Changed ceiling light and can't turn it off

Question

There are three sets of wires in the box - two have white/black wires, the other has black, white, red (red maybe for a potential ceiling fan?) I connected white to white, black to black, I put a wire connector on the red just to cover it in case it is a hot wire. The light came on but the wall switch doesn't turn it off.. Any ideas?

Answer 1

TURN THE POWER OFF.  Take the black from the light and put it on the red wire in the box

Every one here just relax I have never heard or seen any one burn down a house changing a light fixture. The worst thing that is going to happen is the light wont work!

Answer 2

sounds like you have a 3-way switch configuration. so you have hooked the wires up wrong.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDyvcM0gcVs

http://www.handymanwire.com/articles/3wa...

Answer 3

Yes call an electrician before you burn the house down.  Next time remember how the the thing is wired before you rewire it.

Electricity will bite you even if you don't bite it!

Youtube on wiring receptacles

http://www.wiringhelp.com/electrical/ele...

How To Install a Ceiling Flush Mount Lighting Fixture

http://www.ezdiyelectricity.com/?p=470

I'm not an electrician but I have changed the ceiling light fixtures and the receptacles and the switches Below is a link to lowes that showes the diagram and it shows 4 wire... white neutral...copper is ground and red and black is hot. so maybe you don't have it wired correctly.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=ho...

Good Luck!

Answer 4

The red wire is the switched power.You don't know enough to be messing with it so call someone else and be glad you arn't on fire.

Answer 5

Call a electrician You may get zapped and then wont need any lights again  

Answer 6

It sounds like you hooked it up direct.  

Answer 7

i like to draw a picture it gives me a visual representation of how the electricity runs ,what you have done is bypassed the switch.the wire with load wire usually black or red has to pass through the switch before the light ,so disconnect it from the light and run it to the switch.........tom

Answer 8

You people amaze me with your questions.

Electricity kills and untrained hands should be kept well away from the stuff.  Again speaking for England, If an unqualified person touches anything electrical and later someone is injured or killed by the particular thing he/she altered, adapted, or mended, the person will be held liable and up for big monetary claims.  Use your collective heads and keep clear.....................