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Replacing a Celling Fan With a Light?

I have removed the fan and there are black, white, and a red wires along with the ground. I've secured the ground, and the neutral white together. The 3 black wires I've left together and I attached the black hot wire from the light to the red, white to white and ground. The light bulb pops on and then goes off. I'm not using more then recommended. Can there be a problem in the switch? This is a two way switch at entrances to the room.

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By Jeanne

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April 8, 20150 found this helpful

I recommend you get an electrician. This circuit can get a little tricky.

I am assuming that your house is wired with multi-conductor cables. If this is true, then the 3 black wires indicate you have 3 cables coming into the box.

The 3 cables would go to one switch, the other switch and the light. (It is possible that another outlet is being fed, but we'll ignore that for now). The cable going to get power only needs the black (hot), white (neutral) and ground. The cable going to the switches need a common and two travelers (3 conductors beside the ground). The common colors for a 3 conductor cable are black, white and red. The latest code requires a neutral at each switch, which would add a wire.

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The hot wire from the circuit box would connect to the common wire of one of the switches (typically black). The white and red would come back to the light box and connect to the two travelers of the other switch (typically white and red - 2 connections). These two wires would go to the second switch and come back on the common (typically black). The black wire coming back would connect to the black wire of the light.

The neutral of the light would connect to the neutral coming on the 2 conductor from your power panel. Connect the ground wires as required.

Never work a circuit hot. Shut off power before work. An electrician will have the right tool to meter the wires to determine which is the common and which are travelers.

Terminology: This is referred to as a three way switch. The switch switches a common to one of two travelers. There is always continuity between the common and one of the travelers. Never continuity to both.

 
April 8, 20150 found this helpful

I apologize - The 3 cables would go to one switch, the other switch and the power panel.

 

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