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Need help with short in circuit shadowmica 05-14-2008
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Posted by dnoyeB on May 14, 2008, 12:52 pm
On Wed, 14 May 2008 08:15:37 -0700, Mikepier wrote:

> Sounds like you have a short between the black and copper wire. You
> can cheat by twisting the copper and black wires together at each end,
> then using that twisted pair and the white wire for 110V. the only
> problem is now you don't have a ground going out to the light pole.
> One way to get around that is to put a GFI switch/outlet combo where
> the switch is, or perhaps a GFI breaker for the whole circuit.

Ouch, thats not the only problem. Now the white wire would be hot. I
feel sorry for the next guy to work on that lamp.

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Posted by Mikepier on May 14, 2008, 2:56 pm
> On Wed, 14 May 2008 08:15:37 -0700, Mikepier wrote:
> > Sounds like you have a short between the black and copper wire. You
> > can cheat by twisting the copper and black wires together at each end,
> > then using that twisted pair and the white wire for 110V. the only
> > problem is now you don't have a ground going out to the light pole.
> > One way to get around that is to put a GFI switch/outlet combo where
> > the switch is, or perhaps a GFI breaker for the whole circuit.
>
> Ouch, thats not the only problem. =A0Now the white wire would be hot. =A0I=

> feel sorry for the next guy to work on that lamp.

How would the white wire be hot? The OP said he has an open between
the white/hot and the white/copper.

Posted by metspitzer on May 14, 2008, 4:44 pm

>On Wed, 14 May 2008 08:15:37 -0700, Mikepier wrote:
>
>> Sounds like you have a short between the black and copper wire. You
>> can cheat by twisting the copper and black wires together at each end,
>> then using that twisted pair and the white wire for 110V. the only
>> problem is now you don't have a ground going out to the light pole.
>> One way to get around that is to put a GFI switch/outlet combo where
>> the switch is, or perhaps a GFI breaker for the whole circuit.
>
>Ouch, thats not the only problem. Now the white wire would be hot. I
>feel sorry for the next guy to work on that lamp.

Not having a ground is no big deal. Except for the rare case the OP
has. Had there been no ground the light would work fine. Just don't
touch the pole as it would likely kill you one wet morning.

Not having a ground stops many nuisance trips.

Those GFCIs are also over rated.



Posted by John Grabowski on May 14, 2008, 5:12 pm

>I have a outdoor light pole that has recently been blowing the circuit
> breaker when turned on.
>
> I replaced the light socket in the pole and it still does it.
>
> I isolated the wires that go out to the pole from inside and hooked a
> OHM meter up to the wires.
>
> I have continuity between the black wire and the bare copper wire.



*You should not have continuity between the black and bare. That seems to
be the short. The difficult part is locating it in the ground. A good
place to start is at the base of the pole.



>
> Between the White and copper and black and white I have no
> continuity.


*Good!


>
> I pulled the bulb out of the socket and still have a connection
> between the black and the copper.



*You could try removing the entire fixture and see what happens.



>
> Is this right or is it telling me I have a short some where in that
> wire from the house to the pole.
>
> I would like to know before I dig that wire up and replace it, that's
> going to be a big job.
>
> Any other thoughts of what it could be would also be helpful.
>
> Thanks,


Posted by shadowmica on May 14, 2008, 5:56 pm
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.

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.

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.

Page 2 of 3       < 1 2 3 > last >>
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