I have installed some undercounter halogen lights that I have plugged into an outlet above my cabinets. The outlet has one side switched (for a flourescent light above the sink) and the other side is not switched (halogen light kit). My light kit uses a small touch pad that turns the lights on/off and has three light brightness levels. My problem is, when I turn on the flourescent light, it turns on my halogen lights to the first brightness level. I am trying to find out why and what the solution might be. Any ideas appreciated.....thanks.
2006-12-31 02:35:45 · 4 answers · asked by Steve 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Good suggestion on the extension cord....tried it. Now it gets interesting. Ran the cord to an outlet that actually goes to a sexond breaker panel. Same problem. Even made sure the halogen cords are not close to the extension cord. I have a second undercabinet light set just beneath where I plugged the extension cord into. That set does not have this problem. Might I have a problem with the light set itself?
2006-12-31 04:31:41 · update #1
Somewhat figured out......I unplugged the last halogen light (the wire that runs across the top of the fluorscent (on top of the cabinet)) so the wire and transformer are not above the fluorscent. Doing this, the problem goes away. So it appears that something is transmitted by the fluorscent when it is switched on. I have no other way to run the wire for that last light, so would there be a way to shield the wire from the light?
2006-12-31 07:17:17 · update #2
Crossover leakage. Recheck the wiring and if it continues, consider replacing the switch.
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2007-01-04 01:15:34 · answer #1 · answered by Bill G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not sure on your exact configuration, i.e. where the wires are run and the switches are, but it sounds like when you apply current to the flour lights, that it is either inducing a voltage in the halogen kit or magnetically coupling the switch for the halogens. try moving the switch for the halogens to a different location temporarily and trying it out. if that doesn't fix it, try using an extension cord and plugging int a different outlet. if that fixes it, you may not be able to use the same outlet as your fluorescent set due to induced voltages/coupling.
2006-12-31 02:58:05 · answer #2 · answered by ftn_nuke 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
touch lamps work on a person earth the light therefor creating a small loss in power telling the light to turn on, This is replicated when you are turning on the other light and the problem will travel through the entire house. Their is only one real way to solve the problem and that is to use a capacitor. This is what is in those surge protection devices if u buy one of those it'll fix or if your really keen you could wire one into the back of the light (fluorescent) it'd be cheaper but more dangerous if u don't know what your doing. It needs to go between the active and the neutral conductors hope this has helped
2007-01-02 21:46:57 · answer #3 · answered by plzsome1helpme 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
es, shielding could help. You may have difficulty finding a shielded wire that is temperature rated to withstand the temp in the fluorescent fixture. Your local fire alarm companies may have such a wire. Or you could enclose the halogen light wires in flexible metallic conduit.
The shield needs to be grounded to the ground wire of the fluorescent fixture.
2006-12-31 07:28:56 · answer #4 · answered by Ed 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋