[PLUG-TALK] electrical wiring question
Denis Heidtmann
denis.heidtmann at gmail.com
Fri May 27 15:03:46 UTC 2016
I replaced a wall light switch for a relative (arcing in the switch). The
time was short-- we had to leave for our plane, so I did not spend the
proper time examining the situation. Looking back on what I recall I saw
in the box leads to this question.
The old switch was a 3-way, but only two of the terminals were connected.
The lower connection had a white wire; the upper had one white and one
black wire. I observed at least one wire nut in the box and some bare
copper wires fastened to the box. I replaced the switch with a 1-way
(spst) and connected the wires as they had been. The light functioned fine
after the replacement.
I was told that this switch and light had been in place for at least 20
years; no new work done in that room. I asked if in the past there had
been a second switch controlling that light. I was told "no".
Prior to shutting off the power to change the switch I touched the
terminals in the light socket to see if I could determine if the switch was
installed in the neutral lead--I could sense no voltage, but this may mean
nothing.
Is there any legitimate reason to connect a black and white wire
together? I have been trying to conjure some historical reason for this
wiring, but cannot. In hindsight I desperately wish I had spent some time
studying the situation.
Ideas?
thanks,
-Denis
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.pdxlinux.org/pipermail/plug-talk/attachments/20160527/1190d5f7/attachment.html>
More information about the PLUG-talk
mailing list