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cmcampbell1 · Jul 23, 2009, 09:17 AM

Turned lignt on--nothing happened. Replaced bulbs--nothing. Replaced started--nothing. Power going to light--got shocked. Switch wires OK. Trying to replace fluorescent light.

I have white, red, black wires. No ground

Connected white to white, black to black and red. Flickers and blows fuse.

Connected w to w, b to b, left red aside. Nothing.

Connected w to w, black to red, left black aside. Nothing.

Red and black are hot, what is the problem? Why would the fuse blow? The new light has one bulb the old one had 2. Also, where to connect green wire since my wiring does not have green.

Thanks. Have never had a problem before.

Newton1Law · Jul 23, 2009, 10:07 AM

Two questions. 1) Is this light controlled by more than one switch?

2) The Red, Black and White wires are located at the light fixture?

bGgwkJ · Jul 23, 2009, 10:17 AM

Check voltage on ballist

ballengerb1 · Jul 23, 2009, 10:35 AM

Please try to answer Newton's questionm. That red wire can mean this is a 3 way switch. The problem could be with the other switch.

cmcampbell1 · Jul 23, 2009, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by Newton1Law

Two questions. 1) Is this light controlled by more than one switch?

2) The Red, Black and White wires are located at the light fixture?

Light is only controlled by one switch. Red black and white wires come out of cabinet. Black white green on the light unit.

ballengerb1 · Jul 23, 2009, 02:12 PM

And red goes where?

hkstroud · Jul 23, 2009, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by cmcampbell1

Red black and white wires come out of cabinet.

What does that mean?

A little more information on what kind of light fixture or rather how it is being used, please.

cmcampbell1 · Jul 23, 2009, 08:36 PM

This is a fluorescent light that was installed under a cabinet. When we took out the old light, the wires are red white black from the wall. There is a switch that operates the light.
The old light had 2 bulbs and no home store had a similar fixture. The new light fixture has only one fluor bulb. The wires are white black and green on the fixture.
Our house is a 1962 cloth wiring, but the kitchen was updated and has outlets with grounds.

hkstroud · Jul 23, 2009, 08:52 PM

Do the red, white, black wires come from the switch? If so, remove switch cover and tell what connection you have. You have no ground wire in this cable correct? Does the new fixture have a starter?

cmcampbell1 · Jul 24, 2009, 05:25 AM

Red and black wires come from switch. There is an outlet in same box and white wires come from that. There is no ground wire on switch or where light connects.
The new fixture does not have a starter.

Stratmando · Jul 24, 2009, 05:42 AM

If the old fixture had a receptacle on it, receptacle may have been constant hot and light was switched. A tester or light will help identify if switch wiring doesn't.
Red and black could be on opposite phases and causing breaker to trip.
Red or black may have been used for the ground, again, the box will tell.

cmcampbell1 · Jul 24, 2009, 06:30 AM

Since I didn't understand any of that, it is time to hire an electrician. Never had a problem replacing an existing fixture before. So frustrating.

hkstroud · Jul 24, 2009, 02:04 PM

OK, in the switch box, the white is connected to the white, the black of the outlet is connected to the switch, either the red of the black going to the light is connected to the switch, correct? The red or black of that 3 wire cable going to the light is connected to the black of the outlet, correct? Cap off that wire at the light.

Now as to why your new fluorescent won't work.

The old fixture had a starter. The starter is really a capacitor that steps up the voltage when you first turn the light on. This is needed to heat the fluorescent gas.
Your new fixture doesn't have a starter. Some electrical engineer figured out that if a fluorescent bulb is with in 1/2" of a metal frame and that frame is grounded, the frame would act as a capacitor. Manufactures stopped putting starters in fluorescent fixtures.

That all fine except you don't have a ground. Have to figure out a way to ground the frame of the fixture.

cmcampbell1 · Aug 16, 2009, 06:10 AM

What can I ground the fixture to? Do I connect the green wire to a screw in the outlet box? I think it is plastic.

Also, I want the switch to control the light. If red and black run from switch to light, which to connect or both?

Stratmando · Aug 16, 2009, 06:51 AM

Breaker tripped?
Open the switch box, connect 1 constant hot wire to switch, other side of switch to one of the wires that go up to the light. With box open, it will tell you what the red, white and black are.
If plastic, hook fixture ground to wire you find to be ground, and wrap green tape around the wire.