Hi,
I just replacd to wall sconces in our bathroom. The originals were ugly,
however they always worked.
I wired the new sconces the same way as the old. After I installed the
first one I flipped the switch and voila the new fixture and the remaining
old fixture worked. So I removed the last old fixture and installed the
last new fixture. Flipped the switch and, nothing. I went down to check
the breaker and it wasn't tripped. I checked the GFI in the bathroom and it
hadn't tripped. There was no voltage at the switch. Finally I realized
that a GFI outlet down in the basement was tripped. I reset it and tada,
light. I tried them a little while later and you guessed it nothing. What
would cause the GFI to trip when it never did with the old ones? These are
wired the same. The only difference is that these fixtures can take up to a
100w bulb the old ones were only 50w.
Thanks,
Jeff

Jeff:
Simply put, GFIC devices "watch" the white wire (neutral wire)
for excessive voltage. When voltage on return line (white wire) exceeds a preset level, it trips and turns off the power coming into the GFI on the hot
(black wire) line.

How old is the GFI ? These things can be sensivtive.
Ive seen flourescent lights trip them, and even brand new ones have to be re replaced because they tripped prematurely.

Also, the present GFI you have in place MAY be working properly, IF you have a "slight short" in those bath fixtures or wiring.

Good Luck, and please find problem, and dont be tempted to replace GFI with a standard receptical.

On Sat, 16 Oct 2004 18:02:22 -0400, "Jeff Guay"
wrote:

Hi,
I just replacd to wall sconces in our bathroom. The originals were ugly,
however they always worked.
I wired the new sconces the same way as the old. After I installed the
first one I flipped the switch and voila the new fixture and the remaining
old fixture worked. So I removed the last old fixture and installed the
last new fixture. Flipped the switch and, nothing. I went down to check
the breaker and it wasn't tripped. I checked the GFI in the bathroom and it
hadn't tripped. There was no voltage at the switch. Finally I realized
that a GFI outlet down in the basement was tripped. I reset it and tada,
light. I tried them a little while later and you guessed it nothing. What
would cause the GFI to trip when it never did with the old ones? These are
wired the same. The only difference is that these fixtures can take up to a
100w bulb the old ones were only 50w.
Thanks,
Jeff


Theres a good chance that you either have a problem with your wiring
or your fixture. Take the second fixture down and wirenut the loose
wires then see if the problem repeats. If not check for stray strands
of wire that might have been sticking out, You can also swap the
fixtures to see if the problem stays with the one fixture or stays
with the location.

Steve B.

On Sat, 16 Oct 2004 22:53:52 GMT, "TC" wrote:

Jeff:
Simply put, GFIC devices "watch" the white wire (neutral wire)
for excessive voltage. When voltage on return line (white wire) exceeds a preset level, it trips and turns off the power coming into the GFI on the hot
(black wire) line.


That is incorrect. Lifted from Howstuffworks.com " A GFCI monitors
the amount of current flowing from hot to neutral. If there is any
imbalance, it trips the circuit. It is able to sense a mismatch as
small as 4 or 5 milliamps, and it can react as quickly as
one-thirtieth of a second. "

See http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/question117.htm for a
complete explanation of how they work and what they do.

Steve B.

I wonder about a partial short, from hot to ground. Check your wiring
again, I don't think it is the more powerful bulb. You will probably have to
do some detective work to narrow down the problem. Dissect the circuit back
from the distal end to localize the problem. Do you know the total draw on
the circuit?

Dave


"Jeff Guay" wrote in message
...
Hi,
I just replacd to wall sconces in our bathroom. The originals were ugly,
however they always worked.
I wired the new sconces the same way as the old. After I installed the
first one I flipped the switch and voila the new fixture and the remaining
old fixture worked. So I removed the last old fixture and installed the
last new fixture. Flipped the switch and, nothing. I went down to check
the breaker and it wasn't tripped. I checked the GFI in the bathroom and
it
hadn't tripped. There was no voltage at the switch. Finally I realized
that a GFI outlet down in the basement was tripped. I reset it and tada,
light. I tried them a little while later and you guessed it nothing.
What
would cause the GFI to trip when it never did with the old ones? These
are
wired the same. The only difference is that these fixtures can take up to
a
100w bulb the old ones were only 50w.
Thanks,
Jeff

Exactly the advice I was about to give. There's little reason to
'share' a
GFI outlet anymore, now that they cost only a few dollars. The only
time I
ever would is in kitchen situations, where the outlets are just a few
feet
apart.


The 20A version is not particularly cheap or as available as the 15A
variety. That plus paying $12 for an receptacle made in China does
bug me a bit. Not to mention that these things are huge and can't be
put in most existing electrical boxes.