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Effect of heat on outside lights

Effect of heat on outside lights


   
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Old 07-22-16, 03:36 PM
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Effect of heat on outside lights
I have a shed wired inside with a switch inside(15 amp) for outside lights. Today the wall lights stay on no matter which position the switch is in. Changed the switch and same thing. The CGFI (20 amp)inside also keeps tripping. The indoor temp in the shed is around 120?

Would the high heat cause these things to happen?

Worked fine before the heatwave.

Thanks
 
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Old 07-22-16, 03:56 PM
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Would the high heat cause these things to happen?
Not likely. Switches and lights work fine in attics and they can be even hotter. Lights don't need to be be on the load side of the GFCI, are they? It sounds like a neutral to ground short or moisture is tripping the GFCI. If the lights are on the load side of the GFCI disconnect them from the load side and see if it still trips.

Are you in Canada? if not why a 20 amp GFCI?
 
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Old 07-22-16, 03:56 PM
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If you changed the switch and the light stays on you have an issue with your wiring. I seriously doubt this is caused by heat. GFCI receptacles do go bad and especially when used outside if they aren't the weather resistant type. Have you changed the receptacle yet?

why a 20 amp GFCI?
Good point, Ray, I missed that.
 
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Old 07-22-16, 04:12 PM
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Changed the GFCI and light switch to no avail. Lowes guy said to get the 20 amp, I had used a 15 amp one. Could be the light problem is whats causing the GFCI problem. Everything, outlets and lights are off the GFCI.

Did have torrential rain in the past few days, maybe moisture got in to the outside lights.
 
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Old 07-22-16, 04:21 PM
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Lowes guy said to get the 20 amp, I had used a 15 amp one.
He was wrong. If it cost more I'd take it back and tell them the associate needs training and you need the 15a one.
Could be the light problem is whats causing the GFCI problem.
Yes, the lights. Once you have found and corrected the problem I suggest you move the lights to the line side of the GFCI. First open each light and check for moisture and if the seals are good.
 
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Old 07-22-16, 04:23 PM
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Thanks Ray, will do. But moisture wouldnt explain the light switch having no effect. Was working for the last 3 months.
 
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Old 07-23-16, 10:36 AM
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But moisture wouldnt explain the light switch having no effect.
No, but an issue with your wiring could. Think about it, if you have switched the neutral conductor you have 120 volts going through the light all the time, 24/7. Now, add the torrential rains and the box could have filled up with water. Think about that a bit. Then I suggest you start checking the wiring.
 
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Old 07-24-16, 09:16 AM
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thanks joe. found that the bare ground wire in one of the outside lights was touching the hot wire at the wiring nut 😱
 
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Old 07-24-16, 10:30 AM
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found that the bare ground wire in one of the outside lights was touching the hot wire at the wiring nut ��
You aren't finished yet. A hot wire touching a ground wire would trip the circuit breaker, not turn the light on. The only way this could possibly happen is if the power has already run through the bulb and then the neutral side touchs a ground. That still means that you have been switching the neutral and not the hot wire. With your wiring configuration the hot leg is always running through the bulb and your switch either provides or takes away the neutral as the light goes off or on.
 
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