I just installed a new LED flush mount light fixture to replace my old brass chandelier. The installation was pretty simple—just matching black to black, white to white, and connecting the ground. However, every time I flip the switch, the breaker trips immediately. I've checked all the connections and can't see any exposed wires. I'm wondering if the fixture itself could be faulty or if I might have accidentally wired into a switched neutral. Any ideas?
2 Answers
I've seen this issue before! If your house has arc fault breakers, they can trip if there's a connection between ground and neutral. I had to separate those wires in my case, and it resolved the problem. Just make sure you check if that's the case in your setup.
It sounds like your new fixture might have a short circuit, possibly due to the LED driver being defective. Another possibility is that you could’ve pinched a wire against the fixture frame during installation. Did you notice if the light tries to illuminate before the breaker trips? That's a sign of a short too.
Good point! Sometimes those arc fault breakers can be finicky. If you don’t need them for code, swapping them for a regular breaker can save some headache.