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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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34 views

4 way circuit with two 4 way switches

I have a 4 way circuit (3 physical toggle switches). I am use to seeing this setup with two 3-ways and a 4-way in the middle. Looking at what I have, I have a 3-way, and two 4-way switches! All 4 ...
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0answers
33 views

LED bulb goes dim

I have a ceiling fan in my living room, which has sockets for 3 candelabra bulbs. When there were incandescent bulbs in it, it worked perfectly. I replaced the incandescent bulbs with 3 LED bulbs. ...
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3answers
34 views

Connect two lamps to the same ceiling socket, controlled by two three-way switches

Apologies if this is a stupid question, but my google fu is failing me. I have a ceiling socket for a lamp. I want to use it to power two lamps, controlled by the same two three-way switches. How do ...
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0answers
53 views

Need Help I'm moving a light switch from one wall to the other, but I ran into a problem

I recently moved into a house and I'm converting the attached Garage into a workshop. The thing is the light switch was on the other side of the Garage by the Garage door, I decided to move the switch ...
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0answers
31 views

Second light in circuit won't turn on after installing new wall switch

I have 2 pendant ceiling lights, controlled by a single switch. The lights are LED and the bulb says "12V 6W 60Hz". These are the bulbs that came with the light. Things worked great. One day I decided ...
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1answer
53 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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2answers
42 views

Adding recessed LEDs to existing ceiling fan/light circuit - where to tap?

I'd like to add a couple 4" recessed LEDs to an existing fan/light circuit in my room. The fan/light is controlled by a wall switch, and it also has a remote (fan does not turn on if switch is OFF). ...
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1answer
296 views

How do I install a SensaSwitch on a 3-way circuit?

I recently purchased a SensaSwitch, Manual-ON / Timed-OFF (PDF of instructions) and I cannot install it in such a way that it performs as I desire. I have a switch at the top of my basement stairs and ...
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1answer
709 views

Can I connect a Lutron Caseta switch to a half hot outlet?

I recently installed a Lutron Caseta (PD-6ans) switch that connects to a half-hot outlet. I noticed there is still a trickle of electricity coming out of the switch even when it's off. Enough to make ...
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3answers
2k views

Confused about wiring outside light fixture with multiple switched wires

I am trying to replace an outside motion detector light fixture that was removed before I bought the house and the only things left were the plastic base in the eave and electrical taped wires shoved ...
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2answers
54 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
3k views

Can I use a single dimmer switch to control multiple lights?

I want to setup a parallel circuit for 10 light fixtures.... Can I use 1 dimmer switch to control all 10 light fixtures all at the same time? Is this possible to make? Thanks in advance :)
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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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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
220 views

Changing switch to dimmer (UK)

Right in the middle of this job and realised I don't know what I'm doing. I'm in the UK. I currently have a Crabtree switch (which I believe is called a single gang two way switch) on a light on my ...
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3answers
7k views

Why would a bulb need a 30mA RCD for the bathroom?

So I have bought a new light fitting for our shower room (This is the bulb.) On the instructions it says if fitting in a bathroom a 30mA RCD is required. We have a fairly old fuse box, so wired fuses ...
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1answer
720 views

How should under cabinet lighting wires be placed on the wall?

I just finished demolishing my kitchen. I noticed that the under-cabinet lighting cables are poking out the wall right at the bottom edge of the wall cabinets. To the untrained eye, this looks like a ...
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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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1answer
3k views

What can I use to fix a gap between the light fixture and the ceiling?

It's a very old house that the ceiling is made out of lath and plaster so it would be too much work to dig a hole to put in a large junction box for the wires. They won't fit in the base of the light ...
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2answers
15k views

Why does turning on one light turn off a different light?

I have a ceiling fan with a light and another light with switches on opposite sides of the wall. One side has a double switch which goes to the fan with a light and the other a single three way switch ...
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4answers
10k views

Ceiling fan light dims

I have a Harbor Breeze ceiling fan and light kit. When I turn on the light, it starts out bright, but then in a second it dims. It doesn't turn off, it just dims. What could be causing this to ...
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2answers
35 views

Replacing light and fan set up to a plain light

I am replacing a Hunter ceiling fan with a regular hanging light. The ceiling fan had a knob for the fan and another for the lights with a dimmer switch. I took off the fan assembly and have a black ...
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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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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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3answers
13k views

Light Switch with no ground

I’m replacing my light switches with Lutron Caseta switches. When I pull the old ones out I noticed they don’t have grounds. The box they are in is plastic. Is it okay to not ha e a ground in the new ...
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4answers
9k views

Make a wide power connector fit in a narrow slot

This seems like a bad idea but I wanted to know for sure. I am trying to extend the reach of my Christmas lights this year into a garden that is about 6 feet from my fence. I don't want to have lights ...
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2answers
262 views

Troubleshooting: Why does my multimeter not work when a non-contact volt detector shows current?

I recently purchased a 1970's home, and the lights in one room don't work. Troubleshooting yields odd results, and I don't know where to check next. The room A fairly standard secondary room on the ...
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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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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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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
77 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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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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2answers
73 views

Old mobile home wiring, outlets stopped working

Yesterday 3 of my outlets stopped working. Earlier this winter 2 got burnt and I haven't replaced them yet, but they're on the other side of the house. The 3 that stopped working are all around each ...
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1answer
97 views

Problem encountered with installing an exterior light

This will likely be an easy question for an electrician if one is reading because I cannot believe that I invented this issue but it requires a bit of set-up. I want to attach an exterior light to ...
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1answer
281 views

What is the easiest way to install multiple 5A BS546 sockets next to one another?

I intend to replace a wall light fitting with two or three 5A BS546 sockets for table-lamp-style lights: As far as I know there is no 2- or 3-gang variant for this socket, but I assume that it will ...
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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
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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1answer
208 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
51 views

Failed at adding light kits to fans

I bought a house that has a lot of ceiling fans but none with lights. They're on dimmer switches as well. I decided to add light kits to two of the fans, a Hunter fan and a Hampton Bay fan (sorry don'...
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6answers
46k views

What could cause flashing LED lights when other LED lights in a different room are turned on?

I have the same problem and I'm pretty certain it's NOT related to bad switches - let me explain. We have LUTRON switches through the house. All was fine. We then had a minor 2nd floor renovation ...
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1answer
56 views

LED not working on some sockets

So I've gotten one of those wifibulbs that you can change the color through an app and all that. My problem was that it works with table lamps and standing lamps but it doesn't with the hanging ...
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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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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
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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