I replace an old ceiling light. When I took out the old one the wire casing was miscolored and brittle and fell apart.

The incoming wire is white, black and ground. Then there is an outgoing white, black and ground.

I tied in the wires to the light by matching the colors together. The light turns on, but when I turn it off the fuse goes out.

I am at a stand still and not sure what to do and cannot afford an electrician. I have done multiple lights and this has never happened.

Any help would be great.

You probably have a feed and a switch loop at the ceiling. This is where the power is brought down on the white wire and back up from the switch on the black.

In the ceiling box you'll need to test for power on one set of wires, and continuity on the other set as the switch is flipped.

Ok, So how does one do a loop. I have the white with the white and black with the black.

Hot comes in one one side. Goes to the light and back out.

Also, the light turns on, but when I go to turn it off the fuse blows.

At the ceiling you attach the hot black to the switch loop white. That should leave you with a neutral and a switched black wire. Keep in mind, you should NOT do this until you can confirm that this is actually what you have.

Is this possibly on a 3-way switch setup? Meaning two switches controlling the same light.

One switch one light.

So to be clear. Hot( black) goes to the black to the light. Then to the other black that goes to the switch/
Can you word it out like it should be?

Until I can get an electrician. Am I safe to cap off each individual wire with a cap nut and leaving it over night?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mountaindewman

Until I can get an electrician. Am i safe to cap off each individual wire with a cap nut and leaving it over night?

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Yes.

Mountaindewman,

Your description of the wiring is incorrect.

First, my main concern is your description of the wiring as being brittle and discolored. That indicates heat problems to me. Would the wiring be aluminum? If it is, get an electrician to do the work and consider replacing the conductors.

As to the wiring for a switch loop. Once you can establish the ceiling supply cable (Black -White -Bare), then identify the "Switch Loop Cable".

The Black from the supply goes to the white from the switch. You must re-identify the white going to the switch with either black tape or a black sharpie. The black from the switch (Switched Power) will connect to the fixture's black lead. The fixture's White will connect to the Supplies White. All Bare Equipment grounding conductors will be connected together.

If you are unsure, then please cap off both the Black and White wires in the supply cable or turn off the breaker that feeds the fixture outlet.