We have 6 ceiling lights in the kitchen. Sometimes a strip of 3 goes out then comes on 20-30 min later. Today the other strip of 3 has gone off with the others staying on. What could be shorting these lights & where would I look for faults?

Tommy, December 2009

My best guess is that there are two transformers, one for each strip of three lights. The transformer is getting hot and has a cut-out built in. When it reaches critical temperature it switches off. When it cools it switches back on. If you can get access above the kitchen I suggest you make sure that there is a passage of air around lights and transformer(s).

Mark, December 2009

If they are "shorting" I would assume they are low voltage with a short, probably caused by a lack of insulation on the wires from the secondary side of the transformer to the lamps.

Personally I would start by forgetting this idea of "shorting" and check the wattage of the lamps and the connections of the wires.

Adam, December 2009