light wiring problem

likethegood · Apr 16, 2012

I Have a problem with my light wiring I am hoping I can get some help from someone in here. Well heres the problem, I have wired my light sockets to a light switch but for some reason I only get half of the volts to my lights. I have uploaded two pics of what my lighting wiring looks like.

F A B · Apr 16, 2012

that looks like a 3 way switch and please explain your wiring
which 2 wires are your power from panel ?

likethegood · Apr 16, 2012

The first picture of the sockets I wired one whole wire for each of the screws. So I have two long wires one for the silver and one for the bronze ..now the second picture shows how I wired the two wires ..this is how I have them.. bronze with black and white with silver. Lights work but they are dim I checked the voltage and it was only 60 so it's only half. I'm not sure if the red wire has something to do with the 60v.

F A B · Apr 16, 2012

likethegood said:
The first picture of the sockets I wired one whole wire for each of the screws. So I have two long wires one for the silver and one for the bronze ..now the second picture shows how I wired the two wires ..this is how I have them.. bronze with black and white with silver. Lights work but they are dim I checked the voltage and it was only 60 so it's only half. I'm not sure if the red wire has something to do with the 60v.

i believe that is a 3 way switch
get a two way
one

u just run one wire to switch and and other wire splice into wire from light

with way u got wired with a 3 way i believe u r only getting one leg of 120v

likethegood · Apr 16, 2012

I'm not sure if this makes any difference but that light switch already controls a light

F A B · Apr 16, 2012

likethegood said:
I'm not sure if this makes any difference but that light switch already controls a light

turns on and off and working correctly is 2 different things

likethegood · Apr 16, 2012

Alright ill give it a try with a two way thanks

F A B · Apr 16, 2012

likethegood said:
Alright ill give it a try with a two way thanks

i never seen a 3 way used like that it is designed to have 2 switches and one light so u can turn on a light for 2 locations
if u ever need wiring advice feel free to ask me i am a industrial electrical systems degree student in spare time
im suprised way u wired it even worked

F A B · Apr 16, 2012

rollinbud said:
What do you mean half of the volts? Are you in the U.S.? what are you hooking up to, to get the power?

u was using a 3 way switch and is not designed for what he wants and it wasnt wired properly
think i got him sorted now
he was using 120 and losing half of it

likethegood · Apr 16, 2012

F A B said:
i never seen a 3 way used like that it is designed to have 2 switches and one light so u can turn on a light for 2 locations
if u ever need wiring advice feel free to ask me i am a industrial electrical systems degree student in spare time
im suprised way u wired it even worked

Yes, it's 1 light. And 2 switches

likethegood · Apr 16, 2012

Good thing we got an electrician as a member

F A B · Apr 16, 2012

likethegood said:
Yes, it's 1 light. And 2 switches

what ?
i dont understand that and if u are only getting 60v u must have wired them somehow in series
only way to explain then voltage drop
u got 2 wires from power source right?
connect one to bottom of switch other attach to one wire from lights
then take the other wire from light and attach to top terminal on switch

likethegood · Apr 16, 2012

Damn I'm getting confused lol...ok so my light switch has 3 wires red white and black .. the way I had them wired was (my new wire) silver to white and bronze. To black. (Going by the screws on the new light sockets) ...I'm at work right now but I can take a better picture later tonight.

F A B · Apr 16, 2012

likethegood said:
Damn I'm getting confused lol...ok so my light switch has 3 wires red white and black .. the way I had them wired was (my new wire) silver to white and bronze. To black. (Going by the screws on the new light sockets) ...I'm at work right now but I can take a better picture later tonight.

3 way has 3 wire red black and white
do u have one light switch or 2 ?

likethegood · Apr 16, 2012

There r two light switches that control one light

F A B · Apr 16, 2012

likethegood said:
There r two light switches that control one light

why????????????????????

and if one light one switch how other 2 bulbs in pic controlled?
there is something im not getting
what are you trying to do please explain so i can give u advice

likethegood · Apr 16, 2012

Oh damn sorry I guess I didn't explain my self enough lol... ok so this is what I want to do the lights on the pictures r my new lights so those r the ones I want to connect to the light switch that already has the light connected and also has the other switch to control it

F A B · Apr 16, 2012

likethegood said:
Oh damn sorry I guess I didn't explain my self enough lol... ok so this is what I want to do the lights on the pictures r my new lights so those r the ones I want to connect to the light switch that already has the light connected and also has the other switch to control it

do u want several switches or one ?
just wire them in paralel to one switch then u dont have to worry
and btw why even have a switch when u need a timer ?

likethegood · Apr 16, 2012

Oh damn sorry I guess I didn't explain my self enough lol... ok so this is what I want to do the lights on the pictures r my new lights so those r the ones I want to connect to the light switch that already has the light connected and also has the other switch to control it

F A B · Apr 16, 2012

likethegood said:
Oh damn sorry I guess I didn't explain my self enough lol... ok so this is what I want to do the lights on the pictures r my new lights so those r the ones I want to connect to the light switch that already has the light connected and also has the other switch to control it

did u read my last post ?

light wiring problem

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