View Full Version : J box for switch leg grounded?
pelufo
Dec 12, 2010, 10:17 AM
I rewired a leg from a switch to a new light fixture, but had to add a jbox since the romex couldn't reach the new fixture. I used a metal box, and pigtailed the ground to the green screw in that box. My switch isn't working, could the intermediate grounding be the problem? I am getting current at the switch, just nothing at the light. I tried another switch to make sure the dimmer wasn't the problem, still can't seem to get anything to fire up coming out of that switch.
stanfortyman
Dec 12, 2010, 10:40 AM
The grounding has nothing to do with the workings of the circuit. You simply wired something wrong.
Unless you can give us a detailed description of exactly what you wired to what, it will be impossible to tell what the problem is.
pelufo
Dec 12, 2010, 11:14 AM
Thanks, here's the deal. I have had a light over a seating area in my kitchen operated by a dimmer wall switch. It's been working perfectly for a year. The dimmer is of the sort that becomes a night light when the switch is off; it has a little light on it to help you find it in the dark. I recently decided to get rid of the fixture and run the romex coming out of the switch to a new light over the kitchen island. Since the romex didn't reach, I installed a metal jbox in the attic and joined the black white and ground in the box, and pigtailed the grounds to the green screw in the jbox. When I turned the power back on, the little light on the dimmer didn't power up, nor would the fixture. I tested the hot in the switch box and am getting 120, but nothing at the light fixture. I tried swapping out the dimmer for a regular light switch, but I'm still not able to power up the fixture. Oh, and I also opened up the switch upstream from this one on the circuit to make sure nothing was loose. Couldn't find any problems, and again, this switch had been working fine right up until I ran it to the jbox and new fixture. Thanks for any help.
pelufo
Dec 12, 2010, 09:37 PM
I figured it out, my grounds weren't well connected in the jbox I installed, twisted them up good and everything came on just fine. Thanks.
stanfortyman
Dec 13, 2010, 05:14 AM
I figured it out, my grounds weren't well connected in the jbox I installed, twisted them up good and everything came on just fine. Thanks.This make absolutely no sense, but I am glad it works now.
ma0641
Dec 13, 2010, 12:37 PM
Did you possibly also tighten the hot and neutral leads? That would make more sense.
Missouri Bound
Dec 13, 2010, 07:00 PM
OK... I'll play the devils advocate. Sounds like you used a switch leg to power a light... and that usually doesn't work without a neutral. (unless the power comes into the switch). Hopefully you aren't using a ground wire to complete the connection, but you post infers that you did. Check it again.