Dimmer Challenges
#1
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Dimmer Challenges
It seemed so simple but hasn't turned out that way. I wanted to install a dimmer in my eldest daughter's room. I mistakenly didn't take a picture of the previously installed light switch but went a head and identified the hot black wire and made the other connections to install the dimmer.
The result was no light and the hallway light was also not working. I've had no luck and didn't want to try fiddling around with other combinations so I've capped everything in the wall. The lone red wire was not used. The red and black at the bottom are from the dimmer and I left the ground connected.
I also took the ceiling light down (I didn't install it) and took a picture of the wiring hoping this will allow someone to point me in the right direction. Apologies for the number.
I'd like to restore light to my daughter's room as soon as possible. Thanks in advance.
The result was no light and the hallway light was also not working. I've had no luck and didn't want to try fiddling around with other combinations so I've capped everything in the wall. The lone red wire was not used. The red and black at the bottom are from the dimmer and I left the ground connected.
I also took the ceiling light down (I didn't install it) and took a picture of the wiring hoping this will allow someone to point me in the right direction. Apologies for the number.
I'd like to restore light to my daughter's room as soon as possible. Thanks in advance.
#2
The wiring in your switch box and the wiring in your ceiling box does not match.
It almost looks like you have a switch leg there.
In your switch box it looks like you have a two wire feed in and a three wire feed out. You said red wasn't used. I don't see red in your light box. Do you have a newer style three wire cable up there ?
At your ceiling box I see a mixture of cloth covered and plastic wiring.
Where does the yellow L7 come from ? Do you have some conduit in your house connecting boxes ?
It almost looks like you have a switch leg there.
In your switch box it looks like you have a two wire feed in and a three wire feed out. You said red wasn't used. I don't see red in your light box. Do you have a newer style three wire cable up there ?
At your ceiling box I see a mixture of cloth covered and plastic wiring.
Where does the yellow L7 come from ? Do you have some conduit in your house connecting boxes ?
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Thanks for the reply.
I too was/am suspicious of the switch wiring vs. the ceiling box which is what started to scare me. I had also tried connecting the hot to the switch and the red from the switch to the other black and pigtailed the whites together. That tripped the circuit breaker at which point I disconnected everything and opened the ceiling box. There is also a switch for a hallway light on the other side of the wall but in that box (with two switches) one switch is on this circuit and the other is not.
When I had renos done it was clear that three wires were run in all of the rooms they redid but as noted, no red in the light fixture box.
Also not sure of conduit connecting boxes for sure but would suspect yes as I've seen some in the basement.
L7 is the ground from the ceiling light, it is grounded in the box.
Any ideas or suggestions on what to try or assess?
I too was/am suspicious of the switch wiring vs. the ceiling box which is what started to scare me. I had also tried connecting the hot to the switch and the red from the switch to the other black and pigtailed the whites together. That tripped the circuit breaker at which point I disconnected everything and opened the ceiling box. There is also a switch for a hallway light on the other side of the wall but in that box (with two switches) one switch is on this circuit and the other is not.
When I had renos done it was clear that three wires were run in all of the rooms they redid but as noted, no red in the light fixture box.
Also not sure of conduit connecting boxes for sure but would suspect yes as I've seen some in the basement.
L7 is the ground from the ceiling light, it is grounded in the box.
Any ideas or suggestions on what to try or assess?
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First: Determine if the switch in your daughter's room is fed from the hallway switch or directly from the panel. Second: Are any of the wires in the ceiling hot with your daughter's switch removed?
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So I feel pretty dumb but thanks to Pulpo for making me go back to basics. My problem was that I thought the black wire in the switch was hot, it was not it was the white wire (again, I inherited this switch). Following Pulpo's direction was the kick I needed.
Light switch now works and dims, hallway light is good and changing the bulbs to dimmable LEDs and my daughter is happy again.
Thanks for the replies.
Light switch now works and dims, hallway light is good and changing the bulbs to dimmable LEDs and my daughter is happy again.
Thanks for the replies.