Expert: David Coil/C. R. Construction - 2/20/2005

Question
Hi-I am installing a chandelier.  There is a white, black , and copper wire from the celing. The wires are definitely hot. When I wire the chandelier to these wires, the wires lose their power and the chandelier will not turn on. When I disconnect the wires from the chandelier wires, the ceiling wires are hot again.  I have a ground wire on the the chandelier and I am attaching it to the copper wire from the ceiling.  Why won't the chandelier light up?  Thanks.

Answer
Yes this sounds interesting.  I would wonder if there is a dimmer involved...a 3way switch involved, if the box in the ceiling is a junction box that may have gotten crossed up.  If the box had a light in it previously and worked...try plugging the chandelier into a recepticle to see if it works properly under contolled conditions.   Test the bulbs and the sockets...