Hello,
I am trying to wire new lights in my basement and I'm having some difficulties. The layout is as follows: circuit power ==> light #1 ==>
light #2 ==> light #3 ==> light #4 ==> switch (controls all). The lights are all fluorescents and everything is new.
To wire the lights, I ran the hot (black) from the circuit *through* all light fixture housings. That is, the hot line is not connected to the light fixture wires at all. It is simply wire nutted to the next fixture. The neutral from the power circuit is connected to the white wire of the light fixture. Then the black wire of the fixture is connected to the white wire of the next fixture, and so on. Ultimately, a hot/neutral pair ends at a switch. This setup doesn't work.
The switch does have power (which means my hot wires are ok). When i place a tester across the switch when it's in the OFF position, my tester lights up. When I turn the switch on, the tester light goes out. In the OFF position, hot to ground lights up, and in the on position, both hot and neutral to ground light up.
The circuit hasn't tripped nor has my house caught fire. :D What am I doing wrong?
Thanks, - Roberto