Dimmer Switch/Ceiling light issues
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Dimmer Switch/Ceiling light issues
I recently installed the following light fixture in what will be a home office/studio space (Shop Style Selections 8-Light Standard Brushed Steel Step Linear Track Lighting Kit at Lowes.com), and, per suggestions voiced in consumer reviews, attempted to install a dimmer switch to help manage the 400W max output of the 8 halogen bulbs.
The first switch install attempt resulted in a loud pop coming from within the outlet box. The breaker did not switch off, and had to be manually turned off in order to disconnect the shorted switch.
I then attempted to install a second dimmer, making sure my connections were as secure as possible, and had the same result.
The existing wires consist of: a bare ground wire, a black - supposedly hot - wire, and a white - neutral/switched hot? - wire.
Any suggestions would be great! Would like to fix it myself, but may need to contact the pros...
The first switch install attempt resulted in a loud pop coming from within the outlet box. The breaker did not switch off, and had to be manually turned off in order to disconnect the shorted switch.
I then attempted to install a second dimmer, making sure my connections were as secure as possible, and had the same result.
The existing wires consist of: a bare ground wire, a black - supposedly hot - wire, and a white - neutral/switched hot? - wire.
Any suggestions would be great! Would like to fix it myself, but may need to contact the pros...
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Forgot to mention - after apparently frying both dimmers, I swapped a normal switch from another outlet, and nothing happened- no pop, no lights, nada. Breaker didn't flip either.
#3
The existing wires consist of: a bare ground wire, a black - supposedly hot - wire, and a white - neutral/switched hot? - wire.
Last edited by ray2047; 09-24-13 at 10:03 AM.
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Thanks for the response - Light fixture was attached as directions indicated (realize they may not be the best thing to go by in this case...): black to black, white to white, ground to ground screw. The pics below show how the switch was installed (you can see in the third that I connected the ground back into the outlet box; I connected the first dimmer as directions indicated, but when it failed, tried to connect the second try like the original switch) :
#5
Light fixture was attached as directions indicated (realize they may not be the best thing to go by in this case...): black to black, white to white, ground to ground screw.
- Black of power in to white* of switch cable.
- White of power in to white of light.
- Black of switch cable to black of light.
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Awesome! I will give this a shot. The only confusion I have now is that there does not seem to be a line coming into the switch - only a hot, neutral, and ground leading to the light. Is it possible the power is coming into the light first, before it hits the switch? I may just be misreading the diagram.
#7
s it possible the power is coming into the light first, before it hits the switch?
Diagram with power in marked.
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Thanks for clarifying. One last question (I hope): In the ceiling there are 4 wires tied together with a copper nut; 3 are black, 1 is white. I am assuming these are the power in cables, but they were not connected to the original light fixture as far as I can tell (The light was running directly to the switch, so far as I can make out: black to black, white to white). Just tried to flip the breaker to "on" again and it immediately switched off.
Think I may have to get someone here who knows how to make more sense of the spaghetti. Appreciate all the feedback.
Think I may have to get someone here who knows how to make more sense of the spaghetti. Appreciate all the feedback.
#9
In the ceiling there are 4 wires tied together with a copper nut; 3 are black, 1 is white.
tied together with a copper nut
Could you please post pictures of the wiring.