So you’re having trouble getting your Snappower Guidelight to work after you put it over an outlet? Here is a step-by-step guide that will help you get your Guidelight to work right. Before we start, let’s quickly go over how the Snappower Guidelight works and where it gets its power. Once you know this, it shouldn’t take you long to set up and use your Guidelight. Check every detail about Snappower Guidelight Troubleshooting!
Quick Tip
Before working around outlets, turn off the power at the circuit breaker and verify that the power is off.
Snappower Guidelight Troubleshooting
STEP 1: Make sure the GUIDELIGHT works
After you’ve put the Guidelight in place, the first thing to do is make sure it works. To do this, plug the outlet in and put your thumb over the light sensor (a small dark spot in the lower left-hand corner of the Guidelight). The LEDs should light up if the Guidelight was put in the right way. If the LEDs don’t light up the first time you touch the light sensor, you may need to make the room darker and try again.
Even after all this work, your Guidelight still doesn’t work, try turning the screw that holds it to the outlet. Tighten or loosen this screw, the rivets on the power prongs will connect better to the screw terminals.
STEP 2: Make adjustments to the power prongs
If you have tested your Guidelight and it still doesn’t work, it could be that the power prongs are not bent far enough toward the outlet to make good contact with the screw terminals. Power off the outlet and take the Guidelight out. Then, bend the prongs toward each other as shown below. Put the Guidelight back over the outlet and do step one again.
STEP 3: Ensure the outlet is compatible before installing
Don’t forget that the Guidelight only works with the standard duplex or décor outlet with side screw terminals, no matter who made it or when (These types of outlets make up the vast majority of outlets in North American homes). If you try to put your Guidelight over a different kind of outlet, it won’t work.
Here are two examples of how the standard duplex and décor outlets look:
EXAMPLES OF NON-COMPATIBLE OUTLETS
Here are some examples of outlets that don’t work together. If you try to put your Guidelight over these outlets, it will not work.
DUPLEX OUTLET WITH NO SCREW TERMINALS
A duplex outlet with no screw terminals on the sides is another rare example of an outlet that is not compatible. Without the side screw terminals, there is no way for the Guidelight to get power.
The fastest way to find out if the outlet you want to put your Guidelight in doesn’t have screw terminals is to turn off the power to the outlet, take out your Guidelight, and use a flashlight to see inside the box and along the sides of the outlet. If it doesn’t have side screw terminals, you’ll need to find another outlet inside the house to use with your SnapRays Guidelight.
STEP 4: Check the orientation of the guidelight concerning the outlet
The LEDs on the Guidelight must face the same direction as the ground on the outlet to work correctly.
STEP 5: Look for internal obstructions
If you’ve done all of this and your Guidelight still doesn’t work, something may be blocking the connection between the prongs and the screw terminals inside the electrical box. Remember that the Guidelight needs to make good contact with the screw terminals on both sides of the outlet for it to work. Before you do anything else in step 5, turn off the power to the plug.
Many different things could be getting in the way of the connection between the prongs and the screw terminals since different people put in outlets in different ways. Since this is the case, each user’s situation will be different. But, keeping this in mind, let’s talk about four things that could be causing this.
A) Obstacles such as wires
When installing your Guidelight, you may find that electrical wiring is in the way between the screw terminals and the prongs. For the Guidelight to work, move the wires away from the screw terminals. If you don’t know how to do this right or don’t feel comfortable doing it, you should talk to an electrician.
B) Electrical Box Recessed
A recessed outlet box is one in which the outlet is placed further away from the box than usual. In this case, the prongs on your Guidelight may go around the outlet and get caught on the outlet box or go outside altogether. This will keep the prongs from making good electrical contact with the screw terminals on the outlet.
If the prongs are getting stuck in the electrical box or going outside, you can find out why by turning off the power to the outlet, taking out the Guidelight, and looking at the prongs. They’re likely getting caught on the box if they’re bent outward more than usual. To ensure the prongs go into the outlet box, put the Guidelight back over the outlet yoke at the top or bottom and then slide the Guidelight up or down the outlet. See the pictures below to see how to do this.
C) Tape for electrical connections
During some installations, the electrician may use electrical tape to wrap around the outlet. The prongs can’t touch the side screw terminals because of this electrical tape. Take the tape off for the Guidelight to work. If you don’t know how to do this right or don’t feel comfortable doing it, you should talk to an electrician.
D) Coat the screw terminals with paint
In some installations, paint overspray can get on the side screw terminals when a house is being painted. This will keep the prongs from touching the screw terminals and causing a short. If you don’t know how to do this right or don’t feel comfortable doing it, you should talk to an electrician.
STEP 6: If your guidelight is to be installed on a light switch, make sure that it is.
In rare cases, a light switch inside the house may control the outlet. For instance, in some homes, a switch near a door controls one of a room’s outlets. If you put your Guidelight over a switched outlet where a switch controls the bottom receptacle, you will need to turn the switch on for the Guidelight to work.
STEP 7: Select another outlet for your GUIDELIGHT installation
There are a lot of different ways to put outlets in a house. If you still can’t get your Guidelight to turn on, you might be able to use it with a different outlet in your home.
Conclusion
Thus, if you are caught in a fix and your Snappower Guidelight is not working, you can try these steps. You will surely see the result. If you are still facing problems with Snappower Guidelight Troubleshooting you can leave a comment in the comments box and we will try to help you find a solution.
I'm Tony James and I love gadgets (a little less than I love my WIFE!!) - it's my way of contributing to the gadget world, even though I'm an engineer by profession that from where I earn my bread and butter. I've been an engineer for as long as I can remember and love nothing more than reviewing different products - whether it be smartphones, laptops or even drones! I believe that a product should be able to speak for itself, so I test them exhaustively before writing my reviews. My readers know that when they see a review from me, it's going to be honest, unbiased and worth their time. I also love swimming (especially in the sea) and am a great cook! My two young children keep me busy when I'm not at work or swimming.
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