"I-zheet M'drurz" wrote in message
...
On 06 Jan 2004, Phil Anderson wrote:

That said, how do I distinguish the switched from the source
black wire?

Use a simple neon "voltage tester" or a $10 Radio Shacq
multimeter, set to high AC Volts, one probe to ground,
The other probe used to check the 2 black wires attached to
the switch. With switch in OFF position, one black wire vill
have 120 VAC present, that's the source. The other will have
0 VAC present, that's the switched side. Actually it will
probably show a few hundred mV if you use a multimeter,
don't
let that throw you.

If you picture all of the outles leading back to one black
wire (it's likely they do) if that black wire was connected
to the switched instead of the source, that would explain
the problem.

Thanks for the reply. Just to be sure I am not missing anything:
1. By "neon" voltage testers are we referring to the simple
devices where the bulb lights up when a current, any current, is
detected? Guess it never occurred to me the bulb was neon.
2. Is the ceiling fixture a likely place to find the wires
switched? I plan to replace it any event, so finding it there
would be a real bonus.

Phil
(not an EE, never played one on TV, either)