Yesterday I bought a new chandelier to replace my old one thatworked perfectly, using an existing dimmer switch. When I disconnected the old chandelier, I noticed there is old wiring and new wiring. My first mistake, I didn't pay attention to which wiring was connected to the old chandelier. I tested the current on the wires and noticed the old wiring seems to have a current. The new wiring seems to be connected to the dimmer switch (which I know was working), and it was properly operating the old chandelier. I've tried every configuration I can think of, and now the lamp either doesn't work, or it DOES work, but it stays on all the time when it works. Also, when it stays on, the dimmer switch neither makes it dim up or down, or even turns it off. I think that's because it's set to the old wiring, and I think the dimmer switch was set to work with the new wiring. Yet I can't seem to make the new wiring work now.

There are 2 cables. One cable is the old house wire (black and white). It's hard to tell which is b & w though, because the covering is very old and discolored. They both look gray.

The new cable is b & w, with a ground wire. I can't tell where the ground wire is going, but it looks to connect to the metal box.

Currently I have the cables connected the following way:
- Old black / Chandelier black
- Old white / new white
- new black - Chandelier white

In addition, there is a white wire about 3" long with both ends exposed that was in the metal box. I'm not sure what either end was connected to, as it just fell out of the box when I opened it.

If you're able to advise what needs to be done, I would greatly appreciate it. Perhaps there needs to be a wire bridge?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Alan

I would do all testing without dimmer, when the 2 switch wires have been identified connect the dimmer, a defective dimmer may remain on high. Or not work at all.

When I first connected the wires there was a pop noise. I'm wondering if perhaps the dimmer switch (which is only 3 weeks old) shorted out, which would cause the dimmer to not work at all, leaving the light on.

Does that sound plausible in your opinion?

That sounds most likely, remove dimmer, connect and disconnect switch wires to see if it switches correctly, when it works normally, install dimmer.

Thanks for your help. I'll try this!

Alan

Make sure you always connect a dimmer WITH THE POWER OFF. Doing so with it on can short the dimmer.