Flourescent fixtures

[dave]

Rookie question. I attempted to replace two closet flourescent fixtures (swapping out two 3-footers for two 2-footers) that are in series. I simply swapped them out, keeping the wiring as it was...black to black, white to white, ground to ground on the first fixture in the series and then b-to-b; w-to-w, and g-to fixture's ground screw in the second. With, or without bulbs in the fixture, the breaker trips (after a 2-second buzzing sound). It's a 15-amp breaker.

What could the problem be?

[aphares]

Typically buzzing is caused by a bead short in the circuit. Re-check all connections. Open the lights and look for any burn marks. Also check the stripping method you used on the outer sheathing. A lot of times improper sheathing removal will damage the insulation of the inside wires. Be sure you have not reversed polarity with out knowing that you did.
If you replaced the switch then look for the ground wire lying in the box at an angle that would cause it to be touching the screws of the switch.
Thanks, Let us know how things turned out

[Wgoodrich]

Also if you used a metal romex connector where the Romex entered the light then you may have overtightened this romex connector pinching this Romex connector against the Romex causing it to short out.

May have driven a staple into a cable also if you installed any staples.

Just a couple of extra thoughts

Wg

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys. Will investigate tonight. A couple of things before I do, though...If there's no such thing as a stupid question, then...here goes... What's an bead short?

More background...These are "rapid start fixtures," I didn't remove any sheathing...just used all the wires and hardware (connectors) that were there with the old fixtures, as is. Didn't touch the switch. Didn't use any "romex" connectors.

How is it possible to reverse polarity if I was duplicating the wiring that was there originally? Am I in over my head?

[aphares]

Sorry I miss spelled DEAD short, But it is when the hot (BLACK) is touching the ground (GREEN)(BARE)(metal),or neutral wire (WHITE). You could have reversed polarity, and not even known you did it, I have been doing this 15yrs, and will at a time or two do it my self.
Not over your head, if still having problem post back.

[Wgoodrich]

If the fixture had two cables entering one light then I would say that you have a switch leg and a power to that light. Did you have two cables enter either light that goes to the switch and not the second light fixture?

Also you may not have touched that romex connector but you did move it around that may have created a short where a short was just about to happen. This is hard to detect when a cable is shorted by a romex clamp. You may find a burn mark on the clamp somewhere or on teh cable itself where it was clamped. Worth checking.

Also sometimes when a light fixture is put together a wire can be accidently pinched. Look for a wire that may have gotten pinched causing a short when you put the light fixture shield on.

Also sometimes a wire comes off a light socket end where the tubes connect. Check for a wire laying loose from each socket.

Let us know if you need more ideas, I am sure you have a dead short somewhere in that light fixture you installed. The short may have been caused by just moving one of hte older wires around.

Wg