A thermal switch will automatically turn off the light when it overheats.
Recessed lights are commonly used with thermal switches. A thermal switch is designed to automatically turn the light off if it overheats, and turn it on again when it cools. Recessed lights that are designed to be installed with insulation touching the can are called IC, insulation contact, rated and will be marked with IC on the label inside the can. Most cases of overheating are due to either insulation packed against a non-IC-rated can, or using a bulb with greater wattage than the fixture is designed for. On rare occasions a thermal switch will fail and need to be replaced.
Instructions
1. Turn off the breaker controlling the light you are working on. Remove the trim and bulb. Inside the can about two-thirds of the way up, there is a small metal square attached to the side with two wires coming out of it. The small metal square is the thermal switch. One wire goes to the light socket and the other goes to the hot wire of the electrical box.
2. Push the metal casing of the thermal switch toward the top of the can so the tab at the bottom comes out of the slot. Pull down to remove. Some manufacturers use a screw to hold the switch to the side; remove the screw to remove the switch.
3. Cut both wires fairly close to the thermal switch so that the wires inside the light stay as long as possible. Strip 1/4 inch of insulation from each wire inside the light and on the new thermal switch.
4. Twist either of the wires from the switch to either of the wires in the light and wire nut. Twist the remaining wire from the switch to the remaining wire in the light and wire nut.
5. Reattach the new thermal switch to the inside of the recessed light. Push the wire nutted connections toward the top of the can so that the wire nuts and wires are clear of where the bulb will be when installed. Replace the bulb and trim.
Tips Warnings
Pushing insulation away from a non-IC-rated recessed light can be done without going into the attic. Remove the trim and bulb. Remove the three screws on the inside, around the bottom, of the recessed light. Either push the dome of the recess can into the attic or pull it down to hang into the room. Reach through the hole and push the insulation away from the light. Replace the dome, trim and bulb.
Always turn off the power before working on electrical wiring to avoid electrocution.
Tags: thermal, switch, fixture, thermal switch, recessed light, trim bulb, automatically turn, automatically turn light, away from, either wires
