new 'dimmer switch' doesn't work??

Help!
I was just going to:
'replace a light switch with a dimmer'
and now the dimmer AND the exhaust fan don't work.

The exhaust seems to be 'looped' into the wiring somehow.

I am wondering if I needed a 'double pole' switch instead of the 'single pole' I bought?? Or what could be wrong??? I would replace the switch BACK to the old one but I cracked it getting it out.

And I thought it would be SO easy - of course.

 

Did you replace wire for wire from the old switch to the new one? How many wire screws were there on the old switch. Was it an over-under switch? Can you post a pix or two of your wiring in the box, without the switch? http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...your-post.html

 

Yes, replaced wire for wire. And yes there were 'other wires in there. We have also figured out that the room next to this one (our living room where the Christmas tree is) also has all plugs that don't work. I am now wondering if the bathroom was where all the 'looping' was done and if a single pole switch will not send the electricity 'on' to the other wiring? But, honestly, I have replaced switches and light fixtures before and never had this problem. I even tried switching out a switch from another part of the little bath that obviously isn't connected to it. And the regular old switch didn't even make it work, yet the switch works FINE on the other location.

 

Larry - will try to post a picture of the inside of the box in the morning. It's too dark in there now and I have to get to bed. Thanks so much for your help!!!! And could it be the single/double pole difference??? Not sure if the switch I removed was any different, it just looked like a regular old switch to me . . . . the NON-electrician.

 

Do you have a bathroom exhaust fan that has a fluorescent bulb in it? If so unless they are special dimmers and special dimable bulbs then you can't use a dimmer. Not really a great idea in a bathroom anyway at least in my opinion. I also see where your Christmas tree light problem is and that has to do with a wire that came loose from a wire nut. Most bathroom switches are single pole switches. You find some switches like that with a plug at the bottom so you can plug something in in the bathroom like a vacuum cleaner for instance. I still think it is a good idea too to post pictures as then everyone can have a good look at the switch.

 

It sounds like you have a load wire at the switch that supplies other receptacles in the house in addition to the load wire that supplies the switch to the exhaust fan and the switch to the light. So that means you have a line (hot) black connected to at least three load wires or one load wire and two pigtails plus a bundle of at least three whites connected just to themselves.Does this describe your connections?

 

Got it!!! The 'loop' in the box DID supply the other room. I didn't have the 3rd wire in the right spot on the new box. I had it connected to the ground (ugh) but that was wrong. So ALL is working perfectly now.
Thank you!!
Especially Larry & Ray2047!!!!

 

Glad you got it figured out. Sorry for all the questions, but something didn't ring true on it. Hope we were of some help. Welcome back anytime.