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Added light in crawlspace but now bedroom switch trips breaker

Lyptus's picture

Added light in crawlspace but now bedroom switch trips breaker (post #207252)

Lyptus on Wed, 12/26/2012 - 06:38
in

I added a switch and light in a crawl space located next to my bedroom.  To do this, I tapped into a 15 amp lighting circuit in the crawlspace with wire nuts in a new junction box.  From the junction box I ran a wire to a switch and from the switch I ran a wire to a new light fixture.  

The new switch and light work fine but when it is on, and I turn on a light switch in the bedroom, the circuit breaker trips.  I find it hard to believe that powering one additional 60W bulb is enough to overwhelm a 15 amp circuit.  What did I do wrong?

Thanks,

Lyptus

-A +A

Is this an AFCI (post #207252, reply #1 of 5)

by gfretwell in reply to Lyptus [original] on Wed, 12/26/2012 - 09:47

Is this an AFCI breaker?

That will have test and reset buttons on it

Greg

Does it trip the breaker with (post #207252, reply #2 of 5)

by gfretwell in reply to Lyptus [original] on Wed, 12/26/2012 - 09:48

Does it trip the breaker with the bulb out?

Greg

To use technical terms, you (post #207252, reply #3 of 5)

by DanH in reply to Lyptus [original] on Wed, 12/26/2012 - 17:02

To use technical terms, you screwed something up.

If there is an AFCI, that could be part of the problem, if you crossed grounds or failed to match wire colors.

Otherwise you must have simply gotten something shorted or crossed a wire.

Hint:  Draw out how you think the circuit should be and make sure you've got it all right.


Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed.  --Herman Melville

technical terms   lol (post #207252, reply #4 of 5)

by junkhound in reply to DanH [original] on Wed, 12/26/2012 - 19:17

technical terms

 

lol

It could be something stupid (post #207252, reply #5 of 5)

by xxPaulCPxx in reply to Lyptus [original] on Thu, 12/27/2012 - 10:48

It could be something stupid like a romex wire clamp screwd down too tight.

Go back, disconnect everything one part at a time until you get it back together and it doesn't trip.

YAY!  I love WYSISYG editing!  And Spellcheck!

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