Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    LOFAT36's Avatar
    LOFAT36 Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Mar 2, 2013, 07:03 PM
    3 wire lighting
    I have just removed a ceiling light/fan in the dining room (no dimmer switch) to replace with a Pendant light. The box wires are black 2, white 2 & one red and ground, as it's in conjunction with other lights. The new light has black, white & ground. When I hook up the 3 blacks with the Red & 3 whites together and flip the breaker (grounded of course) the light comes on but will not shut off with the wall switch. The switch has the Red wire on top & Black wire at the bottom. What could be the problem ? Thanks, Marty
    ma0641's Avatar
    ma0641 Posts: 15,675, Reputation: 1012
    Uber Member
    		  
    #2

    Mar 2, 2013, 07:10 PM
    How was the old light wired? Are there 2 switches or 1? Leave the blacks alone and connect the red to the light black, white to white. Now what happens?
    LOFAT36's Avatar
    LOFAT36 Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #3

    Mar 2, 2013, 07:51 PM
    Only one switch controlled the fan light although it`s in a 3 switch box. Wires from the junction box in the ceiling are 2 black, 2 white & 1 red & ground. The new fixture has 1 black , 1 white & ground. The switch has red wired to the top & black wired to the bottom. I`ve tried swapping blacks & red and capping each one off. Sometimes I have power sometimes not. But when I get power the switch won`t turn off the light.
    LOFAT36's Avatar
    LOFAT36 Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #4

    Mar 2, 2013, 07:53 PM
    [QUOTE=LOFAT36;3409667]Only one switch controlled the fan light although it`s in a 3 switch box. Wires from the junction box in the ceiling are 2 black, 2 white & 1 red & ground. The new fixture has 1 black , 1 white & ground. The switch has red wired to the top & black wired to the bottom. I`ve tried swapping blacks & red and capping each one off. Sometimes I have power sometimes not. But when I get power the switch won`t turn off the light. The blacks are the same colour not lighter or darker.
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
    		  
    #5

    Mar 3, 2013, 08:28 AM
    The switch has red wired to the top & black wired to the bottom.
    Are those wires in the same cable? If those wires are in the same cable, what is the white wire in that cable connected to?
    LOFAT36's Avatar
    LOFAT36 Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #6

    Mar 3, 2013, 08:59 AM
    Thanks for your reply. Are you talking about the wires on the switch itself ? Thanks, Marty
    LOFAT36's Avatar
    LOFAT36 Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #7

    Mar 3, 2013, 09:20 AM
    Thanks for your reply. Are you talking about the wires on the switch itself ?Currently at the fixture I have 1 black capped and the other black attached to the red. With the power on now if I turn the switch to off it puts out the power on my entry light & porch light. Thanks, Marty
    LOFAT36's Avatar
    LOFAT36 Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #8

    Mar 3, 2013, 02:50 PM
    Okay my problem has been solved thanks to a neighbour. Suffice to say one of the white wires was hot ? Anyway I may be back when I go to install the light/fan in the spare bedroom. Thanks, Marty
    ma0641's Avatar
    ma0641 Posts: 15,675, Reputation: 1012
    Uber Member
    		  
    #9

    Mar 3, 2013, 03:40 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by LOFAT36 View Post
    Okay my problem has been solved thanks to a neighbour. Suffice to say one of the white wires was hot ? Anyway I may be back when I go to install the light/fan in the spare bedroom. Thanks, Marty
    Hot on a white is acceptable IF it is marked with black tape or a marker. Normally it is used in a switch loop and white is the hot to the switch.
    LOFAT36's Avatar
    LOFAT36 Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #10

    Mar 3, 2013, 06:27 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by ma0641 View Post
    Hot on a white is acceptable IF it is marked with black tape or a marker. Normally it is used in a switch loop and white is the hot to the switch.
    Thank you, Marty
Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions
 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Can 10/2 wire be used to wire residential lighting? [ 4 Answers ]

I have about 70 feet of 10/2 wire left over and needed to add a light in my kitchen. I ran out of 12/2 and was wondering if 10/2 would work or not.

Should I use 12-3 or 14-2 wire for ceiling can lighting? [ 2 Answers ]

Should I use 12-3 or 14-2 wire for ceiling can lighting?

Wire sizeing for drive way lighting [ 3 Answers ]

I have a 1/4 mile long drive way and want to add some outlets for lights in my trees what size wire should I use do to voltage drop and can it even be done or should I run a mini breaker box off the meter I am just starting to build the house so this is a future project just trying to get prepared

3 switches and have 6 lighting ccts with 6 amps each with #14 wire.how do I wire this [ 3 Answers ]

Wire Splicing for landscape lighting [ 6 Answers ]

I recently purchased 100' of 14 gauge wire (includes ground wire) for some exterior landscape lights. However, because the wire is much thicker than the wire that came with the landscape light kit the pins on the light connectors will not penetrate the thicker wire. Because I had already submerged...

View more questions Search