Quick answer
Outdoor lights fail from blown lamps, water in the fitting, a failed PIR sensor, or corroded wiring. They live in the weather, so moisture accounts for most of the faults that are not simply a dead lamp. Check the obvious first, but treat any outdoor fitting that has water inside it as an earth-leakage risk rather than just a light that has stopped working.
Common causes
- Blown lamp, still the most common cause
- Water ingress into the fitting through a perished seal
- Failed PIR sensor, or one knocked out of alignment
- Corroded wiring or terminals in an outdoor junction box
- PIR daylight sensitivity set so it never triggers at dusk
- Tripped circuit or earth leakage caused by the wet fitting itself
What you can do now
- 1Replace the lamp first and check the breaker at the board
- 2Clean the PIR lens, which collects dust and cobwebs and stops detecting
- 3Check the PIR daylight and time adjustment settings
- 4Look for condensation or standing water inside the fitting
- 5Switch the circuit off if you find water inside the fitting
When to call a professional
Book an outdoor lighting service if the PIR or the wiring is suspect, and call promptly if the fitting has water in it or if it trips the earth leakage. Wet outdoor fittings are a genuine shock risk, particularly at ground level where people and pets reach them. An electrician will replace failed fittings with properly IP-rated ones and re-seal the connections.
Typical cost in Johannesburg
PIR R450 · Fitting replace R650+
Indicative ranges only. We provide written, itemised quotes before any work.
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