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I can’t get LEDs to work together in twin wired Port Charlotte lights. I can put in an incandescent light with an LED bulb and just the led works. I put both LEDs in and neither works. I put both incandescent lights in and they both work. Power shows present on voltage meter. Could it be the switch? I have a standard light switch from 50 years ago technology

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  • Are the LED bulbs of the same brand?
    – isherwood
    Commented Feb 3, 2021 at 19:14
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    What does "twin wired Port Charlotte lights" mean? Is "Port Charlotte" a brand or a style or a location? What is "twin wired"? Maybe include a picture, too.
    – FreeMan
    Commented Feb 3, 2021 at 19:20
  • Is this a dusk to dawn controlled fixture? Or an electronic switch ?
    – Ed Beal
    Commented Feb 3, 2021 at 20:06
  • Power shows present on voltage meter. What voltage are you reading at either socket with the meter?
    – HoneyDo
    Commented Feb 3, 2021 at 21:08
  • Try a small value (25, 40 watt) incandescent, and a large-value (75, 100W) incandescent as the two bulbs. Is the small-value one brighter? That would indicate series wiring.
    – Harper - Reinstate Monica
    Commented Feb 3, 2021 at 21:31

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Given the symptoms, I have to suspect that this fixture is wired with the bulbs in series, rather than with the bulbs in parallel.

So, two incandescents - operate happily if somewhat dim and yellow on half-voltage. Bulbs would last a long time and veer towards "bug light" yellow without the ugly yellow paintjob, so it's not unreasonable for a "porch light" fixture.

One LED one incandescent - adequate voltage for the LED, so little current you don't even notice the glow on the incandescent.

Two LEDs - half voltage, ain't nobody happy.

Diagnostic - one bulb, one empty socket - what happens?

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  • I've never seen that in a fixture. Would you assume that it's a manufacturing flaw?
    – isherwood
    Commented Feb 3, 2021 at 20:04
  • Not necessarily. Could have been designed that way, with the long life and bug-lite/cheerful yellow intent; could have (depending on fixture design) been field-wired that way (which could mean it's correctable for "not 60 volt" LEDs to work in it.)
    – Ecnerwal
    Commented Feb 3, 2021 at 20:45

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