throwing a breaker

[blakjak220]

So I've got 8 receptacles (4x 2 gang boxes) that I have wired to a switch. I have a light plugged into one of the outlets - it's all 12/2 wire with 20amp 120v breaker and 20amp switch. When the switch is "on", the light is on and everything seems fine. When I flip the switch to "off", instead of the power being cut to the outlet and the light going off, the breaker gets thrown. When I take the switch out of the circuit and just wire them together the light stays on as expected. Do I just have a neutral wire out of place somewhere? Obviously there's a short... I guess I just need some help on how to go about finding out where I made the mistake... anything easier than redoing the whole thing. Do my symptoms indicate exactly where or what the problem is? Any help is appreciated.

 

[justsam]

Sounds like a defective switch, that in the OFF position the BLACK HOT lead is making contact to ground.

Do you have an Ohmmeter? If so, pull the switch and confirm there is no continuity to the switch frame, when the switch is in the ON or OFF position. Is there a GROUND lead on the switch? Is this a simple ONE WAY switch, (two brass screws) or something else.

Does not sound like a neutral issue. I assume you are only switching the HOT, BLACK lead. There should be no neutral or white lead on the switch.

 

[Norcal]

By any chance was a 3-way switch used & a neutral connected to it? Unless a switch is illuminated, or is a occupancy sensor, there is no need for a neutral to it.

Pictures as usual are always helpful.

 

[Orionrising]

By any chance was a 3-way switch used & a neutral connected to it? Unless a switch is illuminated, or is a occupancy sensor, there is no need for a neutral to it.

Pictures as usual are always helpful.

that could be it, is this a pass through switch setup?

two cables in, whites together, blacks on switch?

or a dead end switch, Black taped white and black on switch.

or something more complicated?

 

[blakjak220]

JustSam.. that was it. Bad switch. I do way more electrical work than the avg homeowner but I'm no electrician... I was just assuming it was something I messed up. Used another switch and it's all good. Thanks man!