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warrenwc · Feb 27, 2013, 10:24 AM

Hi I am removing my ceiling fan and putting in 4 recessed lights. I want 2 recess lights to have its own switch so I am putting in a Rocker double switch. When I removed the ceiling fan I see Blue/White/black/White, the blue and white was the connected to the ceiling fan and the black/white was just running across the box (looks like it might be going to another outlet). I removed the old single switch and I only see 2 blue connected to it, then the black/white is just running through the box. So I connected the 2 recessed lights to the blue and white wire in the ceiling to the existing wire. Then ran new wires to the other 2 recessed wire to the switch. Why is my switch working incorrectly? 1 switch turns on all 4 lights and the other switch turns off 2 recessed lights.

hkstroud · Feb 27, 2013, 10:53 AM

Where you located?

I removed the old single switch and I only see 2 blue connected to it

That is not the usual colors in US.

When I removed the ceiling fan I see Blue/White/black/White,

Does that mean you have two cables, each with a black and a white wire?

the blue and white was the connected to the ceiling fan

Is that a blue and white wire going to the ceiling fan?

warrenwc · Feb 27, 2013, 01:03 PM

Where you located? I am located in US California
Quote:
I removed the old single switch and I only see 2 blue connected to it
That is not the usual colors in US.

Quote:
When I removed the ceiling fan I see Blue/White/black/White,
Does that mean you have two cables, each with a black and a white wire? There is a black and white wire that is not cut or strip just running to another box or outlet. The Blue and White cables was connected to the ceiling fan

Quote:
The blue and white was the connected to the ceiling fan
Is that a blue and white wire going to the ceiling fan?
Yes

hkstroud · Feb 27, 2013, 01:45 PM

When I removed the ceiling fan I see Blue/White/black/White

Sorry I misread that as black/white/black/white.

Your wiring must be in conduit, not cables, correct?

In the ceiling you have a black wire and a white wire passing through the box.
You have a blue wire and a white wire to which the ceiling fan was previously connected.

In the switch box you have a black wire and a white wire passing through it.
You have two blue wires, which are connected to the switch.

Are the above thing correct?

Are there any white wires in the switch box?

You said you ran a new wires from the switch to the second set of lights. Where did you find a neutral if there is no neutral (white) in the switch box.

My dilemma is, if there is a hot black and a white neutral running uninterrupted through the ceiling box and a blue switched hot and a white neutral running to the ceiling for the fan, where did the white neutral for the fan come from. Also why run a second neutral for the fan, why not just use the one running through the ceiling box?

At the switch box, one of the blue wires would be going to the ceiling, the other blue would be bringing power to the switch. Where did the other blue come from? I there is a hot black passing uninterrupted through the switch box why not just use it, why run another blue to bring a hot to the switch.

Can you post a picture of the wiring in the ceiling box and in the switch box?

warrenwc · Feb 27, 2013, 03:34 PM

Sorry I misread that as black/white/black/white.

Your wiring must be in conduit, not cables, correct? Yes

In the ceiling you have a black wire and a white wire passing through the box.
You have a blue wire and a white wire to which the ceiling fan was previously connected. correct

In the switch box you have a black wire and a white wire passing through it.
You have two blue wires, which are connected to the switch.
well the 2 blue is technical 1 blue in the switch box because of the switch, blue is going to the ceiling fan and the other end is the hot.

Are the above thing correct? Yes

Are there any white wires in the switch box? Yes white and a black, I cut the white to connect the lights too. Left the black running through.

You said you ran a new wires from the switch to the second set of lights. Where did you find a neutral if there is no neutral (white) in the switch box. I cut the neutral wire that was running through the switch box.

My dilemma is, if there is a hot black and a white neutral running uninterrupted through the ceiling box and a blue switched hot and a white neutral running to the ceiling for the fan, where did the white neutral for the fan come from. Also why run a second neutral for the fan, why not just use the one running through the ceiling box? Yes i did use it. sorry my mistake so the black wire is the only one that was running through the ceiling and it has a electric tape.

At the switch box, one of the blue wires would be going to the ceiling, the other blue would be bringing power to the switch. Where did the other blue come from?there is no other blue just one sorry again. I there is a hot black passing uninterrupted through the switch box why not just use it, why run another blue to bring a hot to the switch. Blue was the orignal connected to a switch when i first removed it so what is has in the begining was black/blue/white in the switch box blue wire was connected to the switch then continue to the ceiling fan

Can you post a picture of the wiring in the ceiling box and in the switch box?
Yes I will

hkstroud · Feb 27, 2013, 04:33 PM

Is this what you had before you started?

hkstroud · Feb 27, 2013, 05:09 PM

so I am putting in a Rocker double switch

Does that mean you are using two individual switches or is this two switches built on one yoke?

warrenwc · Feb 27, 2013, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by hkstroud

Does that mean you are using two individual switches or is this two switches built on one yoke?

Its 1 yoke with 2 switches.
Here is the original diagram before I started

hkstroud · Feb 27, 2013, 05:54 PM

Take a look at the switch. You will see that the two terminal screws on one side are connected with a brass strip. On the other side the two screws are not connected.

Connect the hot power in wire to the side that has the two screws connected with the brass strip. Connect the hot wires to the lights to the two screws on the side that are not connected.

warrenwc · Feb 27, 2013, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by hkstroud

Take a look at the switch. You will see that the two terminal screws on one side are connected with a brass strip. On the other side the two screws are not connected.

Connect the hot power in wire to the side that has the two screws connected with the brass strip. Connect the hot wires to the lights to the two screws on the side that are not connected.

Yes I have done that but still having an issue where the top switch turns on 4 lights and the other switch turns off 2 lights

hkstroud · Feb 27, 2013, 08:09 PM

Still sounds like you have it backwards. Sounds like you have the power coming in connected to a terminal on the side where the two terminals are not connected and the hot to one set of lights on the other side where the two screws are connected, with the other light connect to the other screw on the side that is not connected.

That way the power is coming in and when the first switch is on, it is being passed to the other side (with the two terminals connected). From there it goes to the first set of lights and if the second switch is in the on position, the power passes back through the switch to the other terminal (sides not connect) and to the second set of lights. If the second switch is turned off power does not pass back through the switch so second set of lights are off.

If that is correct nothing will work if the first switch is off.

Could you be mistaken about which blue wire is the hot and which goes to the light?

warrenwc · Feb 28, 2013, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by hkstroud

Still sounds like you have it backwards. Sounds like you have the power coming in connected to a terminal on the side where the two terminals are not connected and the hot to one set of lights on the other side where the two screws are connected, with the other light connect to the other screw on the side that is not connected.

That way the power is coming in and when the first switch is on, it is being passed to the other side (with the two terminals connected). From there it goes to the first set of lights and if the second switch is in the on position, the power passes back through the switch to the other terminal (sides not connect) and to the second set of lights. If the second switch is turned off power does not pass back through the switch so second set of lights are off.

If that is correct nothing will work if the first switch is off.

Could you be mistaken about which blue wire is the hot and which goes to the light?

Here is my setup I have now

hkstroud · Feb 28, 2013, 02:13 PM

Disconnect all the wires from the switch. Connect the blue wire A with other blue wire. One (and only one) of the sets of lights should come on. Then disconnect the two blue wires and connect A to the black wire. The other set of light should come on.

warrenwc · Mar 1, 2013, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by hkstroud

Disconnect all the wires from the switch. Connect the blue wire A with other blue wire. One (and only one) of the sets of lights should come on. Then disconnect the two blue wires and connect A to the black wire. The other set of light should come on.

I figured it out. Finally all I did was switch the blue wire around on the switch and it worked. I really appreciate your help. Thank you so Much.

hkstroud · Mar 1, 2013, 10:28 AM

So you were mistaken about which blue wire is the hot. Your are welcome, and good luck.