulb or a faulty fixture. The incandescent bulb was invented by a world-renowned scientist called Thomas Edison. Because the bulbs are inexpensive, we see a lot of Edison fixtures in homes across the country.

Assessing the Problem

Successful light fixture repair requires you to assess the problem first. Before you assume that the fixture is the problem, you should check that the bulb isn't faulty. To check the bulb, unscrew it and screw in a new bulb or one that's working in a different fixture. If the bulb lights up, leave it (or purchase a new one if you can't spare the test bulb). But if you still don’t see any light, you should ready your tools for light fixture repair.

Loose Connection in the Socket

Sometimes the reason why your bulb fails to light up is a loose connection in your fixture’s socket. To solve this problem, open your socket up. Make sure that you turn off the circuit breaker before you mess around with any kind of wire.

With the use of a voltage tester, place the first lead on the brass contact located at the very center and the other one in the threaded metal bulb housing. A reading will indicate that there is no loose connection in the socket. Try a new or different bulb. If you receive no reading, check that power surges through the circuits by testing if a plugged-in device works.

If there is power in the circuit, you can conclude that there is some kind of a loose connection. With the circuit breaker turned off and the wires dead, assess if the copper ends are securely fastened to the terminals of your light fixture’s switch or socket.

Loose Connection in the Fixture

Loose connection can also happen in the light fixture itself. With the circuit breaker off and you having passed enough time to make sure that the wires are completely dead, unscrew the fixture from where it is mounted. Check the terminals of the fixture and assess whether the wires are still secured properly to the terminals of your fixture. If they aren’t, crimp the copper ends properly and reinstall the fixture.