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BUCKEYEDUDE · May 13, 2009, 01:51 PM

I recently attempted to install a floodlight on the inside of my 30 x 40 garage. This is my first attempt at electrical wiring, and it shows. LOL After having everything connected, including the switch, wiring to the light and to the circuit box, I flipped the switch. I get no light, and all I get is the circuit breaker being tripped.

What have I done wrong? What should I check?

Please help!

21boat · May 13, 2009, 02:05 PM

The neutral or ground is not right here. Can you give exact details on the actual wiring you did from box/switch/ to light.

Also what else is on that line and did you pull power from a junction box?

ballengerb1 · May 13, 2009, 02:09 PM

I agree with 21boat here. Hopefully you ran the black hot to and then from the switch. If you ran both a white neutral and a black hot you create a dead short when you flip the switch.

BUCKEYEDUDE · May 13, 2009, 02:23 PM

Nothing else is on the line. Switch/Light/Circuitbox

21boat · May 13, 2009, 02:38 PM

A generic switch is the black/ hot feed to bottom of switch screw and the light black hot to top of the switch screw.

The white neutral gets wire nutted together. And tucked in switch box.

The bare ground goes on the light switch green ground screw and its also tied into the ground form feed wire from breaker box. Also it tied into the ground going to light.

Basic single pole switch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abRC3...om=PL&index=12

ballengerb1 · May 13, 2009, 03:07 PM

Buckeye, I think we were hoping for you to tell us how you connect which wires where. Did you do it exactly as 21 has outlined?

BUCKEYEDUDE · May 13, 2009, 03:27 PM

Not sure, I thought I followed the instructions pretty well, but will have to recheck it. It's been a few weeks since I installed everything. Thanks for your input. I'll get back with you.

ballengerb1 · May 13, 2009, 03:29 PM

What 21 gave you is the way most folks would wire a switch but there are other ways such as switch loop where you won't even see a white wire in the switch box. We just need to know what you did but suspect you may have a hot and a neutral on the switch screws.

tkrussell · May 13, 2009, 04:03 PM

Please... can you get back with some general and closeup pictures of your installation?

Closeups of the wires connected, best you can.Wide shots of wiring and boxes in general would be great.

Thanks.

ohb0b · May 13, 2009, 11:21 PM

You probably wired the switch in parallel with the light.

To test for this:

Turn the switch OFF.
Turn the breaker ON
If the light comes on, you have wired the switch in parallel. When you turn the switch ON, it will short the circuit, and trip the breaker.

The switch must be in Series with the device it controls.

BUCKEYEDUDE · Jun 5, 2009, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by 21boat

A generic switch is the black/ hot feed to bottom of switch screw and the light black hot to top of the switch screw.

The white neutral gets wire nutted together. and tucked in switch box.

The bare ground goes on the light switch green ground screw and its also tied into the ground form feed wire from breaker box. Also it tied into the ground going to light.

Basic single pole switch
YouTube - Single Pole Light Switch Wiring Video

This video really helped. Problem solved. Thank you!!