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-   -   New light fixture will not turn off. (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=205324)

  • Apr 13, 2008, 09:52 AM
    swallis
    New light fixture will not turn off.
    I just installed a new lighting fixture in my living room and when I turned the electricity back on, the lighting fixture will not turn off. It is connected to a regular on-off toggle switch that worked perfectly well with the old fixture. I think I connected the wires correctly for the new fixture--white to white, and the fixture black wires I connected to the red wire and left the black bundle in the ceiling capped. Anyone know why the fixture won't turn off now? HELP!
  • Apr 13, 2008, 10:38 AM
    stanfortyman
    Huh, sounds right to me. I would assume the red is the switch leg and the blacks the constant hots.
    Are you SURE you didn't connect to the blacks in the ceiling?
  • Apr 13, 2008, 10:49 AM
    swallis
    I actually tried it both ways. I didn't know what the red wire was for and initially connected the black wires from the fixture to the black wire in the ceiling which eventually tripped the circuit breaker. I then capped the black wires in the ceiling and connected the black wires from the fixture to the red wire in the ceiling, but now it won't turn off. I even took the switch plate apart to see if there was a problem with the wires to the toggle switch, but they all look connected. Not sure what to do now...
  • Apr 13, 2008, 11:20 AM
    stanfortyman
    Did you change any of the original splices in the ceiling?
    What wires were on the switch?
  • Apr 13, 2008, 12:39 PM
    swallis
    I didn't make any changes to the splices - it's the same ones that worked with the prior fixture.

    There was a black wire and a red wire attached to the toggle switch. The black was on one side, the red on the other.
  • Apr 13, 2008, 12:45 PM
    Stratmando
    Remove the switch and disconnect 1 wire to narrow down.
  • Apr 13, 2008, 02:02 PM
    hkstroud
    Something not right. If there is a red wire in switch there should be a white wire. If there is a black, red and white wire in switch, there should be other wires in switch box. Describe all wires in ceiling box. Pull switch and describe all wires there.

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