I need urgent help with electrical in my basement. I have 6 recessed lights controlled by 3-way switch. Power comes to fixture #1, then to #2 then #3, then #4 and from #4 it goes to #5 and #6. Two days ago halogen 65W bulb on fixture #4 burnt out and I replaced it. As soon as I replaced it fixtures #4, #5 and #6 start to dim. I found that if in the group of fixtures #4, #5 and #6 I remove all but one bulb it works OK, if I put the second bulb in that group both lights dim, if I put all three they dim even more. Fixtures #1, #2 ans #3 work OK regardless of three others. I was advise that there may be a loose wire somewhere in circuit. I opened up fixture #4 and fixture #3. Voltage at fixture #3 is OK, 120V between hot and ground or neutral. However, at fixture #4 voltage is 60 V between hot and neutral, 60 V between neutral and ground and 120 V between hot and ground. What can be wrong with the wire connecting #3 and #4? The wire is BX armored cable AWG12. And what's the best and safest way to fix the problem? I would like not to remove that wire since to do so I have to rip sheetrock in half of the basement. However I can put another cable in parallel.
- posted
18 years ago