I've been installing a light fixture. Wires in the fixture appear to be correctly wired. However, it does not work. I have a Levitron switch which is flickering. A working one in another room does not flicker. Therefore, I think it is a switch issue. I've taken the meter to the wires going into and out of the switch. All appear dead. This leads me to think the switch is broken. How else can I test to see what is broken? (Hopefully, not the wiring)
2006-07-04 08:28:22 · 7 answers · asked by Allen C 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Have you used the meter properly. One lead to the neutral/white wire or green/bare, and then the other lead to the terminals on the switch to test. Sometimes there isn't a neutral wire in the switch box. In this case, use a nearby ground from an outlet for the testing.
If you don't have power then check the other boxes for your source. Use your meter(continuity) to test the switch without power or wires hooked up. Establish that the switch is wired properly and works well. Switches are real cheap when in doubt
2006-07-04 09:11:00 · answer #1 · answered by StayBeZe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Turn off the breaker supplying this light fixture, remove the switch and connect the two(Black) wires previously connected to the switch directly to one another. Turn on the breaker and if the light shines then your assumption of a faulty switch was correct however if the light still does not work once the wires are connected to one another then you have a poor connection further towards the panel box.
2006-07-04 08:46:00 · answer #2 · answered by Handy but Perplexed 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason you won't pull a current across a light switch is because both wires leading to the switch are the same pole.
If you place the probes of your multimeter on both poles of the switch, (after disconnecting the wires of course) and check the ohms resistance across when the switch is in both positions, you should see 0 resistance when the switch is in the on position.
2006-07-04 11:23:42 · answer #3 · answered by Won-Jo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The easiest way to test would simply be to go buy a new switch and install it. Single pole switches are extremely cheap, and only have two wires running to them, and it doesn't even matter which wire is hooked up to which screw.
2006-07-04 08:45:16 · answer #4 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first thing I would check is to see if voltage is present at the switch. If not check your breaker or fuse. Check between one of the wires on the switch and your neutral or ground.
If voltage is present, check voltage across your switch terminals with the switch in the "on" position. Measuring across each screw on the switch should give you 0 volts. If this is the case your switch is good.
You can also measure across each screw terminal with the switch in the "off" position; this should give you 120 volts. If you get 0 volts your light bulb is bad.
2006-07-04 09:22:06 · answer #5 · answered by gilchristelectric 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check at he fixture to see if you have current with the switch on. remove the bulp put one lead on the side of the socket and the other on the center of the socket. if no current it is wired incorrectly or the switch is bad
2006-07-04 08:46:55 · answer #6 · answered by aussie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try turning on the light. or maybe fixing the wires...
2006-07-04 08:32:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋