[snowmanZ]

I removed our living room fan that had lights and put in one without and just installed four recessed lights on Monday.
The fan originally had two switches and had one for the fan and one for the lights. I verified the switch for the lights had red and black wires before starting.

I used a junction box to split up the two switches, but when I turn on the lights, the fan comes on at a very low speed and the lights flicker but never fully turn on. I replaced the dimmer switch for the lights to one made for CFL's, but still no joy.

What have I done wrong? Your help is greatly appreciated.

________________________________fan switch is left, light switch is right

 

[TarheelTerp]

I removed our living room fan that had lights and put in one without
...and just installed four recessed lights

What have I done wrong?

Have you attempted to use the internal switch on the fan to control the light fixtures?

I used a junction box to split up the two switches...

which two switches? regular house switches on the wall?

 

[snowmanZ]

Yes, the two switches on the wall.

The Fan switch only controls itself, at full speed as well.

 

[TarheelTerp]

Yes, the two switches on the wall.

Plain Vanilla Common Bedroom Ceiling Fan & Light Set Up:
S#1 goes to the wires within the fan
S#2 goes to the (14/2 romex) wire that goes to the lights.
These might cross one another in the (light) junction box...
but not interconnect except for the neutral.

If the power starts in that same ceiling junction box too...
it can get busy but that shouldn't be too hard to keep track of.

 

[snowmanZ]

Plain Vanilla Common Bedroom Ceiling Fan & Light Set Up:
S#1 goes to the wires within the fan
S#2 goes to the (14/2 romex) wire that goes to the lights.
These might cross one another in the (light) junction box...
but not interconnect except for the neutral.

If the power starts in that same ceiling junction box too...
it can get busy but that shouldn't be too hard to keep track of.

So help me out. What are you saying might be the problem?

the wall switches have a four wire romex shared between the two. s1-fan-white &black s2-lights-red&black

The can lights all had wire lock connectors, so I thought it was going to be "plug and play".

 

[TarheelTerp]

the wall switches have a four wire romex shared between the two.

You don't *need* more than three conductors going between the boxes.

Does the power for the circuit start at the switch box?
Or at the ceiling box?

If at the ceiling box...
then which conductor is carrying the power down to the switches?

Something elemental is out of whack.

 

[snowmanZ]

It's at the wall switch. I may be misspeaking on the switches. The switches share a negative and ground.

the black is "neutral" right?

 

[TarheelTerp]

It's at the wall switch.
I may be misspeaking on the switches.
The switches share a negative and ground.

the black is "neutral" right?

I think we may have found the problem.

 

[Gac66610]

It would help everyone if you added your location to your profile :thumbsup:

 

[snowmanZ]

I think we may have found the problem.

what is the fix then? Re run a romex line for the lights?

 

[TarheelTerp]

the black is "neutral" right?

No. The white is neutral

Plain Vanilla Bedroom Ceiling Fan & Light Set Up:
Sw#1 connection goes to the wires within the fan (red)
Sw#2 connection goes to the wires that go to the lights (black)
White is shared neutral

 

[snowmanZ]

Okay, I learned a good lesson about the difference between hot and neutral this week. The problem was fixed and my lights all function properly.

white and red, black and white.

Thanks for the help.