November 21, 2003, Newsletter Issue #82: Another GFI question

Tip of the Week

I recently wired a bedroom light fixture through the attic. In doing so, I wired a junction box to a GFI line--didn`t realize it was GFI until after it was done. Now the new fixture loses juice after being on for a few hours--then comes back on after several hours. Not sure what to do--the breaker doesn`t trip, and I don`t have a reset button to press.

Dear DIY`er;
Could it be that the fixture is a recessed can? Cans are equipped with a thermal overload feature that shuts the power off when the heat from the light goes over a pre-set temperature. If this is the case, go up to the attic and pull the insulation away from the fixture so that there is a 6" space all the way around the can.

In the circumstance that the fixture is not equipped with a thermal overload, it sounds like there may be a loose connection where you tapped into the gfi circuit. The problem doesn`t have anything to do with the gfi. When you put the wire nuts on the wires, sometimes one of the wires is not completely into the wire nut. It is in contact with the other wires, but is not held firmly in place. When the wires heat up a little bit, there is enough expansion in the wires that the fixture wire pulls away from the others and the circuit is broken. Then, when the wires cool off and contract, contact is again made and the light comes back on.

Home Improvement Guru

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