Any GFY doctors also electricians?
 

Replacing a light.

Ceiling hole:
2 black
2 white

Light:
1 black
1 white

Light instructions:
black to black. white to white.

Result:
Stays on regardless of switch position.

When I put the light's white onto the other ceiling black, it works fine. Should I go with that?

The old light had two copper colored wires, each going to a different black. The whites were capped off together.

http://www.rarebeatles.com/sleeves/solops/spsebon.jpg

It's not rocket surgery...

ADG Webmaster

man, it is kind of one of those things you really need ohm meter for, however, did you try capping the two white, then using the black/white (light) with the black/black (ceiling)?

black light to black ceiling

white light to black ceiling

That does work, but I don't know if it's safe. I assume it is, but I'm just making sure.

2 black as in 2 different lines? or one line cut in 2? Same as the white.. If its 2 open ends..for both black and white. Connect the 3 blacks together,, and 3 white together.. don't cross them.

you said there two of each, you tried

black1 ceiling to black light
white1 ceiling to white light

didnt work

did you then try

black2 ceiling to black light
white2 ceiling to white light

just buy a new house and let the next people deal with it...

In Australia you need a licensed electrical contractor to do stuff like that. Probably for good reason, too.....

Forget about what I said about hooking the white and black up to both ceiling blacks. I thought I had that working before, but I guess not.

http://i17.tinypic.com/4bgh35f.jpg

Now I just tried every combination possible. The only one that "works" is black light to right ceiling black and white light to right ceiling white. However, it stays on all the time even if the switch is OFF.

There has to be something wrong between this and the switch. There is only one switch, yet four of those wires. Why?

In the same box as the switch there is a socket. On that there appears to be an extra line connected to the bottom two screws. Two wires on each screw (plus one wire in each of the top screws). I know that's not right.

That is what it should be then, Congrats.

Where should I send my bill?

you need an ohm meter

Your changing a ceiling light? I dont think so.... lol. Its a pretty simple thing. :2 cents:

Just get a $10 volatage tester (tic tester) u just touch the wire with it and it will beep or light up if theres voltage you don't need and ohm meter.

Turn on the switch and touch every wire. Once u find the live wire turn the switch off and test that wire again.

The setup should be all blacks together and all whites together. In the cieling 1 black wire should be hot and the other black wire should be dead feeding another light. Generally all whites are neutral wires and should be tighed together.

Thats what i think from just looking at the pic I've been doing electric work for years.