View Full Version : New wire job
Diymike
Feb 16, 2011, 02:52 PM
I just bought a house that was built in 1960. It still has a great deal of the old wire that is cloth covered. I had the panel upgraded to a larger, newer panel with larger breakers. I am residing my garage and removed all the old wire except the panel wire. I hooked up the switch and the outlet ( 2 separate boxes, same line) and the breaker keeps popping. I'm confused
zanec
Feb 16, 2011, 03:11 PM
There's got to be a short somewhere. Trace back from the panel and see if you find something.
hkstroud
Feb 16, 2011, 03:19 PM
removed all the old wire except the panel wire
What does that mean?
It sounds like you are saying you have a cable from your main circuit panel to the garage. You remove and replaced all other cable.
Where does the cable from the main circuit panel go? It should go to either the switch, the outlet or to a lighting fixture box.
Tell us where the cable goes. Tell us what wiring connections you made there and what wiring connections you made at the switch and the outlet.
Diymike
Feb 16, 2011, 06:46 PM
New panel, same old wire to switch, switch to outlet with new wire new switch and new outlet
donf
Feb 16, 2011, 08:18 PM
Mike,
What causes a circuit breaker to trip? Over-current, short, fault or internal failure.
Is the breaker for the garage a GFCI breaker per chance?
You removed the original cable, correct. What type of cable did you replace the old cable with?
If you remove any equipment that is attached to this circuit, does the breaker still trip?
Are there any switch loops in this circuit?
hkstroud
Feb 16, 2011, 08:19 PM
At the switch, connect white (neutral) of power cable (old wire) to white of cable to outlet and to white of cable to light fixture. Connect black of power cable (old wire) to black of cable to outlet and to a pigtail (short piece of black wire) with a wire nut. Connect pigtail to switch. Connect black of cable to light fixture to other switch terminal.
At outlet connect white (neutral) to light colored (silver) screw. Connect black (hot) to dark colored (brass) screw.
Outlet must be GFI.
At light fixture, connect white to white and black to black or white to light colored screw and black to dark colored screw.
Most likely error is that because of the deteriorated color of wires in old cable from panel, you have mixed up hot and neutral wires.
With a meter check for voltage between each wire and ground to determine which is hot.
Diymike
Feb 16, 2011, 10:56 PM
The only original equipment left in this project is the wire from the panel to the switch. I replaced the other wire and switch and switch box and outlet and box. All wasa hooked up and the breaker popped. I removed it all and left just the switch hooked up, the breaker didn't pop till I flipped the switch on
hkstroud
Feb 16, 2011, 11:19 PM
I have just realized that you have have not mentioned a light. I assumed that the switch is controlling a light fixture. What is the purpose of the switch? Are you trying to do something other than control a light with the switch.