Added can lights, tripping GFI

tandyt

Hey, I just added some can lights to my basement. On one switch there were two plain light fixtures that I traded out with two can lights--works fine. On the other side there was one light fixture that I traded out with 5 can lights--doesn't work fine. The first 3 can lights in the 'run' work, but the last two don't. The entire basement is on one 15 amp circuit and when I have all the can lights plugged in and turned on the GFI trips. So I unplugged the 5th light in the run and it still tripped, then I unplugged the 4th light in the run and now it works.

So two of my five on one switch trip the GFI. I don't have light bulbs in each of the can lights--could that be the problem?

Also, is there a certain length of run from switch to lights that I need to stay within? Between the 5 lights I am running about 42-45 feet. Can I change the wiring so that the first, second and third lights are attached and the first fourth and fifth are attached? Would that help?

I figured I would come on here and find out before wasting my time/money adding and removing wires...

LawnGuyLandSparky

What do you mean by "plugged in?" GFCIs trip because you have a ground fault. Most likely, your neutral (white) is mistakenly touching earth ground.

tandyt

So all that is happening is maybe one of the white wires is touching a ground wire inside the little box on the can light?

Plugged in as in hooked up... attached... Not plugged into the GFI.

tandyt

Yep, it was the neutral wire touching the ground in the 4th can light.

Thanks for the help.