Kitchen switch wiring

[patz]

The GF got a flash and a zap from the kitchen switch. Supplies 6 can lights. This switch is the only on/off supply. The red/wite switch is NOT connected.

Replace or connect the wire?

http://www.lutron.com/TechnicalDocumentLibrary/369-334A.pdf

[patz]

the switch as-is.

[john70t]

Those can lights look to be in series. One switch to control them all.

Why is the f'kin neutral/white not connected?
(Those push connectors and much of the modern hardware sucks, fwiw. Use the screws properly.)

Black=hot.

White=neutral or return.
These can sometimes be crossed up and back-feed on the same circuit. Be warned.

Green=ground to pipes and/or grounding rod.
A good safety feature and never to be ignored when zipping things up.
When the fixture frame is 120V energized from a short, you touch the fixture while standing in water on an aluminum ladder, the juice is supposed to bypass and jump to ground instead of through your body.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

According to the diagram it is wired correctly. The red /white wire with the yellow cap would be for 3-4 way switching.

Have you checked the twist connections between the black to black and the red to white? ( I'm assuming the red hooks into white out of frame of the picture) Usually I twist not only the stripped wire section , but twist the insulated sections a turn or two around each other to make sure there is no stress at all on the connection. Your black/black has no twist- or maybe they are hidden in the twist cap- I'd double check the connections black-black and the red-white(make sure circuit off)
Was your green hooked into bare copper ground (it should be), or was it just loose like that. Also is the bare copper ground hooked into the receptacle box?

[john70t]

One of the can lights might be shorted.
Pull them all down and check.

Gently pull each wire connection.
Each and every wire should be insulated and solidly fastened.

It is rare, but a bulb might be internally shorted.
Unscrew them all beforehand.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by john70t

One of the can lights might be shorted.
Pull them all down and check.

Gently pull each wire connection.
Each and every wire should be insulated and solidly fastened.

It is rare, but a bulb might be internally shorted.
Unscrew them all beforehand.

2 cent guess- I'm betting a short somewhere due to DIY and then it wasn't grounded so GF got shocked.

[patz]

As mentioned, the switch controls 6 can lights, one has had three light fails in 8 months. I hate electrical stuff. On the plus side, the GF nipples have never been harder.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by patz

\ one has had three light fails in 8 months. \

Check that can first. If the green was never connected and the black-black insulated sections not twisted well, assume this was a DIY installation and check all the connections in the cans.
It's wired correctly- there's just a short somewhere and you have to find it.

[patz]

Top of the list.....prolly gonna dump it on the landlord, but open to options.

[john70t]

Get an electrical tester before touching any wiring.

Greenlee is a preferred brand for me.
Fits into outlets and very sensitive. Found almost everywhere (except lowes). Sears.com

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by patz

Top of the list.....prolly gonna dump it on the landlord, but open to options.

It's not your house?
Walk away. Don't eff with it.
Focus on the nipples and wait for the guy who owns it to fix it.

[john70t]

As a LL: hell yeah wd15.

Don't touch. Call for it to be fixed. End of story.
Else: wait, hire a pro, keep receipts, and deduct from next months rent.

You are paying to have stuff work right. And um not kill your significant other.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by patz

As mentioned, the switch controls 6 can lights, one has had three light fails in 8 months. I hate electrical stuff. On the plus side, the GF nipples have never been harder.

We could help more if you posted pictures.

[Gogar]

+1 Make the LL do it. Make him burn down his house, not you.

that -aside-,

Are there any ground wires in the box?

Is the box metal?

If -yes- to either, then hook up that ground wire and even though it isn't technically 'fixing' the problem, but it may help you from getting shocked.

If you got a flash and some sparks or something then it may mean just a loose wire nut or a POS switch.

[LeeH]

Was the ground wire attached?

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by john70t

Else: wait, hire a pro, keep receipts, and deduct from next months rent.

Check CA landlord/tenant law first. This is not legal in WA unless a few hoops have been jumped through first.

But I agree, if you are uncomfortable/unfamiliar with electrical stuff, call the landlord. He/She probably has their favorite electrician in their contact list.

[stealthn]

Those Lutron switches are costly, we have momentary ones that are $65 each retail.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Gogar

+1 Make the LL do it.

As a rental owner I would say LET the owner do it. I have found too many half-azzed repairs done by tenants that I knew nothing about until they moved out. Something like this, not repaired properly, might not rear it's ugly head for years - and then in a disastrous way. Do the landlord a favor and give him a call.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

It's not your house?
Walk away. Don't eff with it.
Focus on the nipples and wait for the guy who owns it to fix it.

I would do this. One of the many benefits of renting.

[patz]

With further reading research, dimmers are a Bozo No No with those stupid corkscrew bulbs. Swapped them all out for standard on/off switches. Billed the owner for $200 labor and parts. She paid w/o a whimper.