Your house’s outside lighting significantly influences its curb appeal and security after dark. Your children will be less dangerous if you turn on the outdoor lights. And potential burglars will think twice about breaking into your home. A house that seems to be occupied will deter these robbers. Even this marvelous light, though, sometimes goes out. To solve this issue, you must first figure out why your external light is not working.
Outdoor lighting stops working when the light bulb is burnt out, or the fixture is damaged. The other causes include a tripped circuit breaker in your electrical panel and a power supply failure caused by a tripped GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter). A power outage may be why your outdoor light is not functioning if you reside in an area where severe storms often occur.
1.The bulb is not working
Often, a burned-out bulb is responsible for a non-functioning outdoor light. Replacing the light bulb is often sufficient to remedy the condition. If the outside lighting is damaged or the bulb is high up, a ladder may be required to access it.
It is also conceivable that the light bulb was improperly inserted into the socket. Consequentially, this interrupts the power flow. Ensure that this is the issue before buying a replacement light bulb.
Forget about getting a professional to assist you with this. Installing a new light bulb or replacing an old one is simple. You do not need to engage a professional, so saving you money.
2. The GFCI has been triggered.
GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, the acronym for this safety device. An instantaneous circuit breaker disconnects the power in the event of a ground fault. A ground-fault circuit interrupter can react in as little as a quarter of a second.
It is standard practice to bury outdoor lighting electrical wires. Water often enters the electrical outlets with heavy rain or a storm.
Your outside light cannot turn on because the GCFI plug is continually tripped. The GFCI plug is fitted with a moisture-detecting mechanism that disconnects power instantly if it senses wetness. This safety mechanism is incorporated into the GFCI to prevent even more severe scenarios from arising.
Even though the fail-safe feature of your GFCI is there for your safety, it will not enable energy to flow to your outdoor lighting system. You can find the GFCI outlet and reset the switch to rectify the situation. Press and hold the RESET button to reset the ground fault circuit interrupter until it snaps. If the GFCI does not reset after following the procedures above, there is likely a problem with the outlet or the circuit’s wiring; you should call an electrician.
If this happens often, you can consider purchasing a bubble cover. The GFCI will not trip due to the cover, and water will not harm the outlet.
3. Your electrical panel’s circuit breaker has tripped.
After checking and resetting the GFCI ground fault circuit outlet, check the circuit breaker in your electrical panel if the outdoor light still will not turn on. If the wiring has a problem, the circuit breaker will trip. Issues such as rat damage, dampness, dry rot, worn-out fixtures, or too rigorous landscape lighting, and transformer maintenance may all lead to poor connections.
A connection system short may occur under any of these circumstances. The circuit breaker has a built-in safety feature that triggers whenever wires come into contact. Find the faulty line and flip the breaker in the electrical panel. Finding the control panel is the first order of business. Garages, utility rooms, and basements are familiar places to discover them.
4. Power Outages
Prepare for power outages in a region prone to them due to extreme weather. When it rains, outdoor lighting may no longer operate for several reasons. If there is a power outage, the outside lighting will go out. As long as this continues, the accuracy of your astronomical clock may be compromised. To continue functioning, the timer will switch to battery mode.
The batteries in your astronomical timer will eventually fail, making it incapable of consistently turning the exterior lights on and off at specified intervals. Due to this issue, you may discover that your patio lights are off while using your house’s electricity.
Conclusion
“Why doesn’t my outdoor light work?” or “My exterior lights won’t turn on, although I know there’s electricity to them?”. The guidelines above may help you find solutions to the questions. If not, you may require experts to fix the problem. DIY is allowed and will help you save a lot of money. Call the experts if you cannot figure out why your outside light does not turn on when it rains.