Home and Auto Electricians: Chandelier went out but it's getting current - Page 3

wutamess · 11-20-2012, 08:37 PM

Couple of months ago our family room chandelier went out cold turkey. I'm just now getting time to get to it.

I originally thought it was the switch as I bought one of those non contact voltmeters and it went crazy at t he chandelier. Took off the dimmer and it went crazy inside of the switch box also.

Replaced the switch at Lowes and NOTHING. It still went crazy at the chandelier.

Thought, "that's odd." replaced one bulb and nothing. Tried the same bulb in another room's chandelier and it worked. Any ideas? I'm hurting here for suggestions.

UberSparky · 11-20-2012, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wutamess

Ugh... so electrician needs to be called with a 20 foot ladder?

And informed of height. Most of us don't carry ladders that tall on our trucks. You sure its 20 foot?

I'mAlwaysRight · 11-20-2012, 10:20 PM

How many romex cables are in the switch box? Or, does the switch have a black and a white wire? Or two black wires? If you take the two wires off the switch and touch them together (or jumper across them), does the fixture light up?

wutamess · 11-20-2012, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UberSparky

And informed of height. Most of us don't carry ladders that tall on our trucks. You sure its 20 foot?

More like 15.

UberSparky · 11-20-2012, 10:23 PM

Sorry about your luck. Feel free to call me if you want I can tell you if you are being charged fairly. Raytown is a bit too far for me to travel. Wish I could have been more help.

wutamess · 11-20-2012, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I'mAlwaysRight

How many romex cables are in the switch box? Or, does the switch have a black and a white wire? Or two black wires? If you take the two wires off the switch and touch them together (or jumper across them), does the fixture light up?

one black wire and one white wire with a ground cutoff still inside the 1 romex cable.
I won't blow something if I touch them together?

wutamess · 11-20-2012, 10:26 PM

Heres a pic

UberSparky · 11-20-2012, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wutamess

More like 15.

12 foot ladder would be sufficient. Still should be informed when you call em. Use angies list a lot of bad electricians out there.

**Rain Man** · 11-20-2012, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wutamess

one black wire and one white wire with a ground cutoff still inside the 1 romex cable.
I won't blow something if I touch them together?

That's what he's testing.

wutamess · 11-20-2012, 10:29 PM

I can take it off right quick and see... so do it?

UberSparky · 11-20-2012, 10:31 PM

That white wire will be your hot the black your switched hot. You won't blow anything if you touch them together. If you replaced switch with no change then touching them won't help.

I'mAlwaysRight · 11-20-2012, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wutamess

one black wire and one white wire with a ground cutoff still inside the 1 romex cable.
I won't blow something if I touch them together?

The white *should* be the hot (feed) at the switch, the black *should* be the switch leg back to the fixture. You won't blow anything up, but you'll get a small arc that might startle you. All this does is bypass the switch to eliminate that as a possible problem. I asked about the wiring because it could have been fed from the switch (two romexes) with the neutral tied together in the switch box, but it doesn't look like that's the case. If bypassing the switch and it still doesn't light, the yeah, you've probably lost the neutral (grounded conductor).

Coach · 11-20-2012, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wutamess

it's his work #... I do the same thing with tatts. Helps with business anyways.

Fair enough.

Coach · 11-20-2012, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UberSparky

I am sure you are right. If I was better on a computer I would have more posts. I don't even know what PM is.

Private Message. How it works is, if you move your mouse to a username on the left, and click on it, a dropdown will occur, and somewhere in that selection list will say "Send a private message to Coach" or whatever the username you click on.

wutamess · 11-20-2012, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I'mAlwaysRight

The white *should* be the hot (feed) at the switch, the black *should* be the switch leg back to the fixture. You won't blow anything up, but you'll get a small arc that might startle you. All this does is bypass the switch to eliminate that as a possible problem. I asked about the wiring because it could have been fed from the switch (two romexes) with the neutral tied together in the switch box, but it doesn't look like that's the case. If bypassing the switch and it still doesn't light, the yeah, you've probably lost the neutral (grounded conductor).

So the neutral is the ground wire? the one that's tucked back inside the Romex?

UberSparky · 11-20-2012, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wutamess

So the neutral is the ground wire? the one that's tucked back inside the Romex?

You don't have a neutral at all on that switch box

11-20-2012, 08:37 PM
wutamess MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Lee's Summit Casino cash: $5441637	Electricians: Chandelier went out but it's getting current Couple of months ago our family room chandelier went out cold turkey. I'm just now getting time to get to it. I originally thought it was the switch as I bought one of those non contact voltmeters and it went crazy at t he chandelier. Took off the dimmer and it went crazy inside of the switch box also. Replaced the switch at Lowes and NOTHING. It still went crazy at the chandelier. Thought, "that's odd." replaced one bulb and nothing. Tried the same bulb in another room's chandelier and it worked. Any ideas? I'm hurting here for suggestions.
Posts: 8,275

11-20-2012, 10:20 PM	#32
I'mAlwaysRight Starter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Out On The Tiles Casino cash: $10004900	How many romex cables are in the switch box? Or, does the switch have a black and a white wire? Or two black wires? If you take the two wires off the switch and touch them together (or jumper across them), does the fixture light up?
Posts: 65

11-20-2012, 10:23 PM	#34
UberSparky Starter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Valley "freaking" Falls Casino cash: $10004900	Sorry about your luck. Feel free to call me if you want I can tell you if you are being charged fairly. Raytown is a bit too far for me to travel. Wish I could have been more help.
Posts: 87

11-20-2012, 10:26 PM	#36
wutamess MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Lee's Summit Casino cash: $5441637	Heres a pic Attached Thumbnails
Posts: 8,275

11-20-2012, 10:29 PM	#39
wutamess MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Lee's Summit Casino cash: $5441637	I can take it off right quick and see... so do it?
Posts: 8,275

11-20-2012, 10:31 PM	#40
UberSparky Starter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Valley "freaking" Falls Casino cash: $10004900	That white wire will be your hot the black your switched hot. You won't blow anything if you touch them together. If you replaced switch with no change then touching them won't help.
Posts: 87