I really need help with this puzzler.
First - I am moderately 'skilled' in day-to-day basic wiring.
My puzzle: I am trying to replace a single-pole toggle with a dimmer to a recently installed chandelier (4 led candelabra-based bulbs, 5w each, stated on box to be dimmable).
The toggle worked just fine - on and off. No problem.
The installation of the dimmer however is driving me nuts.
1. With dimmer in circuit and 'on', the candelabra bulbs do NOT light, nor do they dim.
The power is on. I can detect power into the dimmer, and, when in the on position, I can detect power out to the bulbs.
In the off position, I can detect power into the dimmer, but not out.
The neutral wire has not been touched through this.
2. I returned that dimmer in exchange for a like-minded dimmer. The new one does not 'work' either.
I used a known dimmer of a different format which worked just fine in another circuit (led bulbs) with the same results - nothing.
3. I changed all the bulbs - again led, candelabra, 5w, dimmable. No change.
4. I checked the power in line into the work box and disconnected two other circuits being powered off that line. Using 'direct' contact now, the results are the exact same.
5. I put the first toggle back in the circuit and it works just fine - on and off, except, of course, it doesn't dim.
Could it be the chandelier itself somehow?
I really bothers me that with the dimmer in place, I could detect power in and, when on, power out. So power was going to the bulbs, but they didn't light. None of this makes any sense to me.
First - I am moderately 'skilled' in day-to-day basic wiring.
My puzzle: I am trying to replace a single-pole toggle with a dimmer to a recently installed chandelier (4 led candelabra-based bulbs, 5w each, stated on box to be dimmable).
The toggle worked just fine - on and off. No problem.
The installation of the dimmer however is driving me nuts.
1. With dimmer in circuit and 'on', the candelabra bulbs do NOT light, nor do they dim.
The power is on. I can detect power into the dimmer, and, when in the on position, I can detect power out to the bulbs.
In the off position, I can detect power into the dimmer, but not out.
The neutral wire has not been touched through this.
2. I returned that dimmer in exchange for a like-minded dimmer. The new one does not 'work' either.
I used a known dimmer of a different format which worked just fine in another circuit (led bulbs) with the same results - nothing.
3. I changed all the bulbs - again led, candelabra, 5w, dimmable. No change.
4. I checked the power in line into the work box and disconnected two other circuits being powered off that line. Using 'direct' contact now, the results are the exact same.
5. I put the first toggle back in the circuit and it works just fine - on and off, except, of course, it doesn't dim.
Could it be the chandelier itself somehow?
I really bothers me that with the dimmer in place, I could detect power in and, when on, power out. So power was going to the bulbs, but they didn't light. None of this makes any sense to me.
