DIYbanter - View Single Post - Problem with replacing a bathroom light switch

On 10 Nov 2003 01:20:21 GMT, (HA HA Budys Here)
wrote:

From: Jim Thompson lid

On Sun, 09 Nov 2003 22:10:31 GMT, "Sparky"
wrote:

2 wires connected at the switch. Red and black. There's a second red wire
connected to a screw in the back of the switch's box; I'm assuming that's
ground.

I haven't opened the fixture, since it's been painted to the wall several
times it'll be quite a project. If it's important though, I will.

Thanks again.

Jim Thompson wrote:
[snip]
If you open the fixture how many wires do you see? Colors? Color of
wires at switch?

...Jim Thompson
[snip]

Hmmmm! Sounds like a 3-way switch. Is there another switch location
which controls the fixture?

To get the fixture loose run a penknife around the edge until you cut
thru the paint.

If you're in luck power will have been brought directly to the fixture
*then* to the switch. (Which, IIRC, is code?)

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E.

You engineers are weird. "If you're in luck power will have been brought
directly to the fixture*then* to the switch. (Which, IIRC, is code?)"

Actually, he's *si+ outta luck. IF he was truly lucky, power would have been
brought directly to the switch *first*, then continued on in a 2-wire (with
ground) cable to the light. That way, future conversion would have been simpler
- the feed, neutral, and switchleg would all be exactly where they're needed.

Why, if I may ask, would you think it advantageous, if not code (It isn't BTW,
codes are written for a safe and usuable electrical system, not future add-ons
or expansions) to have power at the fixture first? That almost always results
in the switch having only the feed and switchleg, and no neutral. Now
impossible to have a receptacle at the switch location. Sounds like this
building is very old.

AT any rate, back to the OP's issue...

First, it's very odd to have 2 reds and a black wire within 1 cable. 2 wire
cable (with ground, or the sheath if the cable is BX armored) is always black &
white, with a bare copper ground wire, (or the sheath if the cable is BX
armored) You should only find red in a 3-wire cable - black, white & red, and a
bare copper ground.(Or the sheath if the cable is BX armored)

Are you absolutely certian there's no white wire in the switch box?

Maybe he's color-blind ?:-)

If power were brought to the fixture, then a loop-wired switch link,
he'd have power available *at the fixture* for an *always-on*
receptacle.

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
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