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View Full Version : Overhead light installation


mic1
Mar 17, 2007, 12:00 PM
I'm trying to install a new overhead light in the front entry way of our apartment. There are two positive and two negative. Wires coming out from the ceiling along with a red ground. I'm assuming this was intended for a light and fan to be connected seperatley. My problem is the only way I can get the light to work is by connecting all 3 pos. & negative. Together. The light works when I turn the breaker on, but when I turn the light off with the wall switch it shorts out the breaker. I also tried to only connect the light using one of the pos. & negative. From the ceiling with the other pos. & negative. Loose. This does not work. The last thing I tried was to connect the 2 pos. and 2 negative. From the ceiling together and make sure that the wires from the light only makes contact with one of the two wires from the ceiling. This powers the light but then the wall switch does not work. So there is no way to turn it off other than killing the breaker. What is the proper way to make the connection? Hope this makes sense. Mike...

tkrussell
Mar 19, 2007, 06:38 PM
Here is a diagram that I think may help, and is close to what your problem is. One of your cables with a black and white is really going to a switch, and if you have all the blacks together, and all the whites, you can see that a switch closing will short out the circuit. See if this helps.

TiffanyKN
Apr 12, 2009, 03:04 PM
Here is a diagram that I think may help, and is close to what your problem is. One of your cables with a black and white is really going to a switch, and if you have all the blacks together, and all the whites, you can see that a switch closing will short out the circuit. See if this helps.

We are having this same problem, but cannot see the diagram. Could you please post it, TK?
Thank you!