Wall switch quit working after fixture change
#1
07-01-18, 03:38 AM
Wall switch quit working after fixture change
I replaced a ceiling fan with a regular 2 bulb light fixture and now the light comes on when the breaker is on but the wall switch no longer controls it. The switch isn’t connected to any other lights and it controlled the ceiling fan just fine. The ceiling wiring box had a black, white, red, and bare copper wire. The red wire was connected to a wire coming from the fan that was labeled “light”. I capped it and didn’t use it and connected white to white and black to black and connected the bare copper according to the new fixture directions. All the wires were in use by the old ceiling fan. Also, I replaced the wall switch in case it was the culprit with no change. The old wall switch had one white and one black wire with a bare copper connected to the metal switch box, the new switch had a ground post but I didn’t use it, I just connected white and black to the right posts on the switch.
#2
07-01-18, 04:23 AM
The old wall switch had one white and one black wire with a bare copper connected to the metal switch box
#4
07-02-18, 03:54 AM
The cable going from the ceiling box to the switch box is usually a 2 conductor cable, 1 conductor black and the other conductor white. The black conductor should be the 120 vac source and connected to one side of the switch, The white conductor is connected to the other side of the switch and is considered switched 120 vac and should be marked black at the ceiling box to eliminate misuse. This white (marked black) wire connects to the black wire of the light fixture for control.
In your case the source power for the circuit enters the ceiling box. The 120 vac source wire (should be black) needs to be wire nutted to the black wire going to the light switch. The switched 120 vac wire needs to be connected to the ceiling light as described above. My guess is the fan had its own light switch and had a separate 120 vac source via the red wire.
In your case the source power for the circuit enters the ceiling box. The 120 vac source wire (should be black) needs to be wire nutted to the black wire going to the light switch. The switched 120 vac wire needs to be connected to the ceiling light as described above. My guess is the fan had its own light switch and had a separate 120 vac source via the red wire.
#9
07-02-18, 06:17 PM
Originally Posted by Gwarfan
are you saying just wire nut all the black together? sorry for all the questions I really appreciate your help everyone!
#10
07-03-18, 04:07 AM
The black wire in the ceiling box, connected to the breaker, is the power source for the light. Disconnect this wire from the light fixture and reconnect it to the black wire going to the light switch. the white wire (marked black) from the light switch connects to the light fixture wire previously connected to the source wire. As stated in earlier post, my guess is the red wire was an independent 120 vac for a light on old fan. Leave the red wire capped off.
#11
07-03-18, 04:23 AM
You guys are missing what the original poster wrote.
That wire does not come from the switch box because the O/P wrote:
Power almost certainly is a 2-conductor cable but that is not mentioned at either the switch or the ceiling. It must be from wherever the 3-conductor cable originates. Almost has to be another j-box unless the o/p is not telling us about all the cabels at the switch and ceiling.
The ceiling wiring box had a black, white, red, and bare copper wire. The red wire was connected to a wire coming from the fan that was labeled “light”.
The old wall switch had one white and one black wire with a bare copper connected to the metal switch box,
#12
07-03-18, 05:29 AM
Member
How did the fan/light work? was there a pull chain to control either the fan or light? Sure sounds like another junction box somewhere.
Geo
Geo
#13
07-04-18, 04:46 AM
I replaced a ceiling fan with a regular 2 bulb light fixture and now the light comes on when the breaker is on but the wall switch no longer controls it.
The above quote from the OP tells me the source power is coming into the ceiling box. Am I wrong?
#14
07-04-18, 06:01 AM
Member
Beelzebob, I would say you are correct, hence the fixture only working when the breaker is on, no switch function.
Geo🇺🇸
Geo🇺🇸
#15
07-04-18, 07:49 AM
But except for a multiwire circuit or ignorance you wouldn't run a 3-conductor cable for power in. And where does the 2-conductor cable at the switch go? My thought is the 3-conductor cable comes from an unknown box where power comes in or it is the wrong switch box..
Last edited by ray2047; 07-04-18 at 10:08 AM.
#17
07-04-18, 07:28 PM
Thanks for all the help everyone I wish I could give more information but my knowledge is limited with home electricity. All I know is I replaced a ceiling fan with a non ceiling fan fixture with 2 bulbs and capped the red wire coming from the ceiling since it was connected to the “light “ wire coming from the old fan and connected the white to white and black to black and now the switch doesn’t work. I’m not sure how the old fan worked since it’s not my house but they said the wall switch turned the light off and on for sure. The light stays on as long as the breaker is on for that room.
