Smell coming from new light kit
#1
12-02-15, 08:25 PM
Smell coming from new light kit
Hi, I replaced the light kit on my Hunter ceiling fan. Once I turn the lights on it immediately starts giving off a weird smell, and it's very strong but not irritating. I took it apart to make sure I didn't pinch any wires and make sure there wasn't anything burning. I'm not sure if the smell is a 'new light smell' or ozone from the wires, which is what's worrying me.
The white wire from the fan did have a brownish mark but I'm not sure if it was there before I started (due to age since the fan is 20+ years old) or because it's heating up.
The brownish spot on the white wire makes me think it could be coming from that. But after having the lights on 3 hours, I shut the power off and opened the kit back up and the wires didn't smell like anything and the brown didn't rub off.
If the wire was heating up and releasing any kind of smell, wouldn't the smell linger on the wire itself or inside the small metal compartment?
The white wire from the fan did have a brownish mark but I'm not sure if it was there before I started (due to age since the fan is 20+ years old) or because it's heating up.
The brownish spot on the white wire makes me think it could be coming from that. But after having the lights on 3 hours, I shut the power off and opened the kit back up and the wires didn't smell like anything and the brown didn't rub off.
If the wire was heating up and releasing any kind of smell, wouldn't the smell linger on the wire itself or inside the small metal compartment?
#3
12-03-15, 07:23 AM
If the smell went away then it might just be "new car smell" from a grease spot on a light bulb that quickly boiled away.
Also you may wnat to check for a loose connection in the light fixture.
Loose connections of any kind can heat up and melt or burn nearby materials, causing bad odors or worse.
Also you may wnat to check for a loose connection in the light fixture.
Loose connections of any kind can heat up and melt or burn nearby materials, causing bad odors or worse.
#4
12-03-15, 10:52 AM
Have you checked the wattage rating of the fixture against the size bulb you installed? I made the mistake of "over bulbing" a floor lamp. An hour later it had a mild smell. An hour after that it was smoking. The contact in the bulb socket actually melted.
I had a 3 way 200W max installed. Yes the lamp was made in China - rated for 60W.
I had a 3 way 200W max installed. Yes the lamp was made in China - rated for 60W.
#5
12-03-15, 07:35 PM
Thanks for all the responses. No, there's no dimmer. I'm using four 60w incandescent bulbs. I also tried halogen bulbs and they made no difference. The max wattage is 60w. Here's the listing for the light kit.
After experimenting today it seems like the smell is originating from the light fixtures, not the wire box. I've taken apart the light kit four times now after letting everything heat up and there doesn't seem to be any smell coming from inside. I left the lights on several hours today before opening it up, and even though the room reeked, there was no signs of burning or overheating on the wires. There was no change on the white wire either, so I assume the brown marks were there before I started all this.
Now the problem is if it isn't the wires, the only other thing I can think of is this "new car/fan smell." But I left the lights on about 7 hours today (13 in all) and the smell was still overwhelming, even after than long. How long is long enough for the new smell to go away? And if it isn't a 'new smell', what else could it be?
After experimenting today it seems like the smell is originating from the light fixtures, not the wire box. I've taken apart the light kit four times now after letting everything heat up and there doesn't seem to be any smell coming from inside. I left the lights on several hours today before opening it up, and even though the room reeked, there was no signs of burning or overheating on the wires. There was no change on the white wire either, so I assume the brown marks were there before I started all this.
Now the problem is if it isn't the wires, the only other thing I can think of is this "new car/fan smell." But I left the lights on about 7 hours today (13 in all) and the smell was still overwhelming, even after than long. How long is long enough for the new smell to go away? And if it isn't a 'new smell', what else could it be?
#7
12-04-15, 06:59 AM
I can't think of anything it would be other than residual odor from the manufacturing process. Maybe the finish didn't cure completely or something along those lines. Sometimes the fiberglass batting in semi flush fixtures has an odor to it -- did this fixture have anything like that? Is some of the plastic or foam packing material still in the fixture somewhere? Perhaps take the fixture down and leave it in the garage for a week? Return and try for a different one?
#8
12-04-15, 09:06 AM
Member
I suspect the fixture is overlamped. The fixture comes new with 4 - 13 watt medium base self ballasted compact fluorescent lamps. With the ballast loads, the total lamp wattage is a little under 60 watts and the fixture is rated for 60 watts.
That is your problem, that is 240 watts.
http://ceilingfans.emerson.com/shop/...t-fan-p-cfmlk4
I'm using four 60w incandescent bulbs
http://ceilingfans.emerson.com/shop/...t-fan-p-cfmlk4
#9
12-04-15, 11:44 AM
Not sure, the "Included Features" tab on the mfr website says it's also rated for four 60W incandescents. I'm sure by oil rubbed bronze, they just mean brown paint, but if it does actually have an oil finish on it that could stink like hell.
#10
12-05-15, 12:06 PM
Member
the "Included Features" tab on the mfr website says it's also rated for four 60W incandescents.
There is no oil used in the finish. The oil rubbed bronze is a common paint type finish used on a lot of light fixtures and bathroom fixtures these days, even faucets. For that matter, the bronze is paint too over a light steel stamping.
I still believe the odor is from excessive heat.
