Replies

1. 
   Jeff_Clarke_ | Mar 02, 2001 09:27pm | #1

   *
   Kevin - You didn't buy those 'historic' looking 2-button pushbutton dimmers from Classic Accents, did you? The kind with mother-of-pearl inserts? They are made in Korea and are not UL-rated.

1. 
   Kevin_Getchell | Mar 02, 2001 10:05pm | #2

   *Yes I did...Did not know they were not UL rated. Are they unsafe? So could the switch be the problem or just part of it?Does code require UL-rated? How can they be sold in U.S. if they are unsafe or not UL rated?

1. 
   Jeff_Clarke_ | Mar 02, 2001 11:39pm | #3

   *Kevin, I'm going to tread very, very lightly here. The answers to your questions depend somewhat on your locale, building official and state code. It can be said that, generally speaking, UL approval of switches, fixtures and other devices is required under most codes. That being said, non UL-rated devices and fixtures are so unusual that I don't think most inspectors even look for labels. Custom light fixture manufacturers (and we work with several) seem to be able to label any custom fixture that they make, including 'one-off' fixtures. Hmmmm, I thought that UL-testing was pretty expensive. Anyway, Classic Accents has advertised for some time now that these switches have a 'pending' UL rating. It's certainly possible that they have that UL rating by now. You'll have to go into that with the company. Hope that helps.

1. 
   Bill_Hartmann | Mar 02, 2001 11:41pm | #4

   *Kevin. It also sounds like you have the hot (black) and neutral (white) crossed someplace. Possibly at the light fixture.The outer shell of the light socket is suppose to be connected to the neutral so that there are no sparks if it contacts a ground. The fixture, itself, is suppose to be grounded for a newer installation. I don't know if the ground for the new wiring is carred through.

1. 
   John_K | Mar 02, 2001 11:49pm | #5

   *Kevin, It sounds like the fixture short circuited. The high current that was forced through the dimmer fried it. Most dimmers are rated to only a few amps and won't tolerate a short.Sounds like you need to repair the fixture and replace the dimmer. You might want to check polarity too. Make sure the outside of the socket isn't hot. Good Luck, John

2. 
   John_K | Mar 02, 2001 11:52pm | #6

   *Hey Bill, Somehow I didn't see your message before I posted. Didn't mean to steal your idea. John

2. 
   Kevin_Getchell | Mar 02, 2001 11:52pm | #7

   *
   Hi all,

   Last night an interesting thing happened. The wife decided she needed to dust the light fixture in the dining room. Its an old (original) white metal or cast 2 light fixture. Each light has only 2 wires. The feed and switch wire is also old cloth 2 wire in BX metal.

   Well, when she was dusting one of the bulbs moved and the socket made contact with the fixture itself. Funky stuff began to happen...major dimming, flickering! Burning smell.

   I immediatly shut down the breaker. I determined the smell was coming from the switch which was a newer pushbutton dimmer (changed about 1 year ago). It is now fried.

   Is it my addition of the new switch or the old wire that would have caused this? When I removed the light fixture I did notice that there appears to be 14/2 in the fixture box and the ground wire was wrapped around the fixture hanger. I have not been in the attic yet to trace this out.
   I have capped off the switch and the light feeds as a precaution.

   I have been replacing these old 2 wire runs with 12/2 as we have been renovating each room.

   Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!