Need help with old H-Type track lighting

last year

My partner has lived in this house for over 15 years, and there’s a track lighting system on the wall in our living room that he has never used (no lights were in it when he moved in). We want to get it working now but have run into a few snags. Along with a toggle switch mounted next to the track, the system is also connected to a light switch.

Upon inspecting the toggle switch, we noticed the following:
• One black wire coming out of the toggle switch is loose and unconnected.
• The second black wire coming out of the toggle switch is connected to a silver screw.
• What appears to be a neutral wire (tan) is connected to a brass screw.

When testing with a voltage detector, we only detect power at the wires entering and exiting the wall, but not at the loose black wire or the other connections on the toggle switch.

We’re trying to understand how this wiring works and how to safely reconnect the loose black wire to get the track lighting functioning. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

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Comments (5)

w0lley32
last year
The loose wire from the toggle switch more than likely goes with the single black wire on the yellow wire nut. And I would check with a multimeter (not a non-contact tester) for the correct polarity on the light track (neutral on silver screw, hot on brass screw).

With this setup, the track will get power only when the toggle switch on the track AND the wall switch are in the ON position. You cannot use this setup as a three-way switch, where either switch turns the lights on or off.
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
last year
Janky home handyman setup. Wires don’t wrap around the screws, I believe the wrong contact is energized, and the toggle is clearly an add on. If there is a wall switch (maybe it was blocked by a previous owners furniture) eliminate the toggle and attach the wires properly. Sometimes it’s cheapest to replace, you can buy new track kits with all the components fairly cheaply.
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Miche
Original Author
last year
We suspect this might be janky wiring because the track lighting is connected to a light switch that also controls one of our outdoor garage lights. After further inspection, we discovered something unusual: although both the track lighting and the garage light are controlled by the same light switch, they are on two different breakers.
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
last year
Time to pay a professional. Old house hackery can lead to fires.
Miche
Original Author
last year
Will do! Thank you for your help!