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Goldensultan7 · Aug 7, 2008, 07:53 AM

Hi, I am trying to wire some accent lights, 3 to be exact, to a wall light switch that is controlling another light. I have a setup where I have to wire all 3 light assemblies with a two prong plug on the end of them. They plug into, what I can only describe as, an extension cord with a place for all 3 light assemblies to plug into. This cord HAD a two prong plug on the end but I cut it off in attempts to wire it in to the existing light switch.

Here's where I am having most of my frustration.. I am wiring the lights properly (to my knowledge) but when the light switch is on that controls the existing light, the accent lights do not work and when the light switch is off, the accent lights come on. I have reversed the wiring about 5 times on both ends trying all my options but I just cannot get the lights to come on in sinc. What am I doing wrong or what can I try differently?

WallyHelps · Aug 7, 2008, 08:04 AM

Is the existing light controlled by more than one switch (e.g. top and bottom of stairs)? This is the only way I can see that you would be having problems.

The basic hookup will be the white wire of your new lights will go to the neutral white wire in your switch box (this wire will not be attached to the switch at all). Then the black wire of your new lights will go to the screw on the switch that goes directly to your old light. On a 3-way switch like I described above, this will be the screw labeled common or "C" or something similar. Not the green one!!

Hopefully, this info will get you going.
WallyH

Credendovidis · Aug 7, 2008, 08:05 AM

To function, a light requires a hot input and a neutral input.
Normally in a ceiling fitting there is one neutral, one hot, and one switched hot wire available, and you connect the light to the switched hot and the neutral.

Perhaps you have connected these new fittings across the lightswitch, without a connection to the neutral wire.

Suggested wiring :

Connect one of the wires of the 3 light assembly to the light switch.
Connect the other wire to the neutral wire. If necessary you have to draw a new wire to the ceiling fitting. The normal neutral wire color is white.

I hope this solves your problem. If it does, please rate this reply.

If not : just let me know by private mail (click on my handle and follow instructions) and I will return here to react on your details and prepare another possible action.

Success !

:)

Goldensultan7 · Aug 7, 2008, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by Goldensultan7

Hi, I am trying to wire some accent lights, 3 to be exact, to a wall light switch that is controling another light. I have a setup where I have to wire all 3 light assemblies with a two prong plug on the end of them. They plug into, what I can only describe as, an extention cord with a place for all 3 light assemblies to plug into. This cord HAD a two prong plug on the end but i cut it off in attempts to wire it in to the existing light switch.

Here's where I am having most of my frustration.. I am wiring the lights properly (to my knowledge) but when the light switch is on that controls the existing light, the accent lights do not work and when the light switch is off, the accent lights come on. I have reversed the wiring about 5 times on both ends trying all my options but I just cannot get the lights to come on in sinc. What am I doing wrong or what can I try differently??

Thank you for the fast response.. I can elaborate a little more. I tried directly connecting the light fixture to the switch and it still had the same response with it being off when the switch is on and vise versa. What I am doing is adding accent lights to the bottom of my cabinets and wiring it in to the switch above my sink. Directly above my sink on the ceiling is a light for which the switch controls. Are you saying I need to run a positive wire from the light fixture above my sink to the accent lights underneath the cabinets and the neutral wire will not be connected at all?

hkstroud · Aug 7, 2008, 12:53 PM

Why don't you tell us what wires are in the switch box and how you have connected the acent lights.

Tev · Aug 7, 2008, 03:37 PM

Are there 3 or 4 screws on that switch in addition to the ground?

Goldensultan7 · Aug 7, 2008, 05:31 PM

It is a dual switch for a light and a disposal. The lower switch contols the light and has two wires, a positive (black) and a neutral (white). There is a green ground screw but no wires for a ground.

The accent lights are wired so.. two wires (positive and neutral) from the light to a two prong plug. They plug into a cord with three recepticals for all three lights. This cord also has only two wires, thus being a positive and neutral. From there, the cord goes through the wall and comes out the switch box where I have been attempting to wire it to.

Once again, I do get power to the accent lights however they do not come on with the original light fixture that is wired to the switch.

hkstroud · Aug 7, 2008, 06:29 PM

No. Like this.

It's a dual switch, there are two cables coming into the box. The black and the white of one cable is connect to the lower half and the balck and white of the other cable is connected to the top half.

Or;

There are three cables into the box. The black of one cable is connected to one side of the switch and the black of the other cables are attached to the top amd bottom of the other side. All of the whites are connected .

The black is hot not positive.

Describe the wires in the switch box

Goldensultan7 · Aug 7, 2008, 08:47 PM

Yes like the first example you gave with the black and white connecting to the lower half of the switch and the second set of black and white wires connecting to the top half of the switch. Those are the only wires coming in to the switch box and the bottom set is connected to the light assembly.

Susien70 · Aug 7, 2008, 11:29 PM

My guess that the problem is that when the switch is off the is always current going to the switch. But the power never makes it to the switch so it is directed to the accent lights. If that is the way you wired it that would be my guess. But again I am no electrical pro.

Stratmando · Aug 8, 2008, 04:26 AM

If it is a stacked switch, be sure tab that connects both hots on one side are intact.

hkstroud · Aug 8, 2008, 04:39 AM

OK, now how do you have the accent light connected? Is there a ground wire in the switch box? Do you have anything connected to the ground wire.

Goldensultan7 · Aug 8, 2008, 12:12 PM

I connected the hot wire from the accent lights to the hot wire on the switch and the neutral wire from the accent lights to the neutral wire on the switch. It's an older house so there are no wires for a ground. There is a green screw on the switch for a ground but there isn't any wires to attach to the ground.

WallyHelps · Aug 8, 2008, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by Goldensultan7

I connected the hot wire from the accent lights to the hot wire on the switch and the neutral wire from the accent lights to the neutral wire on the switch. It's an older house so there are no wires for a ground. there is a green screw on the switch for a ground but there isnt any wires to attach to the ground.

Neutral wires don't go to the switch. They will be in a separate bundle.
Hooking it up the way you have it, I think you have the old light and the new lights in series with each other. When you close the switch, you short out the new lights and the old light is nice and bright. When you open the switch, the 3 new lights (in parallel) are in series with the old light. If you unplug 2 of the new lights, I think you'll find that both the old light and the new light are on at a half-brightness.

Hope this helps a little,
WallyH

hkstroud · Aug 8, 2008, 12:51 PM

Wally's correct. You have no neutral in the switch box. That white wire is not a neutral. It just carries the current back to the ceiling light.

When you turn the switch on the ceiling light functions as it always has. The current passes through the switch, goes to the ceiling light, it passes through the bulb to the neutral. It does not pass through the accent light because of the voltage is the same on both wires going to the accent lights. When you turn the switch off the current is passing thur the accent lights, then back to the other side of switch and then goes through the ceiling light. It does not have enough voltage to make the ceiling light burn.

You must connect the accent lights to the ceiling light in the ceiling box.

donf · Aug 8, 2008, 04:07 PM

By code, the white wire should have been re identified as a hot conductor by placing black tape or permanent marker around the conductor at both ends.

Also by code, the re identified white or gray conductor (Only) can be used to carry voltage from the source to the IN on the switch. In your current configuration, you must use the Black conductor to return the power to the fixture.

benaround · Aug 8, 2008, 05:17 PM

Goldensultan7,

I'm going to tell you how it is.

The reason the cord had a 'plug' on the end of it is that they are made to plug in.

Two wire cord or any cord, is not made to be fished behind walls and into switch boxes.

You can not power these lights from where you are because you do not have a complete

Source of power there.

I know what you are going to do, let me say, please don't! You are in a kitchen and can

Set up a deadly situation for you and your family. It's time to stop and get someone over

To help before you regret it. Anyone can make a light come on.

Goldensultan7 · Aug 10, 2008, 07:08 AM

Thank you HKSTROUD.. I wired it from the light fixture (which was hell I might add) to the accent lights and it works perfectly now. And benaround, I didn't ask for a fireman's point of view.. I am fully aware of the ramifications of a bad wire job. These accent lights were designed for this purpose to be added to a switch of some kind. You're right that anyone can make a light come on, but it takes a special idot to make it short out.