My SnapRays Guidelight isn't working.
So you are having difficulty getting your Guidelight to work once you have installed it over your outlet? Below you will find a step by step guide to help you get your Guidelight working properly. Before we get started let’s quickly review how the SnapRays Guidelight works and where it gets its power from. Once you know this, you should be able to get your Guidelight installed and working in no time.
Always turn off the power at the circuit breaker and test that the power is off before working around outlets.
How the SnapRays Guidelight works
The SnapRays Guidelight is designed to be installed over standard duplex or décor outlets with side screw terminals. These screw terminals are where the Guidelight gets its power from.
The Guidelight is equipped with two insulated power prongs located on the back side of the Guidelight. Both power prongs are equipped with a conductive rivet designed to make contact with the screw terminals in order to pull power from the outlet.
As the user installs the Guidelight over the outlet, the "Power Prongs" on the back side of the Guidelight slide inside the electrical box and around the outlet receptacle, making contact with the screw terminals located on both sides of the outlet. Both rivets need to make contact with the screw terminals on the outlet in order for the Guidelight to work properly.
1 - Anything that prevents the rivets from making contact with the screw terminals on the sides of the outlet will prevent the Guidelight from working.
2 - Any type of outlet other than the standard duplex or décor outlet will not work with the SnapRays Guidelight.
Now that you better understand how the Guidelight works, let’s get started with the troubleshooting process.
Step 1: Test that the Guidelight is working
Once you have installed the Guidelight, the first step is to test that it is functioning properly. To do this, turn the power on to the outlet and place your thumb over the light sensor (a small dark spot located in the lower left hand corner of the Guidelight). If the Guidelight was installed correctly, the LEDs should illuminate. If the LEDs do not illuminate the first time, you may need to darken the room and try putting your finger over the light sensor again.
If your Guidelight is still not working, try adjusting the screw that attaches the Guidelight to the outlet. Either tightening or loosening this screw can help the rivets on the power prongs make better connection with the screw terminals.
Step 2: Adjust the Power Prongs
If your Guidelight is not working after you have tested it, it may be that the power prongs are not bent far enough in toward the outlet to make proper contact with the screw terminals. Turn off the power to the outlet and remove the Guidelight. Then bend the prongs inward towards each other as shown below. Re-insert the Guidelight over the outlet and repeat step one.
Step 3: Check that you are installing over a Compatible Outlet
Remember, the Guidelight is only compatible with the standard duplex or décor outlet with side screw terminals regardless of the manufacturer or year (These types of outlets make up the vast majority of outlets in North American homes). If you are attempting to install your Guidelight over any other type of outlet it will not work.
Here are two examples of what the standard duplex and décor outlets look like:
Examples of Non-compatible Outlets
Here a few examples of non-compatible outlets. Your Guidelight will not work if you are attempting to install over these outlets.
Duplex outlet with no screw terminals
Another rare example of a non-compatible outlet is a duplex outlet with no screw terminals located on the sides of the outlet. Without the side screw terminals the Guidelight has nowhere to get it’s power from. Below is an example of this type of outlet
The quickest way to find out if the outlet you are attempting to install your Guidelight on has no screw terminals is to turn off the power to the outlet, remove your Guidelight, and use a flashlight to look into the box and examine the sides of the outlet. If it does not have side screw terminals, you will need to select another outlet inside the home to use with your SnapRays Guidelight.
Step 4: Check Orientation of Guidelight in regard to the outlet
In order for the Guidelight to work properly it must be installed with the LEDs (lights) facing the same direction as the ground located on the outlet.
Step 5: Check for Internal Obstructions
If you have gotten this far and your Guidelight is still not working, it may be that something inside of the electrical box is interfering with the connection between the prongs and the screw terminals. Remember that in order for the Guidelight to work properly it must be making proper contact with the screw terminals located on both sides of the outlet. Turn off power to the outlet before proceeding with any part of step 5.
With all the outlets out there being installed by different people in varying situations there is a variety of things that could be interfering with the connection between the prongs and the screw terminals. Because of this, each situation will be unique to the individual user. However, with this in mind lets discuss 4 possible reasons that may be causing this interference.
A) Wires in the way
A situation you may encounter when installing your Guidelight is electrical wiring obstructing the path between the screw terminals and prongs. The wires will need to be moved away from the screw terminals in order for the Guidelight to work. If you are unsure of how to do this properly or are uncomfortable doing so please consult an electrician.
B) Recessed Electrical Box
A recessed outlet box occurs when the outlet has been installed further outside of the outlet box than normal. In this situation the prongs on your Guidelight may pass around the outlet and get caught on the outlet box or go outside of the box altogether. This will prevent the prongs from making proper electrical contact with the screw terminals on the outlet.
If the prongs are getting caught on the electrical box or going outside the electrical box, it can be identified by turning the power off to the outlet, removing the Guidelight, and examining the prongs. If they are bent further outward than normal, chances are they are getting caught on the box. In order to better ensure that the prongs enter inside the outlet box, re-install the Guidelight over the outlet yoke at the top or bottom of the outlet and then slide the Guidelight up or down the outlet into place. See below for pictures on how to do this.
C) Electrical Tape
In some installs, the electrician may wrap electrical tape around the outlet during installation. This electrical tape prevents the prongs from contacting the side screw terminals. The tape will need to be removed in order for the Guidelight to work. If you are unsure of how to do this properly or uncomfortable doing so please consult an electrician.
D) Paint on the screw terminals
In some installations, during the painting of the home, overspray can cover the side screw terminals with a thin coating of paint. This will prevent the prongs from making electrical contact with the screw terminals. The paint will need to be removed in order for the Guidelight to work. If you are unsure of how to do this properly or uncomfortable doing so please consult an electrician.
Step 6: Check to see if the outlet you are installing your Guidelight on is controlled by a light switch
In some rare cases the outlet may be controlled by a light switch inside the home. For example, in some homes a switch near a door controls one of the outlets in a room. A simplified electrical diagram of a switched outlet is shown below. If you are installing your Guidelight over a switched outlet that controls the bottom receptacle on the outlet, the switch will need to be turned ON for the Guidelight to work.
Step 7: Select another outlet to install your Guidelight on
There can be many different ways that outlets are installed in a home. If you are still having trouble getting your Guidelight to illuminate, chances are that it will work with another outlet inside your home.
Thanks so much for taking the time to look over our troubleshooting page!
If you are still having trouble, please reach out to us directly at support@snappower.com.
