My sister-in-law removed her kitchen light (chandelier) to clean it. She did not write down the electrical connection. When she connected it back, the lights stay on even if she turns the wall switch off. There are 4 sets of wires coming from the ceiling junction box. (1) 3 black wires in a bunch (2) 3 white wires in bunch (3) 1 black wire and (4) 1 white wire. The lamp has 3 wires (all look the same). 1 wire from lamp is connected to 3 black wire bunch and 2nd wire is connected to 3 white wire bunch. She says the 3rd wire from the lamp was not connected to any ceiling wire when she removed it. The house is at least 20 years old.

:confused: What is the problem? How to fix it?

Nkrnkr,

Your sister-in-law does not have the switch loop connected correctly. First we have to separate the cables.

Turn power OFF at the Main panel, turn the circuit breaker that controls this circuit to the OGG position

Disconnect the wires from the wiring nuts and separate the conductors. There should be two cables plus the conductors from the light fixture in the ceiling.

One cable contains the Black/White/Ground from the main panel to the opening in the ceiling.
One cable contains the Black/White/Ground to the wall switch.
The remaining Black & White conductors are from the fixture.

Connect the WHITE conductor from the wall switch to the Black conductor in the ceiling opening from the Circuit Breaker. MAKE SURE THAT YOU PLACE A SMALL WRAP OF BLACK TAPE AROUND THE WHITE INSULATION. To flag this particular wire as hot.
Connect the BLACK wire from the Wall Switch to the Black wire from the Fixture.

Connect the White wire from the fixture to the White wire in the ceiling opening back to the Circuit Breaker.
Connect all ground wires.

Turn power to the light back on and test the wall switch.

donf: I agree with the switch loop problem but It sounds like power must go on to other fixtures from this box. Op stated 3 black, 3 white, single black, single white.

The result is the same but I think it would be:

Single white (coded black) to the 3 black

Single black to the fixture black

Other fixture wire (white) to the 3 white

nkrnkr: I am not even close to an expert so please wait for confirmation on this.
Is the third wire on the fixture bare?