Substitute LED for Incandescent in Can Lighting

They obviously should be, but it's interesting if the rest of the lights on the circuit light that that one doesn't.  Did you test the new bulb elsewhere?

"...threw the switch, and no joy?"

Slang is a wonderful thing, except when attempting to trouble-shoot D.I.Y. electrical problems.

By "no joy" do you mean that, now, none of the lamps illuminate, or do you mean that the newly-installed non-dimmable LED does not illuminate, while the original tungsten lamps do work, or do you mean that the original tungsten lamps dim, but the non-dimmable LED does not, or that the original tungsten lamps stay at full illumination, but won't dim, or ...?

One should always expect unusual results when doing unusual experiments. Tell us what really happens, and we'll find a solution for you.

Standard dimmer switches usually are around 600 watts capacity.  Nine or Ten  65 watt incandescent lamps  exceeds the dimmer capacity.

There are also 3way dimmer switches, that would involve another switch in the circuit.  ?? Were the lights controlled from two, or more locations.??

Maybe the dimmer blew out when the bulb died? Circuit breaker tripped?

If you are going to replace all of the lamps with LED's, you will probably need a new dimmer that's rated for LED's. Many old standard incandescent dimmers will not work properly with LED's.

I believe that you gents may be on to something. Without a definitive answer about the symptom, we can't precisely know what failed. But it is a fact, that I neglected to mention, that a tungsten filament, when it fails, can create a momentary short circuit within the lamp. That short can, and most often does, cause the triac in the dimmer to fail. Most times, the triac will fail in the ON mode (lights at full intensity); rarely, in the OPEN mode (no current to the load.)

I installed dimmable LED bulbs in the only dimmable circuit in my house and they have worked fine for the past couple of years. 

Sorry that I wasn't specific enough.  The circuit with the slide dimmer switch (only one) has a total of 7 (all 65W) can lights, and only one blew.  When we replaced it with a new (non-dimmable) LED bulb, we just turned all 7 back on (we don't normally use the dimmer switch) and the LED bulb failed to light.  I guess we should try the new LED in a different can to see if it works there.  If so, that means the issue is probably with the can and I will call an electrician.  If not, the box holds 2 LEDs so I will try the other one to make sure it's not just one bad light.  We'll see what happens tomorrow.

Thanks to all who answered for the suggestions and ideas.

Chuck

Before you call Sparky, try substitution. Put the LED in a separate fixture, to see if it lights up. Take a regular bulb and put it in the can fixture, to see if the fixture is OK.

One more suggestion is to ensure that the dimmer control is turned up.  I have a ceiling setup in which the LEDs will not light if the dimmer is set too low.  I can turn up the dimmer to make them light and then dim them down.

It is also possible to replace the dimmer switch with a regular toggle switch. Dimmables seem to work fine in regular circuits.

@Cumberland Valley posted:

One more suggestion is to ensure that the dimmer control is turned up.  I have a ceiling setup in which the LEDs will not light if the dimmer is set too low.  I can turn up the dimmer to make them light and then dim them down.

This is caused by using an old incandescent dimmer with LED's. The voltage output is not sensitive enough to energize the LED's at the low end of the dimmer. If it doesn't bother you, fine but that's why.
I've been an electrical contractor for 30+ years. The change to LED lighting has been great but it comes with some added costs that the layman isn't aware of.
Tell customer that they need a new $50 dimmer to make their new LED's work properly and get some dirty looks.

These new dimmers are rated for LED's and have a trim pot to adjust the low end dimming for proper operation.

As to the OP's issue. It can be a defective lamp. Try the other one and a different fixture before calling a contractor.

Bob

I'll let Lutron know that their C L dimmers are mislabeled.

You didn't mention that.......

The cans themselves likely have a thermal protect switch in them. Is possible that was damaged on the short and it is now stuck open and that’s why it’s the only one not working. Trying a known good bulb in it should verify that.

So, I took the non-dimmable to a different can on the circuit and put it in; turned on light switch, and all worked except for the original "bad" can.  So, I know the LED bulbs are good and I need an electrician to fix the can.

Again, thanks for all the suggestions.  Now, back to model railroading!!

Chuck