Problems wiring light Fixture!!!

May I first say I new hear and may I say thanks for any advice.
I am having trouble wiring this for a light fixture. If I put all white together and hit the switch it blows a fuse in the basement with a buzzing sound. I am so confused. Pictures might help a little.

 

Pictures by Matthew_Matrona - Photobucket

 

Welcome to the forums! I know you have already heard this, but how was it wired originally?? You have a cell phone and didn't take a picture of it, right? OK, to basics. Most likely one of the white wires is really part of a switch loop and is not considered a "neutral". With the power off, pull the switch from the wall and see if there is a black and white wire attached to the switch. If so, you will need to, via multimeter, determine which of the wires in the fixture box matches. Where the wires are taped together, remove the tape and replace it with a proper wire nut. Seems as this was 1950's wiring. With all the wires, does this feed another light or receptacle??

 

The white wire that is in the top left hand corner of the picture is the switch white wire. It only feeds one light in the bathroom. I will cap the other black wires. Whats next? By the way my dad does not remember how it was wired.

 

Please tell us the color wires on the switch . Are you saying it has a black and white wire?

If the switch has a white wire that white wire needs to be connected to the black hot wires ti the light. The black wire from the switch needs to be connected only to the light. I would not be a part of the bundle of black wires.

Here is a basic switch loop.



Here is what your switch loop would look like.

 

It looks like to me it is a gray and black wire.
http://i1049.photobucket.com/albums/...a/P1010237.jpg

Just so you know there is also an outlet in the bathroom. The switch does not control it.

 

I see black and white in your photo of the switch. So follow my instructions in the previous post. Warning: You must be sure what wires are from the switch. To do that, turn off breaker, mark all wires so they can be reconnected the same way and disconnect all the wires. Turn the switch on (breaker still off) and using a multimeter determine which cable has continuity. To verify you have the correct cable have some one turn the switch on and off. The meter should show continuity/open as the switch is flipped back and forth.

 

First wires on the top are switch wires. white on white. Black on Black.

I then connect the fixture and everything is fine intill the put the switch on. Then I get the fuse trip.

Advice or do you see anything wrong?

 

That indicates one of the wires you are using is a neutral rather the the white wire used to supply power to the switch. You need to take the wires apart as I explained in my previous post and determine which cable is the switch loop.

 

Hello matrona4146

What you are doing now is getting power to the switch threw the black wire in wire nut #1.
Your light works now because you have it wired up -- white (#6) to white(neutral) and
black to black (power). But as soon as you turn the switch on / off you are in reality
connecting the switche's black wire (power) to the switche's white
wire (neutral) This makes a dead short, that is what's blowing your fuse...



I would take the White & Black wires from the Switch out of Wire Nuts # 1 & 2.
Where the Black wire was in Wire nut # 1 put the White wire from the switch
in Wire nut # 1.. leave the switch black wire just hanging for now...
Undo wire #3 (wire to the light) from wire nut #4, also remove the small jumper
wire #9 from wire nut #5 going to wire nut #4....
Now take wire #3 and wire nut it to the switche's black wire..
Wire # 7 looks like a new jumper --- remover that jumper wire
and wire nut wires 6 & 8 together...
Your light should now work!!!

Hope this helps----Let us know how your wirring project came out.


Have A Nice Day



Linesman

 

Thank You so much!!! Yeah it works. I really appreciate the help. Here is a picture of the final project.

 

Glad you got it. Thanks for letting us know.