Planning, installing and using either indoor or outdoor artificial lights.
11
votes
3answers
8k views
How should I rewire a miswired 3-way switch?
I have a 3 way switch that was wired incorrectly when the switches were replaced with a different color switch. Is there a methodical way for me to identify which wires represent which piece of the ...
6
votes
1answer
292 views
What do I need to replace 4 light switches on the same circuit?
So we have a single light in our living room that can be turned on/off from four different switches at various entrances to the living room.
We're currently replacing all the switches in our house as ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
How does a 2 way light switch work?
A two way light switch allows the light to be controlled from two locations, how does this work?
1
vote
3answers
126 views
Can you help me find this bulb?
I need to replace the light bulb in my ceiling fan but the part\model number is warn off and I can't find it anywhere! I can read "Philips," "Plus," and "G5" but nothing else. Please see the attached ...
28
votes
7answers
7k views
When I turn down the dimmer switch on my lights, do I actually use less electricity?
My wife and I have several lights on dimmer switches throughout our home. We generally prefer the ambient lighting provided by dimmed lights. I am curious, though, if we are saving any electricity by ...
6
votes
9answers
11k views
How do I put a fluorescent light on a motion sensor?
I have a couple closets in my basement that I have outfitted with a fluorescent light attached to a motion sensor (this one). The idea was that when you open the closet door, the light comes on ...
13
votes
3answers
654 views
Can I safely use a switch rated for “1A at 125V” with 240V, assuming I stay below 125W?
I recently purchased a foot switch for a standing lamp. The switch is rated for 1A at 125V.
I would like to use this switch with a low energy lamp (typically 10W or below) but with a 240V supply. Is ...
9
votes
1answer
3k views
What is the difference between dimmable and non-dimmable CFL bulbs?
I have a dimmable ceiling light fixture in the Dining room. I put in CFL bulbs a few months ago. It all seems to work fine, no problem. I went to a hardware store yesterday and saw that there were CFL ...
8
votes
1answer
848 views
How to replace a standard 2-gang light switch with an electric dimmer switch
I'm looking for a some assistance in fitting a new electric dimmer light switch. I'm in the UK if that makes a difference.
I am trying to replace my existing two-gang light switch with a LightWaveRF ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
How can I stop bulbs from buzzing when dimmed?
I've got some hanging lights with "Fat Albert" bulbs that are plugged into a dimmer switch. When they're dimmed to certain levels, the bulbs make a soft buzzing sound. The buzz is amplified and ...
6
votes
2answers
139 views
Does lamp maximum wattage matter for CF bulbs? [duplicate]
Say I have a table lamp that states (via a slightly scary sticker) that it takes a 60W max bulb. Of course, that was based around incandescent wattages.
Is there any risk with putting in a CF bulb ...
5
votes
1answer
603 views
What is the best way to light a Lexan (Polycarbonate) sheet?
I've recently installed a Lexan 'whiteboard' in my garage which works as well as I'd hoped.
I now want to use some type of lighting to light up the board in a useful/visual appealing way.
Shown ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Why won't my dimmer dim CFL Lights?
My dinning room had an on/off switch for the light which made it impossible to have romantic dinners there - the light was either too bright or off. So I decided to install a dimmer. Being energy ...
13
votes
2answers
439 views
Is there a good rule of thumb for how many lights you need in a room?
I want to use ceiling recessed wall washers in a 13 ft by 24 ft room. Any advice on light spacing so I don't create dark spots? How far from the wall vs how far apart from each other should they be?
9
votes
4answers
3k views
Are standard light bulb bases being phased out?
Recently we've been shopping for light fixtures, and have noticed a dramatic increase in non-standard bulbs. CFLs in particular seem to be drifting away from the common threaded base, in favor of ...
5
votes
1answer
513 views
Parallel Fluorescent Wiring
I've got a few ceiling lighting 'boxes' that have one capacitor, two ballast, two starters, and two fluorescent lamps in each. Everything seems to be nicely wired up internally and I just need to ...
5
votes
1answer
5k views
Is it ok to wire light switches and lights with 12/2 cable?
It sounds like light switches and lights are usually wired with 14/2 cable. Is it okay to use 12/2 cable instead? Would I need special switches?
4
votes
2answers
2k views
What about a light switch in the closet?
Okay you guys I have next question. And like all good questions this one begins with a story.
I was reading the post about a nick in a wire and read a couple of you mention that light switch in a ...
4
votes
4answers
2k views
Can I use a 23 W CFL in a fixture that's rated for a 60 W incandescent?
I have a lamp that is rated at 60 Watts for an incandescent bulb with a disclaimer to use a 13 Watt bulb instead when using a CFL replacement. Do I really need to respect that disclaimer? Would not a ...
3
votes
2answers
441 views
Why does my ceiling lights require some other outlet in the room to be turned on and off again before it works?
Picture the scene: I walk into a room and flick the light switch. Nothing happens. I grobble around in the dark to where a baby bottle warmer is plugged into a normal outlet and turn the warmer on. ...
2
votes
1answer
257 views
What are switches activated by a closet door called?
My father-in-law set up all of his closet lights to turn on and off when the door opens. He used a switch that was apparently designed for that purpose, with a largish contact switch that turned on ...
2
votes
2answers
7k views
How should I connect the ground wire for my light fixture?
I am replacing a light fixture in my bathroom and have the following setup:
The electrical box is plastic
The wire coming from supply has black (hot), white (neutral) and copper (ground).
The light ...
2
votes
1answer
310 views
Adding new lights to a switch
I have a single light controlled by a switch in my garage. It's really pathetic, so I decided to add some shop lights to the same switch.
Upon opening up the light wiring box, I found not 1 but 4 ...
2
votes
3answers
5k views
Is there such thing as a 4-way dimmer?
I have a 4-way switch I want to replace with a dimmer. I understand I can put the dimmer at one of the other 3-way switches, but they're more out of the way. Does such a device exist? If not, what ...
1
vote
1answer
125 views
How can I install this programmable switch?
I just had our house re-wired (by a professional, not myself). I'm looking into replacing a light switch with a fancy programmable version (Honeywell Econoswitch RPLS740B).
The location for the ...
