Flashlights are pretty simple devices, and there are generally only about three things that can go wrong and cause them not to work. In order of likelihood, the are:
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Flashlights are pretty simple devices, and there are generally only a few things that can go wrong and cause them not to work. In order of likelihood, they are:
# Dead batteries - you should have eliminated this by putting new batteries in.
# Dead light bulb - If it's an incandescent bulb, the filament burning out is usually what happens, but if it's an LED, it can fail.
# Switch - switches are mechanical in nature and all kinds of things can go wrong with them; the contacts can get corroded or bent, or else wires can break.
# Battery contacts - If batteries get left in the flashlight for a long time, they can leak corrosive acids that form a coating on the wires that touch either end of the battery and keep them from making contact.
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If it's an incandescent bulb, check the filament; if it's broken you'll need a new bulb. If the bulb is good, check the battery contacts; there's usually a spring at the bottom and the top usually touches the button on the bottom of the bulb. Look for corrosion; if you find some you can clean it with sandpaper or steel wool.
Other than that, the switch is the only thing left. Mechanisms vary, but all of them have one purpose; to connect the battery to the bulb. A piece of wire can be used to bypass the switch to see if that's the problem; take a nice long bare strip and put it at the bottom of the flashlight where it'll be caught between the battery and the spring contact, then run it up the side and wrap it around the part that touches the side of the bulb. Put the bulb holder back on and see if it comes on when you do. If so, you've found the problem as being a bad switch.
So take it apart, figure out the parts and trace down which one is the problem. That's basically all we do here; it's just that some people have more experience at it, but everyone started somewhere, like figuring out why their flashlight doesn't work.
Hi Teddy,
Flashlights are pretty simple devices, and there are generally only about three things that can go wrong and cause them not to work. In order of likelihood, the are:
# Dead batteries - you should have eliminated this by putting new batteries in.
# Dead light bulb - If it's an incandescent bulb, the filament burning out is usually what happens, but if it's an LED, it can fail.
# Switch - switches are mechanical in nature and all kinds of things can go wrong with them; the contacts can get corroded or bent, or else wires can break.
# Battery contacts - If batteries get left in the flashlight for a long time, they can leak corrosive acids that form a coating on the wires that touch either end of the battery and keep them from making contact.
If it's an incandescent bulb, check the filament; if it's broken you'll need a new bulb. If the bulb is good, check the battery contacts; there's usually a spring at the bottom and the top usually touches the button on the bottom of the bulb. Look for corrosion; if you find some you can clean it with sandpaper or steel wool.
Other than that, the switch is the only thing left. Mechanisms vary, but all of them have one purpose; to connect the battery to the bulb. A piece of wire can be used to bypass the switch to see if that's the problem; take a nice long bare strip and put it at the bottom of the flashlight where it'll be caught between the battery and the spring contact, then run it up the side and wrap it around the part that touches the side of the bulb. Put the bulb holder back on and see if it comes on when you do. If so, you've found the problem as being a bad switch.
So take it apart, figure out the parts and trace down which one is the problem. That's basically all we do here; it's just that some people have more experience at it, but everyone started somewhere, like figuring out why their flashlight doesn't work.
Good luck, Teddy, and let us know what you find!