My semi-retired contracter friend is helping me do a couple of minor electrical odd-jobs. One thing that we're doing is installing 4 sets of identical track lights in the living & dining rooms. Each track is on it's own dimmer switch. First 3 installed perfectly. However, the last one is ridiculously strange. Everything that we've done to install it has been the same as the others, yet it's still not working correctly. We can get it to work right on a regular switch, but when we put it on the dimmer switch, it won't dim or turn off at all. The dimmer will just turn the track on full power & that's it. We've tried 3 new dimmer switches (which work fine with other lights), so we don't think it's the switch. And as I said, the flip switch works, so we don't know what to think. We just can't figure this out & hope someone here might know what's going on. I'm not too terribly well-versed with this stuff, but if you need anymore information, I'll try my hardest to get it for you. Thanks!

 

I'm confused. You seem to say that the dimmer switch cannot turn the lights off, but can turn them on. That doesn't make sense to me. Can you clarify?

 

When he hooks up the dimmer switch, the lights are instantly on. Moving the switch up & down will not dim the lights or turn them off. The only way the lights will turn off is if he removes the dimmer switch entirely. It works this way for 3 brand new dimmers that work perfectly normal when we tested them on the other tracks. I hope that helps clarify a bit, but I totally understand if it still makes no sense - we're all really baffled here.

 

Well, that's a mystery all right. I would normally have said that your dimmer switch is fried, which is quite easy to do, but that seems ruled out by the fact that you tried three dimmers that work on the other lights. Then I might also have said that the lights may not be dimmable, but you said that they are identical with three other tracks. Then I might have said you wired it wrong, but that seems to be ruled out by the fact that it works fine with a non-dimmer switch.

You've got me stumped. You took away all the normal answers.

 

Well, I can atleast thank you for your efforts, John...much appreciated. I suppose our next move will just have to be a full on, no-frills exorcism with drinks afterwards Beer 4U2

 

I would disconect light wiring and switch wiring, kill power to
that circuit,and check continuity between each wire and to
check what wire you are using for interupt circuit. also check
wiring in juncton boxes feeding that circuit. it is possible that
hot wire is changed from black to white in junction box.
When in doubt always go back to bacics!!!! hope this gives you some insight. Good luck !!!

 

Thanks for your thoughts on this William. My friend is coming back on Monday to take another stab at this, so I'll run your ideas by him & I'll post back when finished to let you all know the outcome.

Thanks again guys, great forums you have here!

Christina