I recently purchased a chandelier that's meant for LED bulbs. It's originally designed for 220V but has supposedly been converted to 120V for use in North America. The catch is that the fixture is currently unwired, and I want to check if the conversion was done correctly. Is there a safe way to test the fixture without hooking it up to the ceiling first? Any advice would be appreciated!
4 Answers
The best way to check is to look at the LED power supply if your fixture uses one. It should have the input specs printed on it. Also, keep in mind that while the wiring differs for 220V and 120V setups, it’s critical that any power supply in the fixture is rated for 120V to avoid issues.
Honestly, the safest bet is to just grab a multimeter to test the fixture. If you don’t have one or don’t know how to use it, you might want to get a professional involved. Better safe than sorry! Do you have any friends who are electricians?
Make sure you don’t follow the advice of just sticking the wires into a cord unless you know what you’re doing. A multimeter is your friend here! If you can’t test it properly, it might be best to consult someone who knows electrical work.
You might want to try using an old extension cord. If you cut off the plug and connect the corresponding wires—white to the ribbed wire and black to the smooth one—you can plug it in and test. Just be careful, and remember that having a ground wire is a plus but not essential for this test!
Exactly! And don’t forget that the bulbs must also be compatible with 120V too.