View Full Version : What do I need to wire a light fixture up to my switch
Snowslutz37
Mar 24, 2013, 06:16 AM
So I'm needing help in a bad way so I got to change out my light switches cause they are out dated and I got new ones but I want to put a dimmer switch in for my living room but my out side light is hooked up with it and I could never get my dimmer to work so I tried a single pole and my living room light was off I flipped the switch and it poped and it didn't trip a breaker so I don't know what to do
cdad
Mar 24, 2013, 07:09 AM
Usually a "pop" indicates a bad connection. You might want to recheck what you have done. Please be sure to kill the circuit first before touching any wiring. Turn off the breaker at the box before you proceed.
stanfortyman
Mar 24, 2013, 07:14 AM
So I'm needing help in a bad way so I got to change out my light switches cause they are out dated and I got new ones but I want to put a dimmer switch in for my living room but my out side light is hooked up with it and I could never get my dimmer to work so I tried a single pole and my living room light was off I flipped the switch and it poped and it didn't trip a breaker so I don't know what to doSo wow, this is one big long sentence, isn't it?
Please try to write so folks can understand you a little clearer.
As far as your problem goes, all we know is you tried to change some switches and something popped. This is not enough detail for us to even begin to help you. We need to know exactly what you did, and how you wired the switches, in the boxes in question.
And also what you mean by the DR and outside are on together. Do you mean they use the same feed?
donf
Mar 25, 2013, 05:18 AM
Is the power cable already in the ceiling where the light will be going?
If so, you need to use what is called a switch loop. You will have to install a new cable from the box in the ceiling to where the switch will be. You also need to put a device box and put the cable into the box.
You connect the white conductor to the bottom of the switch (either use black tape or a black sharpie to mark this conductor) and the black conductor to the top of the switch. Connect the bare ground to the green screw on the switch frame.
Back at the ceiling, [turn the breaker off so you are safe], Connect the white conductor [marked the same as at the switch] to the black power supply conductor. Connect the black from the switch to the black from the new light.
The white from the power supply goes to the white from the new light.
The bare ground from the supply goes to the ground on the new light.
ma0641
Mar 25, 2013, 05:49 AM
What are you trying to dim? Is there an existing light? Existing ceiling box?
donf
Mar 25, 2013, 05:59 AM
If there is an existing switch for the living room light, then all you have to is to replace the existing switch with the dimmer switch, after turing power off to the circuit.
Snowslutz37
Mar 27, 2013, 04:57 AM
If there is an existing switch for the living room light, then all you have to is to replace the existing switch with the dimmer switch, after turing power off to the circuit.
Thanks for all the help got it all done