Wiring new light help


  #1  
Old 07-22-12, 05:56 PM
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: canada
Posts: 28
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Wiring new light help

I am having an issue wiring a replacement ceiling light. Here's the issue, and hopefully this makes sense.

Upon removing the old light/ceiling fan, there were 4 14/2 wires in the box. This is how they were connected. 3 of the blacks were connected with the blue wire and a white wire, I think the blue was the fan wire. 3 white wires connected together with the white for the old light, The remaining black wire was connected to the black from the old light. I pulled the switch, and it was a normal toggle with only a 14/2 wire running into that box. We had no issues in 5 years with this light.

Since there was no fan on the new light, I connected all 4 black wires to the new light's black wire, connected all 4 white wires to the new white, and connected the new ground. Upon turning the power back on, I went into the room and the lights were on, I hit the toggle and the lights turned off, but this tripped the breaker. I checked all connections and the switch, all are tight.

Am I doing something wrong?
 
  #2  
Old 07-22-12, 06:06 PM
chandler's Avatar
Banned. Rule And/Or Policy Violation
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 36,608
Upvotes: 0
Received 9 Upvotes on 8 Posts
At the switch you have a black and white connected to the switch, which is a normal switch loop. At the ceiling, the 3 blacks should be capped to each other along with the white that was there originally. The remaining whites should have your white from the light attached and capped with them. The single black will be attached to the black to the light fixture.
 
  #3  
Old 07-22-12, 06:10 PM
Tolyn Ironhand's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 14,097
Received 790 Upvotes on 669 Posts
The white wire that is/was connected to the black was your hot wire going to the switch (Since you said there is only 1 - 14/2 in the switch box I am assuming it is a switch loop) If you moved this wire, you are going to have to return this wire where you found it. (I suggest when you do find it, mark it with black tape) The black of the same 14/2 is your switch leg and needs to be connected to the black of the new light fixture. The remaining whites get connected to the white of the new fixture.

It is also possible that somebody wired it "backwards" and made the white from the switch the switch leg and the black the hot. Then you will need to move the white wire from the switch to the black of the light fixture.
 
  #4  
Old 07-22-12, 06:35 PM
D
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: canada
Posts: 28
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the help guys, I'll give it a shot tomorrow after work and let you know how I make out.
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description:
Your question will be posted in: