I have my outside lights hooked up and they are always dim. The power comes up from an outlet to the switch then to the lights. All the outlets on the circuit work fine so I don't understand why the lights are dim. I even put up different light fixtures and i have tried different light bulbs and i get the same result. Can anyone help me fix this problem.
Outside lights are dim all the time.
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Check to see if the wiring to the fixtures are hooded up in series instead of parallel. Two fixture in series, each fixture would only received 60 vac instead of 120 vac.
Floresant bulbs
Did you install and hook up the lights and wiring yourself?
Series wiring -- Hot wire connected only to one wire of one light fixture. Other wire of that light fixture connects only to ongoing line to next fixture. At next fixture line from previous fixture connects to one wire of fxture. Other wire of fixture goes to continuation to yet another fixture. Never done in household wiring for multiple light fixtures but may be found in some laboratory test equipment for light bulbs.
Parallel circuit -- Hot wire (black) connected to black fixture wire and also to black wire of cable continuing to next light. Neutral wire (white) connected to white fixture wire and also to white wire of cable continuing to next light, as separate bundle from black wires. Same at next fixture.
Note that a switch is connected in series with the light it controls (or in series with a group of parallel connected lights. With power feed cable with hot and neutral entering the box, the hot wire (black) is connected to one terminal on switch. Other terminal on switch connected to black wire of cable going to the light(s). In the switch box the white wires are connected to each other and not to the switch. (Different rules for switch box with only one cable.)
Series wiring -- Hot wire connected only to one wire of one light fixture. Other wire of that light fixture connects only to ongoing line to next fixture. At next fixture line from previous fixture connects to one wire of fxture. Other wire of fixture goes to continuation to yet another fixture. Never done in household wiring for multiple light fixtures but may be found in some laboratory test equipment for light bulbs.
Parallel circuit -- Hot wire (black) connected to black fixture wire and also to black wire of cable continuing to next light. Neutral wire (white) connected to white fixture wire and also to white wire of cable continuing to next light, as separate bundle from black wires. Same at next fixture.
Note that a switch is connected in series with the light it controls (or in series with a group of parallel connected lights. With power feed cable with hot and neutral entering the box, the hot wire (black) is connected to one terminal on switch. Other terminal on switch connected to black wire of cable going to the light(s). In the switch box the white wires are connected to each other and not to the switch. (Different rules for switch box with only one cable.)
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5,468 Posts
Have you put a voltmeter on the fitting to read the voltage ?
Can you do so ?
Could be wrong wiring, loose / bad connecttion, faulty cable.
Voltage please ?
Can you do so ?
Could be wrong wiring, loose / bad connecttion, faulty cable.
Voltage please ?
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5,468 Posts
Wrong wiring !
Most likely in series !
Can you post a pic of the wiring ?
Or even draw a diagram ?
What color wires go where ?
Most likely in series !
Can you post a pic of the wiring ?
Or even draw a diagram ?
What color wires go where ?
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5,468 Posts
Maybe you had two problems ? not just one !
If they both switch on properly.
Next step is to check what voltages are where.
Can you measure at switch and at each lamp base ?
If they both switch on properly.
Next step is to check what voltages are where.
Can you measure at switch and at each lamp base ?
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4,975 Posts
If you are wired the way your diagram shows the lights should function properly. I suspect your power is entering a light fixture box first and them goes to the switch ...
So where does incoming power enter you lighting circuit ? At a light fixture box or at the switch
So where does incoming power enter you lighting circuit ? At a light fixture box or at the switch
Power comes in through the switch. At first in the first light I had the white of the light to the white of the switch and the black of the light to the white of the second light with the black power and the black of the second light together and the light worked properly but they were dim so I hooked it up like the pic shows and now the first one won't turn off
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4,975 Posts
Only way we can help you at this point is to post pictures of all your wiring in the boxes so we can see clearly the connections.
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