new ceiling light works but...

[momo]

I recently replaced my old ceiling light with a new one. The old light has five 40 watts traditional light bulbs while the new one has ten 20 watts halogen light bulbs. The new ceiling light works, but everytime when I turn it on, the power outlets of all the bathrooms would stop working. I then found out that there is a power outlet in the garage that has a "reset" button and when I press that reset button, the bathroom power oulets would work again.

After I took out the old ceiling light, there were three wires: black, white, and copper. So I connected the black to black and white to white. There is a green wire from the new light so I connected that to the copper one.

again, the light turns on fine.... it just cuts the power outlets of the bathrooms. any idea what I did work? Thank you so much!!!!

[John Nelson]

So you touched no wiring at all except the wiring at the ceiling light? You didn't even open up the switch box at all? And the ceiling light stays on even when the bathroom receptacles go dead?

If all of the above is true, and if the GFCI receptacle in the garage is more than two years old, then replace the GFCI receptacle in the garage. Make sure you don't mix up the "line" and "load" connections (in other words, pay attention).

Wait, before you do that, go check the wiring at the ceiling again. Make sure that no wires are accidentally touching anything they're not supposed to. One way is to leave the fixture hanging by the wires so that they stay well separated. Then try turning on the light again with it hanging and see if it still trips the GFCI.

[momo]

I changed the GCFI today and everything is working fine now!!! so happy!!! thanks soooo much for your help! My wife and I are new homeowner and we just moved into this 8 yrs old townhouse and don't know much about how things work in a house. So glad there are this forum and people like you to help us out!! thanks again!!