I have been doing most of remodeling myself and was very excited after my popcorn ceiling over the stairway was scraped and the ceiling was painted waiting for my 2 new track light fixtures to replace old rusty ceiling fixtures.
I had help of a friend while taking down the popcorn and he removed one of the light fixtures in the hallway, so now I don't know where and how to connect my new track light.
Here is what I did so far:
I had to move downstairs switch for about 1 foot to the right, I cut the drywall and examined the box, cables and wiring, and how were they connected.
There were 2 cables coming into this switch box: 12/3 and 12/2. I sketched the diagram how was everything connected, ran to Lowes and bought few feet of each 14/3 and 14/2 to make extension (was told by employee it was OK to use 14 gauge with 12)so I can connect the ends to the existing ones and make new light switch 1 foot to the right.
However, I am worried about mixing 12 and 14 gauge wires, but they told me that should not be a problem, so I installed new plastic box and connected all the wires to brand new 3 way switch downstairs.
This circuit that my 3 way switches are on controls:
downstairs 3 way switch, downstairs 1 light fixture in the kitchen, 1 receptacle in the kitchen, one ceiling fan in the kitchen, entry hall light fixture, downstairs powder room receptacle and vanity light - and ends with two ceiling light fixtures in upstairs hallway.
Anyway, I installed my 2 new track lights, and to my disappointment, only one track light lighted up. The upstairs light switch works fine too.
The working track light was easy to wire, only one cable coming into box, so I just connected black to black, white to white and cooper to green and it works.
The other track light has so many wires coming out of the ceiling box, I am sure I made the wrong connection.
There are two 3 wire NM cables plus one 2 wire NM cable coming out of it and I am totally confused. What I see coming out of the box is 2 reds twisted together, two whites, twisted together, two blacks twisted together, a black and white twisted together and cooper wires twisted together.
I studied all the info on internet, but I never saw 3 NM cables coming out from 1 fixture box in the ceiling anywhere.
Today I opened the upstairs light switch box and noticed that the 3 way light switch box has only one 14/3 NM cable connected to the switch. Not the 12/3 as I would have expected, like downstairs.
I admit this may be more for me to deal with than I expected, but I am really trying to do everything by myself as I can't afford electrician right now. His estimate was $1500 for this work plus moving another switch in the living room.
I have been laid of since January, so I am on a tight budget still receiving Government checks.
Can anyone help me and advise how to connect properly my track light, please?
Also, should I go and purchase 12/2 and 12/3 cables for my extension for downstairs light switch and redo the wiring? I still did not repair the dry wall downstairs, so it's less of a hassle to do it now if I have to.
I live in the townhome built in 1985, my circuit breaker says 20 on the switch and each 42" track fixture takes 3 GU10 50 bulbs.
Thanks for all your help in advance! It is greatly appreciated!
I had help of a friend while taking down the popcorn and he removed one of the light fixtures in the hallway, so now I don't know where and how to connect my new track light.
Here is what I did so far:
I had to move downstairs switch for about 1 foot to the right, I cut the drywall and examined the box, cables and wiring, and how were they connected.
There were 2 cables coming into this switch box: 12/3 and 12/2. I sketched the diagram how was everything connected, ran to Lowes and bought few feet of each 14/3 and 14/2 to make extension (was told by employee it was OK to use 14 gauge with 12)so I can connect the ends to the existing ones and make new light switch 1 foot to the right.
However, I am worried about mixing 12 and 14 gauge wires, but they told me that should not be a problem, so I installed new plastic box and connected all the wires to brand new 3 way switch downstairs.
This circuit that my 3 way switches are on controls:
downstairs 3 way switch, downstairs 1 light fixture in the kitchen, 1 receptacle in the kitchen, one ceiling fan in the kitchen, entry hall light fixture, downstairs powder room receptacle and vanity light - and ends with two ceiling light fixtures in upstairs hallway.
Anyway, I installed my 2 new track lights, and to my disappointment, only one track light lighted up. The upstairs light switch works fine too.
The working track light was easy to wire, only one cable coming into box, so I just connected black to black, white to white and cooper to green and it works.
The other track light has so many wires coming out of the ceiling box, I am sure I made the wrong connection.
There are two 3 wire NM cables plus one 2 wire NM cable coming out of it and I am totally confused. What I see coming out of the box is 2 reds twisted together, two whites, twisted together, two blacks twisted together, a black and white twisted together and cooper wires twisted together.
I studied all the info on internet, but I never saw 3 NM cables coming out from 1 fixture box in the ceiling anywhere.
Today I opened the upstairs light switch box and noticed that the 3 way light switch box has only one 14/3 NM cable connected to the switch. Not the 12/3 as I would have expected, like downstairs.
I admit this may be more for me to deal with than I expected, but I am really trying to do everything by myself as I can't afford electrician right now. His estimate was $1500 for this work plus moving another switch in the living room.
I have been laid of since January, so I am on a tight budget still receiving Government checks.
Can anyone help me and advise how to connect properly my track light, please?
Also, should I go and purchase 12/2 and 12/3 cables for my extension for downstairs light switch and redo the wiring? I still did not repair the dry wall downstairs, so it's less of a hassle to do it now if I have to.
I live in the townhome built in 1985, my circuit breaker says 20 on the switch and each 42" track fixture takes 3 GU10 50 bulbs.
Thanks for all your help in advance! It is greatly appreciated!