Hi,
I'm installing a new Ikea chandelier fixture into a bedroom (http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stor...-1&categoryId=16079&chosenPartNumber=30092475). The old fixture was a simple two bulb fixture. It was controlled successfully by a wall switch.
After taking off the old fixture, I tried to take careful note of two things: the previous wiring arrangement and the other surrounding wires
There are a total of seven wires coming from the ceiling:
-newish black wire
-newish white wire with black electrical tape on it (as a marking?)
-ground wire (bare)
-dingy fabric and insulation covered wire #1
-dingy fabric and insulation covered wire #2
-old white wire
-old black wire
The old fixture was successfully attached to the newish white wire (with electrical tape on it), dingy fabric wire #1, and the bare ground wire.
I needed to buy some new bolts with nuts to attach the Ikea fixture. While at the hardware store, the folks told me to test the other wires. I used a small "test bulb" pigtail (?) tester.
The combination of new white (with black tape) plus fabric wire #1 plus ground does light up the tester--but only dimly. A much stronger test light results from old white wire and old black wire (which were never used in the old fixture).
Here are my questions:
1) Why did the wall switch control the old fixture, but now the test bulb seems unaffected by wall switch?
2) Why does the test bulb appear weak for some pairs, stronger for others?
3) What do fabric-covered wires indicate?
4) Why would there be black electrical tape on a white wire? Did someone try to indicate that it was really acting as the black wire?
5) My Ikea fixture is marked with two wires plus ground. One of the wires is positive, the other neutral. Am I correct assuming positive should go to the white ceiling wire? And that that neutral should go to the black? (n.b. the old fixture was connected white fixture wire to fabric wire #1 and black fixture wire to newish white wire (w/ black tape).
Thanks so much for any insight!
I'm installing a new Ikea chandelier fixture into a bedroom (http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stor...-1&categoryId=16079&chosenPartNumber=30092475). The old fixture was a simple two bulb fixture. It was controlled successfully by a wall switch.
After taking off the old fixture, I tried to take careful note of two things: the previous wiring arrangement and the other surrounding wires
There are a total of seven wires coming from the ceiling:
-newish black wire
-newish white wire with black electrical tape on it (as a marking?)
-ground wire (bare)
-dingy fabric and insulation covered wire #1
-dingy fabric and insulation covered wire #2
-old white wire
-old black wire
The old fixture was successfully attached to the newish white wire (with electrical tape on it), dingy fabric wire #1, and the bare ground wire.
I needed to buy some new bolts with nuts to attach the Ikea fixture. While at the hardware store, the folks told me to test the other wires. I used a small "test bulb" pigtail (?) tester.
The combination of new white (with black tape) plus fabric wire #1 plus ground does light up the tester--but only dimly. A much stronger test light results from old white wire and old black wire (which were never used in the old fixture).
Here are my questions:
1) Why did the wall switch control the old fixture, but now the test bulb seems unaffected by wall switch?
2) Why does the test bulb appear weak for some pairs, stronger for others?
3) What do fabric-covered wires indicate?
4) Why would there be black electrical tape on a white wire? Did someone try to indicate that it was really acting as the black wire?
5) My Ikea fixture is marked with two wires plus ground. One of the wires is positive, the other neutral. Am I correct assuming positive should go to the white ceiling wire? And that that neutral should go to the black? (n.b. the old fixture was connected white fixture wire to fabric wire #1 and black fixture wire to newish white wire (w/ black tape).
Thanks so much for any insight!