I messed up real bad. :(

[MQN82]

Thanks

Thanks for all the quick replies, I managed to get my power back on but you guys brought up some really GOOD advise and points. I am as good with home repairs as a caveman with a computer. I managed to get everything working again, what I did was screw those plastic caps back onto the wires.

I guess when the caps are not screwed on, as a safety precaution the breakers shut off? What do these plastic caps do?

I'll go to home depot and get the test light screw driver thing mentioned by Hayzee ... is that the same as a circuit tester mentioned by Leodlion?

I will try to connect my sconce tonight. First thing I will do is turn off the breaker for that area. The wires coming out of the wall are white, green and I believe one was black. And I think my sconce has more wires then that so this will be interesting. I have a feeling I will be back on tonight with more questions HAHA. Thanks so much though. I really appreciate the help guys.

[leodlion]

As a first rule, before working on any electrical connection, you must turn off the circuit breaker at the main switch. As an added precaution, I also check whether the point I am working is really dead. Get a circuit tester, they are not expensive and if you want to work with electricity (in the house or in the car, etc), this is a must have equipment.

You probably trip your circuit breaker thats why the lights wont work. Dont turn them on before fixing what cause it in the first place.

You need to know what you are doing. I make a sketch on what I wanted to do before starting any job. Basically, a black wire (hot) or red wire is never, never, connected directly into a white (ground) wire. I suggest you get a how-to-wire book at your local hardware store. Reading it will payoff in the long run.

I have added circuits to my house, three-way switches, etc. I followed the same basic rule as I described above. Safety first.

[HayZee518]

do you remember the color of the wires you separated? chances are the wires you pulled apart were the neutrals. if its real old wiring then there won't be any discernable color, they'll all look alike. in this case you'll have to identify the wire coming off the switch to the light, a hot wire if there is one in this box and the neutrals. if you're really nervous with eletricity get a professional. we don't want you to get fried. you can use a neon test light or a test light that looks like a small screwdriver with a small lamp inside its barrel. you touch the light or screwdriver tip to each of the wires. a hot wire will make the lamp glow ever so slightly the neutral won't glow. the wire coming off the switch, with the switch on this wire will glow, with it off it won't.

[MQN82]

I did a search and didn't find an answer to my questions. So...

I was trying to install a new sconce downstairs by the main door. As I took apart the old sconce, I undid all the wiring that connected it to the house. THere were wires coming from the wall connected with wires from the old sconce. These wires were connected together with a rubber cap. I unscrewed these rubber caps and the last one sparked and snapped as the two wires were separated. After that I lost all power downstairs and partially upstairs.

None of the light switches downstairs work now and one of the electrical outlets on the 2nd floor by the stair case is out as well. Is this something I can remedy on my own or will I be calling an electrician today? Is this problem major? Thanks everyone.