Why wont my light work?

[Roto1one]

We just purchased a 1930 house with original wiring.
The outside back porch light does not work. I replaced the bulb and nothing.
Checked the power at the switch and there is power at all four terminals (sort of weird).
Removed the fixture and found the light was disconnected with no wire nuts on the wires.
It is a two wire system with power at one wire and it does not matter what position the switch is in.
When I hook up the new fixture, the power goes away and will not burn. Not sure what to do. Bad switch?
Paul

 

[Petej999]

We just purchased a 1930 house with original wiring.
The outside back porch light does not work. I replaced the bulb and nothing.
Checked the power at the switch and there is power at all four terminals (sort of weird).
Removed the fixture and found the light was disconnected with no wire nuts on the wires.
It is a two wire system with power at one wire and it does not matter what position the switch is in.
When I hook up the new fixture, the power goes away and will not burn. Not sure what to do. Bad switch?
Paul

if you are unsure of how to proceed best call an Electrician Mate to save yoiurself some grief might be a simole job but I Don't like giving out step by step instructions if you were close to N/TON I would come and help you out FOC, except for prtrol dosh.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

It sounds like a high-resistance connection; you can see some voltage there when there is no load (lamp) in circuit, but the resistance is so high that when the lamp starts to draw current, the voltage collapses. Due to the age of the installation I agree with @Petej999 that this is really a job for an electrician, otherwise you might open a can of worms.

I think Washington USA is a bit out of his area though!

 

[Roto1one]

It sounds like a high-resistance connection; you can see some voltage there when there is no load (lamp) in circuit, but the resistance is so high that when the lamp starts to draw current, the voltage collapses. Due to the age of the installation I agree with @Petej999 that this is really a job for an electrician, otherwise you might open a can of worms.

I think Washington USA is a bit out of his area though!

I am having a new panel installed in the house and shop in a few weeks. I will have them look at it then.
Thank you.

 

[Megawatt]

We just purchased a 1930 house with original wiring.
The outside back porch light does not work. I replaced the bulb and nothing.
Checked the power at the switch and there is power at all four terminals (sort of weird).
Removed the fixture and found the light was disconnected with no wire nuts on the wires.
It is a two wire system with power at one wire and it does not matter what position the switch is in.
When I hook up the new fixture, the power goes away and will not burn. Not sure what to do. Bad switch?
Paul

The wire with power all the time is your live coming in to feed the box. The only thing that could be wrong is you have your blacks crossed up or possibly a bad switch but doubtful. You know that a house with just 2 wires uses the white as a switch leg but never mark them with black tape as a live wire.

 

[Roto1one]

The wire with power all the time is your live coming in to feed the box. The only thing that could be wrong is you have your blacks crossed up or possibly a bad switch but doubtful. You know that a house with just 2 wires uses the white as a switch leg but never mark them with black tape as a live wire.

I will put a new switch in it and see if that solves the problem. If not, I will have the Electrician look at it.
Thank You