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Need an Electrician's Wisdom

 
 
Reply Sat 18 Feb, 2017 02:37 pm
Hi everyone, first post here and feel kind of bad if there is a community and I am selfishly blasting a question as my first post, but have a time sensitive issue.

I am a blacksmith, novice carpenter "handyman" type guy on the side. I recently began renovating an apartment for a friend, and needed to change a few light fixtures which I have done numerous times with lights, ceiling fans etc.

I got through 2 out of 3 with no problems, however in the bathroom I pulled out an old vanity that had lights and was wired into the wall naturally. My friend replaced it with a simple single bulb ceiling light and a simple mirror.

I wired it the way I always would, paying close attention to how the original light was wired. They lead to a double switch, meaning two single light switches in a double plate. One leads to the ceiling light and fan, the other to the light I wired in. Run of the mill situation to professionals I'm sure.

From the wall there is only the main line which consists of a black wire, the copper grounding wire (that I fastened to the green grounding screw on the plate) and a beige wire.

On the light fixture there is only a white wire, and a black wire. I connected the beige to the white (probably the issue) and black to the black. Connected everything, light works fine.

However..... I can't turn it off, the light switch has no effect. Very Happy

I respect electricity, and I respect what it can do. I don't want to start a fire so I wasn't about to fiddle with it without seeing if someone can look at my diagram and maybe see the simple error. If anyone knowledgeable is willing to take a look at the picture link and see if they can't figure out what the problem is I would sincerely appreciate it.

http://i68.tinypic.com/2uykifs.jpg
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Type: Question • Score: 1 • Views: 292 • Replies: 7
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edgarblythe
 
  1  
Reply Sat 18 Feb, 2017 03:00 pm
Have you tried replacing the old switch?

dalehileman
 
  1  
Reply Sat 18 Feb, 2017 03:03 pm
@HehWhoops,
Quote:
My friend replaced it
Whoops, you might ask your buddy if he might not have brought out all the wires

Terrible pun, yes
0 Replies
 
dalehileman
 
  1  
Reply Sat 18 Feb, 2017 03:04 pm
@HehWhoops,
Quote:
My friend replaced it
Whoops, you might ask your buddy if he might not have brought out all the wires

Terrible pun, yes

Heh, heh
HehWhoops
 
  1  
Reply Sat 18 Feb, 2017 03:21 pm
@dalehileman,
Ahh, took me a minute but I know what you mean. lol. When I say "replaced" meaning he chose to purchase and replace it, but I'm the one doing the physical replacing.
HehWhoops
 
  1  
Reply Sat 18 Feb, 2017 03:22 pm
@edgarblythe,
I haven't, but only because the original light worked fine, so I'm assuming it is my own novice wiring. It just seems so simple with only 3 wires, I don't understand how it could be goofed up unless I'm missing some really simple fundamental mistake.
edgarblythe
 
  1  
Reply Sat 18 Feb, 2017 03:49 pm
@HehWhoops,
I just figure if the switch is working and wired correctly, the light ought to shut off. I was going by the domino effect way of thinking.
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dalehileman
 
  1  
Reply Sat 18 Feb, 2017 05:15 pm
@HehWhoops,
Quote:
with only 3 wires,

Nah Heh, sorry, what I meant was, maybe there are still some wires dangling behind the wall
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