Understanding a switch loop

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Moderator Post (s) for this thread: > Get a voltage tester by doug seibert on 09/30/2004 > Just-A-Working-Stiff..........You're scareing me by doug seibert on 10/01/2004

Simply stated: A fixture needs a HOT and a NEUTRAL connection to operate........That leaves the fixture ON whenever power is ON.....

To control the fixture the BLACK HOT wire is intercepted and a switch is installed to MAKE/BREAK the circuit..........

To place that switch where desired a piece of ordinary sheathed electrical cable is used......it contains a Black and a White wire (plus grnd).......In this instance the switch-white wire connects to the HOT BLACK and carries the HOT to the switch and then the switch-black returns the HOT to the fixture from the switch.........Both wires are working as Hot wires and should be marked Black..........

here is a diagram:

http://www.homewiringandmore.com/switchoutlet/basiclightswitch/basiiclightswitchsl.html

You HAVE to understand HowThingsWork before you can correct a fault.............