Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Ceiling light wiring problems
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goodra2
08-23-05, 10:50 AM
I recently vaulted my living room ceiling, which meant I had to take down and temporarily move the ceiling light fixture. I detached my light from the ceiling without paying too much attention to the wiring (stupid) and now I can't seem to get it put back together... very frustrating.
The ceiling fixture contains a 14/2 cable (one black, one white, one bare/ground). A wall switch also leads to this box and is made up of the same type of wire. My light has two wires (not colored, and a bare copped cable that I believe is meant to ground and support the light's weight. I have tried the following:
Connected power and switch's grounds together and to the metal junciton box, then connected power in (black) to switch's white, power's neutral (white) to light wire #1, and light wire #2 to switch's black, then made sure the light's copper grnd/support wire was contacting the grounded wires. Nothing.
I know I am getting power (tester) through the black power in. I know I am getting power from the switch's black wire, but I can't seem to pull it all together. I'd love to be able to go back and look at the old wiring 'cause this is extremely frustrating. The light lights when I contac the power in cable with one wire and contact the remaining #2 light wire to any metal, so I know the light works. There's power coming from the switch so I know that it's not fried. Any ideas?
The ceiling fixture contains a 14/2 cable (one black, one white, one bare/ground). A wall switch also leads to this box and is made up of the same type of wire. My light has two wires (not colored, and a bare copped cable that I believe is meant to ground and support the light's weight. I have tried the following:
Connected power and switch's grounds together and to the metal junciton box, then connected power in (black) to switch's white, power's neutral (white) to light wire #1, and light wire #2 to switch's black, then made sure the light's copper grnd/support wire was contacting the grounded wires. Nothing.
I know I am getting power (tester) through the black power in. I know I am getting power from the switch's black wire, but I can't seem to pull it all together. I'd love to be able to go back and look at the old wiring 'cause this is extremely frustrating. The light lights when I contac the power in cable with one wire and contact the remaining #2 light wire to any metal, so I know the light works. There's power coming from the switch so I know that it's not fried. Any ideas?
goodra2
08-23-05, 11:47 AM
I might add that I also tried a couple other configuration, so there's a chance I shorted out the switch. My above described config (which I believe is the correct one) may not be working b/c the switch is toast... anyone know how to tell if the switch has bit the dust? Is there a continuity test (volt meter) or something like that?
John Nelson
08-23-05, 12:57 PM
If the switch is a dimmer, there's a strong chance you ruined it. If the switch is an ordinary snap switch, then just buy another one. There's no reason to wonder about it when new ones cost less than a dollar.
If your analysis of the cabling at the light fixture is correct, then your wiring is correct. However, you described the fixture wires as #1 and #2. You really do need to figure out which one is the hot and which one is the neutral and connect them properly. In many fixtures, the neutral has a small rib or stripe on it and the hot is smooth and unstriped. In other fixtures, they use standard wire colors to distinguish.
But also consider whether or not your analysis of the two cables at the ceiling is correct. I.e., are you sure that the switch cable really comes from the switch?
If your analysis of the cabling at the light fixture is correct, then your wiring is correct. However, you described the fixture wires as #1 and #2. You really do need to figure out which one is the hot and which one is the neutral and connect them properly. In many fixtures, the neutral has a small rib or stripe on it and the hot is smooth and unstriped. In other fixtures, they use standard wire colors to distinguish.
But also consider whether or not your analysis of the two cables at the ceiling is correct. I.e., are you sure that the switch cable really comes from the switch?