[TheObserver]

Hey guys-

So before I get too far into this I know I will catch some hate for this and want to preface that I will have my electrician buddy look at this before completing the project but want to see if I can figure this out before I call him over.

The project:
I recently replaced 2 incadescent light fixtures in a 3 way switch setup with 6 LED recessed lights. I have them on two dimmable Lutron switches.

My light setup is as shown in the image below; dimmable light switch at bottom of stairs, dimmable light switch at top of stairs and then a chain of 6 LED lights.

A close up of dimmable switch diagram:

I have double checked all my wiring and it's tight and correct.

The symptoms:
LED lights strobe and after several on and offs or dimmable adjustments the lights stabilize and stay on. This first symptom is less worrisome since I think that the culprit is the dimmer. I have contacted the manufacturer or the LED recessed lights and they gave me the approved dimmers (mine is not one of them). So I am hoping this fixes the buzz and strobe.

The more worrisome symptom and one that you may not be able to help me with is, several other outlets and one light switche have STOPPED working. I will try to explain this as best as I can.

The light switch that has stopped working is wired before my 3-way recessed light setup. So... why has it stopped working? It's also hot. So... it's reads hot with my wireless volt meter but the light switch does nothing. Similarly, the 2 outlets that have stopped working also read hot but nothing plugged in works... I am not sure where the two outlets are in respect to the 3 way setup. They cannot be at the end since the recessed lights are the end of the setup. I am extremely confused. :vs_worry:

If anyone has any ideas or has run into this please let me know. I have wired lights, receptacles, fans, lamps but I am by no means an electrician. :wink2:

Thanks in advance.

 

[TheObserver]

Hey guys.

Wow - thanks for the awesome replies. I will post a few responses, then tell you what I found.

1. The dimmer switch was a huge "duh" for me. I was inspired by the digital duo set dimmers (that came with a master and slave) but at the last minute got a better deal on Amazon for what I thought was the same thing but it wasn't!Long story short I installed a new regular switch and no more flickering. Lights still buzz even with the recommended dimer (Lutron, Leviton both for LED lights.. no go!)

2. Then I focussed in on the problem of my dinning room light not working, prior to the new lights and switches that are. What did I find?! A whole lot of problems!:vs_mad:
The switch prior to the new light work is definitely the problem switch. I traced it back and found that prior to that switch is nothing it goes directly to the breaker box. The two receptacle that wont working? Found those wired to the dinning room light, that's wired to the problem switch. The main wired running from the break box to the switch had the metal conduit broken in half, then repaired by electric tape... that was melting.... :vs_no_no_no:
The switch box had the dinning room light(fan) wires coming in with the yellow wire mixed with the neutrals? That entire wad of wires was wrapped in electric tape and was melting and gooey.
Instead of posting on there and problem solving the old wires conundrum I took my 100ft of new wire and rewired everything! Now we got new plastic electric boxes, we got ground going to be breaker boxes, we don't have melting electric tape and everything is new!

My wife has been running a kiln for 3 days so I haven't been able to do any of the breaker box work and plug it all in but will report back. The diagram of the home looks like this if anyone is interested:

Thanks again. If you guys have anymore questions or suggestions please let me know. I will be working on wiring the switches tonight. I think it should be pretty straight forward. I would love a second opinion on the main switch since it will be a dimmer controlling the NEW dinning room light (NO more fan). but then also splicing of to a 3-way switch for the upstairs.

Thanks,
-i