Replacement light fixture

jeff601307 · 10-11-2011, 09:49 PM

I have ZERO experience with electricity and also just bought a new house and have ZERO money for a professional. I replaced a simple pull chain, medium base, porcelain lampholder and it will not work. The original fixture was coming apart and the pull chain had fallen out. I got a $5 replacement from walmart and followed the instructions (killed the breaker, black wire to copper terminal, white wire to silver terminal) and now it won't work (yes...I flipped the breaker back on). Please help!

Jim Port · 10-11-2011, 10:01 PM

Does the fixture have a pull chain? Does the bulb work in another fixture?

jeff601307 · 10-11-2011, 10:09 PM

It does have a pull chain, I have tried to turn it on by the pull chain once the wires were connected and the breaker was back on. I tried the bulb in another fixture in the basement and it worked just fine. I also tried connecting a fixture I know to work on the wires (again, one black to the brass-colored terminal, one white to the silver terminal) and it didn't work either. Thanks for replying to my post.

Justgaff · 10-11-2011, 10:15 PM

Any chance it's on a switch? Do you have a continuity tester or power tester? Try reversing the wires? I'm not an electrician but I've had my hands in enough wire boxes. Sometimes guys use wire scraps and disregard color codes-although I don't think it matters...

Justgaff · 10-11-2011, 10:16 PM

Was there any power there before u turned off the breaker?

Jim Port · 10-11-2011, 10:21 PM

The wires were connected to the proper colors. even if they were not the fixture should have worked. It just would not have been to code or as safe as it should have been.

jeff601307 · 10-11-2011, 10:27 PM

I definitely need to pick up a tester. The fixture worked before I went tinkering around with it, only problem was the pull chain was out and we had to unscrew the bulb to turn it off.

jeff601307 · 10-11-2011, 10:30 PM

To Jim Port: I tried following the wires to their source (there were multiple wires heading into the box the fixture was attached to that weren't actually doing anything, they were just bunched up inside) but couldn't see where it connected to the box. I have a feeling I MAY need to get a hold of my brother-in-law who is an electrical engineer. I feel this may be over my head.

Jim Port · 10-11-2011, 10:32 PM

If you can post a pic someone might see something that you don't. Also check to make sure any wire nuts are tight.

You can also check the center tab in the fixture. It might not be touching the bulb base.

jeff601307 · 10-11-2011, 11:05 PM

Here are some pics of the fixture itself and some of the extra wires I was talking about.

thestig3 · 10-12-2011, 12:27 AM

In your second and third pics there are two loose wires. Were those disconnected when old fixture was connected? Also you need a romex clamp on wires connected currently to fixture.

Jim Port · 10-12-2011, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff601307

I definitely need to pick up a tester. The fixture worked before I went tinkering around with it, only problem was the pull chain was out and we had to unscrew the bulb to turn it off.

Is the current fixture hooked up exactly as the old one was? If you install the old one again does it work?

Just trying to narrow this down without any test equipment is a little tougher.

jeff601307 · 10-12-2011, 07:05 PM

Thestig3: You're right, I do need a romex clamp...thanks for the heads up. The wires hanging down were not connected to the old, working fixture. They seem to be old wires that were just never taken out but I can't tell where they are coming from. Need to get a tester and remove them asap.

jeff601307 · 10-12-2011, 07:09 PM

Jim Port: The current fixture is installed EXACTLY as the old one was. The old fixture's negative terminal fell off during the removal process. However, I was able to remove another fixture in the basement that I know to work (call it fixture 2, with the fixture I have taken photos of is fixture 1) and connect it to fixture 1 without it working, then reconnected fixture 2 to its original line and it works just fine. In other words, it does not appear that its the fixture at fault, more the wiring. But again...I am far too novice to know what I'm talking about.

Jim Port · 10-12-2011, 07:29 PM

Can you tell where the newer cable goes after it leaves the box?