Conventional Fixtures MR16 3 Color Strip

[Shinigami]

So I have an unusual problem with my MR16 strips.

One of the three sections has stopped working. One of the cells has an led indicator lit to tell us there is a problem but I can't find one.

It does not work on a dimmer or hot patch.
It is not the lamp because I have tried lamps that I know to work.
The wiring is all solid as is the ceramic.
There is no corrosion on any of the contacts.
And when I tested for continuity I had it in all lamps in that series as well as enough power to run all the lamps.


I could really use some help on this one.


Thanks

Colleen
Head Electrician
Bucks County Playhouse

 

[n1ist]

If the neon is lit, there's an open somewhere between the two leads of the neon (the neon is in parallel with a bulb; if the bulb is burned out or the wiring open, you will find 110v across it. Enough to light a neon. Same trick used to spot-weld the shorting wire in the self-healing Christmas bulbs, an idea Edison used in his street llights)

Since the bulb is OK, that leaves the ceramic, wires, and connections. I have seen cases where wires have broken inside the insulation from flexing or near solder joints; a little tug and they came apart.
/mike

 

[SteveB]

It's probably a burned out socket, one of two at the LED indicator. Shine a flashlight at the sockets and look for corrosion/burning at one or both contact points.

Other then burned out lamps, this is the most common problem I see with my L&E Mini-Strips.

Hopefully you have the 2nd generation strips, as the sockets are much easier to replace then the originals. I get my sockets from Bulbtronics and get the version with the 36" leads, makes it easier in the re-wireing.