Re: Need help with short in circuit


"shadowmica" <roadrnnr99@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:db8767ee-f47b-43c0-b53e-3ecd0b332cd4@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Update,

I pulled out the sensor the bulb was screwed into and checked the
wires again.

Open between all, thought it was fixed.

Hooked circuit back up to switch in house and turned on.

Immediately blew breaker.

With the breaker off and the wires to the switch still connected to
pole,(in Junction box in cellar), I tested circuit again and black to
copper was open but white to copper now had a reading back up the
circuit to the switch.


*That may be normal as the white and bare are bonded in your main panel.



I took a extension cord and put the wires from the pole in it and
plugged it in and the light came on and worked fine.

I must also mention that the switch for this thing gets it's power
from a row of 4 switches near my front door.

There are 4 switches the pole one being the last in line.

They are wired as follows,

The switches all have the black wire to them and the bare copper then
in the switch box the white wires are all twisted together, none of
the white goes to the switches.


"As far as I can tell, even though it seems unlikely is the wires from the pole switch to the cellar jct box must be shorted."



*Remove all of the switches from the box, but do not disconnect the wires. Turn on the circuit and see what happens. I've seen it happen a couple of times over the years where a short between the bare and a switch contact happens. I don't know why, but I surmise that they were in close proximity from the original installation and over time vibration and building movement caused them to make contact. The front door location is subject to a lot of vibration from the door opening and closing.




Note also I can turn the pole switch on and off as long as it is
disconnected from the pole light wires in the JCT box in the cellar
with no problem.



*That is contrary to your above statement (In quotes). You need to pin it down. Does the feed for the circuit come into the junction box or are those wires just a continuation from the four gang switch box?

.

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