light fixture
#1
10-10-14, 07:59 PM
light fixture
I am replacing a light fixture and I was assuming I would have 3 wires but I was wrong and didn't notice how it was wired before taking down.I have 2 black wires twisted together and 2 single white wires.i can get light to burn by connecting black wire from light to 2 blacks twisted together and white wire from light to one of the single white wires.The problem is the switch will not cut off light and if I take white from light and connect to other white it will not come on at all.Help would surely be appreciated.
#3
10-10-14, 10:20 PM
One black and one white to switch.im not sure if the 2 single white wires to light fixture were single before I took light down or not.Thanks for you help
Last edited by wheelers; 10-10-14 at 11:13 PM.
#4
10-10-14, 10:29 PM
Group Moderator
You've got a switch leg..... incorrectly set up.
You should have a single white wire, a single black wire and a black and white connected together.
Right now you have two blacks tied together. The switch will work but you don't know which one is switched hot because you only have two whites.
Open the black splice. Test between each pair. You can use your light if that's all you have. With one pair of white/black the light will work and it won't work on the other pair. The pair the light works on is the hot pair (feed in). That white wire is the neutral/white for the light.
Now connect the white wire of the pair that was dead to the hot/black wire.
That will leave you a switched black wire at the ceiling.
Normally we advise you to tape or color the white wire going to the switch a different color like red, blue or black so that it's not confused in the future as a neutral wire.
You should have a single white wire, a single black wire and a black and white connected together.
Right now you have two blacks tied together. The switch will work but you don't know which one is switched hot because you only have two whites.
Open the black splice. Test between each pair. You can use your light if that's all you have. With one pair of white/black the light will work and it won't work on the other pair. The pair the light works on is the hot pair (feed in). That white wire is the neutral/white for the light.
Now connect the white wire of the pair that was dead to the hot/black wire.
That will leave you a switched black wire at the ceiling.
Normally we advise you to tape or color the white wire going to the switch a different color like red, blue or black so that it's not confused in the future as a neutral wire.
#6
10-10-14, 10:46 PM
Group Moderator
Yes..... that is correct.
You are going to end up with a white and black wire connected together....... not the two black wires.
You are going to end up with a white and black wire connected together....... not the two black wires.
