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Questions tagged [lighting]

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Planning, installing and using either indoor or outdoor artificial lights.

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1answer
27 views

Light fixture with Pull chain

In attempts to open up the light fixture and figure out how to re-attach a chain to the pull chain attachment, the black wire connecting to the pull string fell out of the fixture. I’m not sure if it ...
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2answers
53 views

Switch Arcing Mobile Home

Hi I live in a mobile home also late 80s/early 90s I have a few light switches that makes a sizzling sound at times they are the self contained type switch! What is occurring during arcing in a ...
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1answer
61 views

Ceiling box has 2 black wires and 1 white wire

I just moved into a newly built condo, and there wasn't a light fixture installed before. This is what it looks like right now: There are two wires, black and white, marette'd(?) together, and there ...
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1answer
28 views

Wireless motion sensor for outdoor garage lights using existing fixtures and wiring [closed]

I would like to trigger my existing garage lights based on motion detector. I live in a townhome community so I can't switch out the fixtures as it would stand out. I would like to still be able to do ...
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2answers
59 views

New light bulbs light up even when switched off

Edit: I have confirmed that my main question is answered in another post. But there are still things that bother me. Why is there a buzzing sound when the bulbs work? The new bulbs do not light up ...
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1answer
18 views

How to connect two track lights

I would like to connect two tracks (Example H-Track). Only the first track has access to a power source (Connector used). I know that there are adapters that which would connect two tracks directly to ...
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3answers
53 views

Broken LED remote

My 44 button LED light strip remote is snapped in half and will not work obviously. Is there any way I can replace the remote by just ordering a new one or will i have to manually repair it. If so, ...
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0answers
42 views

LED recessed fixture is consistently malfunctioning in a specific location

My parents just installed LED recessed lighting kits (integrated LED fixtures containing the diode and driver circuitry), and they are having a very strange problem. One toggle switch controls about ...
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0answers
27 views

2 Lights in my kitchen. One light is controlled by 2 switches on opposite walls. The other light is on a separate switch. Can I connect the 2?

Could I connect the red light to the blue circuit, simply by using a couple wire connectors in the 2-gang? If I can, I'd remove the red switch, and just use a double-wide 1-gang toggle switch cover.
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2answers
75 views

Cable lighting keeps fusing

I have low power cable lighting fitted in my kitchen, 2 cables running in parallel with suspended spots. It has run fine for 8 years then the other day it blew when switching on. I looked at the ...
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0answers
46 views

Double switch wiring

I replaced an old double switch with a new one and now nothing turns on. Both are 15a 125v. Looking at the old switch : on the left, two white wires going to two gold screws above/below each other; on ...
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2answers
64 views

Help debugging this circuit, voltage across lights drops to half unexpectedly. Diagram in post

I fitted a PIR sensor at my parents' to turn the bathroom light on and off automatically last week but the lights are very dim. On inspection, there is only half of the potential difference across the ...
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1answer
75 views

LED Replacement for T5 Fluorescent lights

I have several T5 fluorescent lights in my kitchen, serving as under-cabinet lighting. Some of them are bust, and I’d like to replace them with LED strips instead. The power for these lights are ...
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1answer
207 views

What is a “JC type” light bulb?

I have a desk lamp that uses G4 bi-pin light bulbs. The socket is marked "JC G4 12V max 20W". I was wondering what the "JC" means, so I googled "JC G4" and indeed a lot of results show up, some with "...
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0answers
18 views

Changing a 3 gang Australian light switch to a Smart switch

I am wanting to change the older style Australian 3 gang light switch with a new ‘Smart’ wifi 3 gang switch. I just need some help in getting the wiring in the right place. I have included pictures ...
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1answer
68 views

How can I find a dimmer switch *without* a separate on / off toggle?

Most dimmer switches I see in stores have an on / off toggle and also a slider to dim the lights. They look something like this: I think their goal is that you can set the brightness at your ...
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1answer
109 views

Is this outdoor light wiring correct?

I have an outdoor light that isn't working. I've removed and tested it indoors. It works fine and the bulb is fine. The wiring that comes from the house consists of two twin-and-earth cables. Power ...
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1answer
129 views

Breaker Immediately Trips, Need Help Troubleshooting Why

I installed 4 Lithonia LED recessed lights on my living room 15 amp circuit. Everything was working great yesterday when doing final testing. I left the breaker off overnight as I was planning to do ...
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1answer
21 views

What size junction box do I need for a wall mount with a 3.5 inch base?

I have some wall sconces that have a 3.5 inch round base; will a 3.5 inch round junction box work or do I need one that is smaller, like 3-inches? Do they even make those?
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6answers
2k views

Hanging string lights from stone

I have several solid stone pillars (approx 4' high) running along the edge of my patio. I would like to hang string lights along the stones using something like Q-Hanger hooks. But I do not know how ...
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2answers
72 views

Can I connect a second keyless light fixture and control both from one pull-chain?

I have an existing light with power from a junction box operated by a pull chain. Can I add a new light and have it operated by the existing pull chain. Would like to have both lights turn on at the ...
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1answer
33 views

Mixing power and signal cables

I have to pass the TV signal cable near the power cable for lighting in my room, and I observed noise in the TV. If power and signal cables are near each other, does the power cable have a magnetic ...
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3answers
35 views

Removal of light switch. Power only to front light, no power to outlets or anything else

We wanted to install a security camera in the front porch and as a component of that we needed constant power to the front door which is currently controlled by a light switch. That light switch was ...
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1answer
40 views

What is proper way to wire hard wired LED strip light power supply/controller/driver?

I'm considering LED strip lighting for a pantry and for the stairway to the basement. I see three types of power supplies for the strips: with an AC plug, with pigtails, and with screw posts. The ...
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1answer
45 views

How directional is LED strip lighting (with a diffuser)?

Background: My pantry (~ 2' deep, 4' across, 8' tall) consists of a bunch of shelves that are 1/2 the depth of the pantry. It has one of those old white pull chain porcelain fixtures on the ceiling ...
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0answers
31 views

Replacing outdoor light fitting

My home in Western Australia was built 4 years ago. I want to replace the basic outdoor light rose with a new LED bunker wall light. But the terminals on the light fittings are different. The basic ...
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1answer
32 views

How should I wire a dimmer into a 12v DC SPDT On/On setup

Apologies if I'm using these terms incorrectly. I'm trying to wire 12V LED lights from a battery. I want to be able to switch on/off the switches at two different sides of the room, and I want a ...
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2answers
102 views

LED bulbs flickering

We have a multistory apartment building where the hallway lights were switched from CFLs to LEDs. These lights are continuously on. Originally the LEDs were SATCO 15W bulbs. These lasted about a ...
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4answers
101 views

Could it be that smart light fixtures are the future and not smart switches? At least for retrofits?

In my house built around ~1970 all ceiling lamps are wired in a way where 120VAC power first enters light fixture and then hot wire proceeds through switch and return back to fixture as load wire. If ...
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3answers
62 views

How can I remove this ceiling light glass?

I cannot manage to get this light off. I've tried twisting, pushing, pulling, and a combination of those and nothing has worked. It moves about a centimeter in each direction but won't loosen any ...
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0answers
17 views

Ceiling fan/light install with dual switch help

I have 2 switched for my ceiling unit and light and fan only work on 1 of the switches not both like it should. I had just a light fixture installed. I bought a fan/light combo and I have 2 wall ...
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0answers
39 views

I dont know where the dimmer needs to go

Have seen comments that say the dimmer in a 4-way configuration must be at one of the ends of the circuit. Already have a dimmer that functions well, but its mechanically failing. Since it works can ...
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2answers
61 views

How to increase light from a vanity cabinet?

I need to seriously increase the amount of light from a bathroom vanity cabinet. The picture below is a little blurry because I didn't have a tripod handy, and it took a 1/10 second exposure to take ...
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2answers
92 views

Is the neutral outside of the plug dangerous while carrying current?

I accidentally bought bulbs that has too long of a stem for my bathroom vanity. It also has a very larger upper region that makes it very touchable. How dangerous is this metal area that is exposed ...
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0answers
57 views

I installed a new light fixture and it won't turn off!

I removed a fan/light combo and replaced with a typical light fixture. The wires from the ceiling coming out are white, black and ground. The light fixture has a positive and a neg and a ground. I ...
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1answer
41 views

My Light Switch Wont Turn Off My Fan

I replaced a ceiling light in my bathroom with a fan and light. It is on one switch using the same wires as the previous light, which worked. Hooked up according to installation standards. Brother ...
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2answers
62 views

Will I be forced to bring fridge and laundry circuits up to code?

I'm adding new lights and a few receptacles to my basement. I just discovered that my kitchen fridge and laundry washing machine are both on the basement lights circuit (14awg, 15A breaker). I think ...
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1answer
38 views

Why do my under the cabinets lights dim after they are on for a short while?

I bought a house that has under the cabinets LED lights. One of the units go on normal and bright but after about 10 minutes begins to dim. they never go completely off (or I've not let them on long ...
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2answers
55 views

Light fixture wiring issue

So I'm attempting to replace an old light fixture with a new one I got from home depot. The light fixture is at the top of a stairway, there is a switch at the bottom of the stairs as well as the top ...
0
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1answer
64 views

Light flickers when turned off and power disconnected

Last night I started smelling what seemed to be burning plastic. Simultaneously I noticed that an overhead light was flickering sporadically even with the power turned off. I went to the switch and ...
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2answers
44 views

Replacing a dimmer out of a 2 gang switch

My girlfriend bought an old apartment in NYC and we are trying to replace one of the dimmers with a standard switch. The 2 gang consist of the dimmer (Controls the living room lights) and a standard ...
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1answer
32 views

Motion sensor won't switch off

I have a motion sensor in the ceiling to turn the lights on, it turns them on ok but won't turn them off until you turn the power off. Only just started
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0answers
48 views

No neutral wire when hanging light?

I have been trying to hang a living room light. There is ONLY a black (hot) wire coming from the box in the ceiling. The chandelier I'm trying to hang has a copper (ground) wire and TWO other wire (...
0
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4answers
51 views

Wattage of adapter for LED strip

I have LED strip lighting under my cabinets in the kitchen. Recently, they started flickering with noise. Worked fine for a couple of years. I believe it was the adapter that was faulty. Unfortunately,...
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2answers
36 views

how to remove ALKCO flourescent L40 bulb

I've got ALKCO "Lincandescent" flourescents in the master bath in a house built 8 years ago. They apparently discontinued the fixture around the same time. One bulb has burned out, I can't figure ...
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2answers
78 views

Is the working principle of a light bulb a “short”?

Isn't the "filament" closing the gap making a short circuit?
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2answers
116 views

Under Cabinet exposed NM/Romex

The original builder (USA, ca. 2006) ran exposed NM/romex between the fixtures. Maybe this is a nebulous question, but is that within code?
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2answers
46 views

Can one of my three-way switches be configured to use a remote control?

I want to put my outside flood lights on a remote control. They are controlled by two separate switches in two different rooms. One switch on the second floor and the other on the first floor. I want ...
0
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1answer
22 views

Fluorescent light turns off randomly?

I have a simple two bulb fluorescent shop light, and it will shut off out of nowhere. If I unplug it and plug it back in it will come back on. But it doesn't do this all the time, sometimes it qil ...
1
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2answers
55 views

What is the name of a screw-nut ring used to hold up a hanging lampshade? (see photo)

I have a hanging light fixture that I'm trying to put a lampshade on. Because the light fixture hangs from the ceiling, If I don't screw something underneath it, the lampshade would fall down. The ...

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