Hooking Up Light..... Need Help!!! [Archive]

Djayjay

Oct 11th, 2008, 08:25 PM

I am replacing my ceiling fan with a new light. When I disconnected the ceiling fan, there were 2 wires coming out of the ceiling (black, white). This new light i am hooking up has 3 wires (white, black and yellow/green). Where do I hook the yellow/green one up to?

Thanks

Drthorne

Oct 11th, 2008, 08:29 PM

yellow/ green is ground and should be connected to the existing bare copper wire or a screw in the ceiling box

Djayjay

Oct 11th, 2008, 08:37 PM

yellow/ green is ground and should be connected to the existing bare copper wire or a screw in the ceiling box

I'm going to try that right now......

Djayjay

Oct 11th, 2008, 10:04 PM

Well figured out the main problem..... The light doesn't work. Well I guess the wife will have to take it back to ikea. The only problem now is, I wonder what else she will buy when she is there:lol:

Djayjay

Oct 15th, 2008, 10:27 AM

Well figured out the main problem..... The light doesn't work. Well I guess the wife will have to take it back to ikea. The only problem now is, I wonder what else she will buy when she is there:lol:

Well I am on my third set of lights from Ikea and they don't seem to wanna work. There is nothing wrong with the wiring, because I have hooked the cieling fan back up and it works. The wife wants those lights in particular. Now my question is How do I convince her to get something else? lol

WalnutCrunch

Oct 15th, 2008, 10:44 AM

If there are only 2 wires in the box, I don't see how another light would make a difference. Where exactly did you connect the green wire to?

Drthorne

Oct 15th, 2008, 11:08 AM

are the bulbs blown or have an incorrect base?

Djayjay

Oct 15th, 2008, 11:10 AM

If there are only 2 wires in the box, I don't see how another light would make a difference. Where exactly did you connect the green wire to?

I grounded the green into a screw in the box. I can hear noise in the transformer for the lights but it just doesn't want to light up. I have also checked the four bulbs for the light to.

WalnutCrunch

Oct 15th, 2008, 11:12 AM

Oh, it's a low voltage light. Do you have a dimmer or a switch? You can't use it with a regular dimmer.

Djayjay

Oct 15th, 2008, 11:18 AM

Oh, it's a low voltage light. Do you have a dimmer or a switch? You can't use it with a regular dimmer.
The first two I tried with the switch, and this one I tried with the dimmer. When I try with the dimmer thats when I hear noise in the transformer.

Bazooka Joe

Oct 15th, 2008, 11:57 AM

Can you provide a link/picture of the light?

Just throwing ideas out there, but any chance there's a switch for the light? I mean on the fixture itself, like undercabinet lighting.

Djayjay

Oct 15th, 2008, 02:01 PM

Can you provide a link/picture of the light?

Just throwing ideas out there, but any chance there's a switch for the light? I mean on the fixture itself, like undercabinet lighting.

I looked all over for another switch on the light. The wife even asked at the store, and they said no there isn't.

Here is a link

http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/10068971

WalnutCrunch

Oct 15th, 2008, 02:13 PM

I have the same light. I've installed it in the dining room and now moved it into the kitchen. There's nothing special to it except it's got a transformer in the base. It should install just like any other light as long as there's no dimmer on the line.

dgmorr

Oct 15th, 2008, 03:05 PM

Sounds like you need a multimeter or an electrician.

l69norm

Oct 15th, 2008, 03:12 PM

.....
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/10068971

Says in the description:
"....An energy-saving bulb is not suitable for use with lamps with a dimmer function...."

Djayjay

Oct 16th, 2008, 12:52 AM

Say in the description:
"....An energy-saving bulb is not suitable for use with lamps with a dimmer function...."

They are halogen bulbs. The person from Ikea said a dimmer can be used with them.

Also I got more action with the dimmer hooked up on the third set then I did with a regular switch on the first two. I also tried hooking it up right at the switch, and no luck. And I also tried at the ceiling and the switch with a wall sconce and it worked no problem.

l69norm

Oct 16th, 2008, 05:02 AM

They are halogen bulbs. The person from Ikea said a dimmer can be used with them.

Also I got more action with the dimmer hooked up on the third set then I did with a regular switch on the first two. I also tried hooking it up right at the switch, and no luck. And I also tried at the ceiling and the switch with a wall sconce and it worked no problem.

Did the existing ceiling fan where you are trying to connect the new fixture to have a speed control knob on the wall ? Some pictures would be helpful

There's special dimmers depending on the type of low-volt halogen lights:
http://www.lutron.com/applicationnotes/362219b.pdf
"....Do not use regular incandescent dimmers for electronic low-voltage lighting........... Note: Some low-voltage fixtures cannot be dimmed. Read the literature from the fixture manufacturer for details...."

WalnutCrunch

Oct 16th, 2008, 10:07 AM

They are halogen bulbs. The person from Ikea said a dimmer can be used with them.

Also I got more action with the dimmer hooked up on the third set then I did with a regular switch on the first two. I also tried hooking it up right at the switch, and no luck. And I also tried at the ceiling and the switch with a wall sconce and it worked no problem.

DO NOT use a dimmer with this; at least not a regular one. You need a low voltage dimmer that l69norm suggested. You got "more action" with a dimmer because that's the noise a transformer makes when you use it with an incompatible dimmer.

Also a good suggestion to make sure it's on a regular single pole switch and not some other fan specific control.

As many have said, something else is going on here. You need to start by checking what voltage you're getting between the two wires in the box.

Djayjay

Oct 16th, 2008, 10:15 AM

Did the existing ceiling fan where you are trying to connect the new fixture to have a speed control knob on the wall ? Some pictures would be helpful

There's special dimmers depending on the type of low-volt halogen lights:
http://www.lutron.com/applicationnotes/362219b.pdf
"....Do not use regular incandescent dimmers for electronic low-voltage lighting........... Note: Some low-voltage fixtures cannot be dimmed. Read the literature from the fixture manufacturer for details...."

No there was no speed control on the wall, just a switch. Ok I am understanding more about the dimmer switch, but what is the problem when I use a regular switch. Is there a low voltage switch I need (if there is anything like that).

WalnutCrunch

Oct 16th, 2008, 10:27 AM

No, you don't need a low voltage switch. Just a regular wall switch will do.

Just wondering, does your light come with that extra wire (the thicker one) in this picture, in addition to the thinner support wires?

http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/43153_PE138703_S3.jpg

Earlier versions of this light doesn't have that wire (I still see it in the stores out west). Basically low voltage power travels down one support wire and back up the other. If the two wires are ever shorted by contact with something metal, it'll wreck the light. My guess is that they changed to this new separate wire design because that was happening too much. If you have the first generation model, make sure the wires are never shorted.

Djayjay

Oct 16th, 2008, 10:32 AM

Djayjay

Oct 17th, 2008, 03:02 PM

Well I had someone come over that had electrical experience. He used a meter to check the volts from the dimmer to the light fixture and not enough voltage was getting through, so we put the original switch back in and we were getting 120 volts, but could still not get the lights working. Whats the chances of getting 3 lights in a row and neither of them work?

Drthorne

Oct 17th, 2008, 03:18 PM

the whole batch at Ikea might be defective

WalnutCrunch

Oct 17th, 2008, 05:44 PM

I think they have a cord and plug to test it out at the returns counter. You might want to ask them to bring you a new one and test it before you leave the store.

Djayjay

Oct 18th, 2008, 06:34 PM

I think they have a cord and plug to test it out at the returns counter. You might want to ask them to bring you a new one and test it before you leave the store.

Thats a great idea, didn't know that. You think they would have recommended that after we brought back the second set:confused:

Djayjay

Oct 19th, 2008, 08:08 PM

Well I went to Ikea to return the light and asked if they could test one before I left again and they said for insurance reasons they don't do that anymore, so I didn't bother with it.

I decided to buy another light and hooked it up with great ease.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444329 4887&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672809&bmUID=1224460875419

Thanks for everyones input.