Electrical Run

Ok, I had new construction done, and the electricians ran the wires, but did not install the switches or outlets. I'ts been fairly easy to follow the runs of the lines and I have basically put most switches & outlets in. My question is that I'm at a run that doesn't seem to make sense to me. Power comes into an outlet, then runs to a switch that powers a light and feeds the power to the next switch, that powers a different light. The power from the 2nd switch in turns runs power into the next room (aka becomes power in to the next run series) Here's my question. I've hooked up the outlet oi the power source AND then off the same outlet, the next set of wires that runs power to the 1st switch. Problem is, when I hook it up like this, it blows the breaker at the panel. The problem is definately at the outlet power juction...What am I missing??? Any help is greatly appreciated

 

I'll guess the "outlet power junction" is the "first" receptacle box with a 2-wire "feed-in" and a 2-wire "feed-out" to the "first switch"----At the "first" receptacle box wire-nut a test-lamp socket to the Black wire of the "feed-in" cable and the Black wire of the "feed-out" cable". The 2 White wires connect together.Restore power, and if the lamp burns brite, you have a short or a Ground in the wiring beyond the test-point. I presume there are no connected loads at the other outlets. If the lamp burns brite, open the connections until the lamp goes out.---Are all the cables in the boxes you mention 2-wire cables (Black & White wires) or are there 3-wire cables (Black,White & Red wires)?

 

Yes, all wires are 3 wire (black, white, ground) the first switch box on the run has... all 3 white wires together, the black to the light is on one switch screw, then the other 2 black wires (from source & feed out ) are pigtaild togther with a 3rd black wire which goes to the second screw on the switch...