Possible Bad Wiring or Dimmer Switch
#1
12-18-03, 02:42 PM
Possible Bad Wiring or Dimmer Switch
To the electrical savvy,
My kitchen lights have gone out and it's not my cooking. I checked the fuse box and the bulbs; they're fivers. I have a dual-pole slider dimmer switch which has an orange light lit when I turn on the lights, but the lights do not come on. My three-way switch on the other side is on while the dimmer's on and still no lights.
My suspicion is the dimmer switch may have gone bad as the wiring between the light switches and the lamps is the last thing to go bad. I suspect the dimmer switch, however, if the orange bulb is on when I turn on the switch it's getting power, so why would it affect the power flow the lights.
Any thoughts or new directions to go are welcome and appreciated.
Many thanks, the wife wants the lights on in the kitchen! :-)
My kitchen lights have gone out and it's not my cooking. I checked the fuse box and the bulbs; they're fivers. I have a dual-pole slider dimmer switch which has an orange light lit when I turn on the lights, but the lights do not come on. My three-way switch on the other side is on while the dimmer's on and still no lights.
My suspicion is the dimmer switch may have gone bad as the wiring between the light switches and the lamps is the last thing to go bad. I suspect the dimmer switch, however, if the orange bulb is on when I turn on the switch it's getting power, so why would it affect the power flow the lights.
Any thoughts or new directions to go are welcome and appreciated.
Many thanks, the wife wants the lights on in the kitchen! :-)
#2
12-18-03, 02:52 PM
Member
Doesn't take much to fry a dimmer switch. I suspect you may be right. If you want to experiment before you buy a new switch, try shutting off the breaker, removing the switch and connecting all three of the wires formerly connected to the switch to each other (but not the grounding wire and not a neutral if the switch takes one!!).
#3
12-18-03, 03:46 PM
John,
Thanks for the idea. I tried it and it didn't work. I tried the light switches on the far wall to make sure they were in the on position: still no luck.
On another note, the dimmer switch is in a two-switch panel where a red wire connects from the dimmer switch to the other switch. The dimmer switch controls the kitchen and the second switch controls the breakfast room. When I disconnected the dimmer switch (neutral line I think) and left the lines up to the breakfast room; the breakfast room light works.
Please check my logic on this: if the breakfast room light works, then the main power line goes to the breakfast room switch and is neutralled over to the dimmer switch. So there must be a short in the wiring between the dimmer switch line and the kitchen lights.
Thanks. Allen
Thanks for the idea. I tried it and it didn't work. I tried the light switches on the far wall to make sure they were in the on position: still no luck.
On another note, the dimmer switch is in a two-switch panel where a red wire connects from the dimmer switch to the other switch. The dimmer switch controls the kitchen and the second switch controls the breakfast room. When I disconnected the dimmer switch (neutral line I think) and left the lines up to the breakfast room; the breakfast room light works.
Please check my logic on this: if the breakfast room light works, then the main power line goes to the breakfast room switch and is neutralled over to the dimmer switch. So there must be a short in the wiring between the dimmer switch line and the kitchen lights.
Thanks. Allen
#4
12-18-03, 04:02 PM
Member
May be a bad fixture. For your next experiment, I suggest you spend a couple bucks on a circuit tester (to test the wires at the fixture), or buy a simple naked-bulb fixture and temporarily replace the fixture.
I'm taking your word for the fact that you're sure the bulbs are good. Can you tell us a bit more about the fixture.
P.S. Your terminology is quite creative, but I can understand it anyway. I like that expression. "neutralled over to the dimmer switch."
I'm taking your word for the fact that you're sure the bulbs are good. Can you tell us a bit more about the fixture.
P.S. Your terminology is quite creative, but I can understand it anyway. I like that expression. "neutralled over to the dimmer switch."
