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Subject Author Date
Electrical wiring questions Grimley 09-15-2007
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Posted by Grimley on September 15, 2007, 12:45 pm
I'll try to be as thorough and descriptive of my problem..

I recently replaced a bunch of outlets and switches in a room. I have
two switches which I believe are at the end of the circuit.

One switch controls an outlet (Switch A) and one switch (Switch B)
controls an outdoor light. They are side by side in the same box.

The switch controlling the outlet works properly. The switch
controlling the outdoor light does not seem to.

I have been testing the wires and here are my results... Keep in mind
I know very little about wiring.

1) On both switches, Testing the "in" to the "out" in both the on and
off positions yields nothing.
2) On both switches (both on), testing Switch A in to Switch B in is
successful.
3) On both switches (both on), testing Switch A in to Switch B out is
successful.
4) On both switches (both on), testing Switch B in to Switch A out is
successful.
5) On both switches (both on), testing Switch B out to Switch A out is
successful.
6) If either of the switches is off, testing from either in to out or
out to out is not successful.

The question I have now, is there something I am missing? It would
seem to me that I have the sources coming into the switches correctly
and at least the the "out" wired properly on Switch A. Does this seem
like the appropriate wiring? I don't believe there are any other
variables here. If there are I haven't caught them yet.

Any guidance would be appreciated. If more information is needed I
can supply that too.

Thanks in advance.

Chad


Posted by Bill on September 15, 2007, 12:57 pm
I would advise getting a book on electrical wiring and reading it before
going further or calling an electrician.

Was the outside light working before you replaced the switches?

Is the outside bulb a good bulb?

If there was a preexisting problem with the outside light, chances are the
problem is with a burnt out bulb, corroded contacts on the fixture, or
wiring problem behind fixture.

If the problem started after you replaced the switches, it is still possible
the bulb burnt out at the same time. Check/replace bulb. Did you reinstall
wires exactly as they were?




"Grimley" wrote in message
> I'll try to be as thorough and descriptive of my problem..
>
> I recently replaced a bunch of outlets and switches in a room. I have
> two switches which I believe are at the end of the circuit.
>
> One switch controls an outlet (Switch A) and one switch (Switch B)
> controls an outdoor light. They are side by side in the same box.
>
> The switch controlling the outlet works properly. The switch
> controlling the outdoor light does not seem to.
>
> I have been testing the wires and here are my results... Keep in mind
> I know very little about wiring.
>
> 1) On both switches, Testing the "in" to the "out" in both the on and
> off positions yields nothing.
> 2) On both switches (both on), testing Switch A in to Switch B in is
> successful.
> 3) On both switches (both on), testing Switch A in to Switch B out is
> successful.
> 4) On both switches (both on), testing Switch B in to Switch A out is
> successful.
> 5) On both switches (both on), testing Switch B out to Switch A out is
> successful.
> 6) If either of the switches is off, testing from either in to out or
> out to out is not successful.
>
> The question I have now, is there something I am missing? It would
> seem to me that I have the sources coming into the switches correctly
> and at least the the "out" wired properly on Switch A. Does this seem
> like the appropriate wiring? I don't believe there are any other
> variables here. If there are I haven't caught them yet.
>
> Any guidance would be appreciated. If more information is needed I
> can supply that too.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Chad
>



Posted by Tony Hwang on September 15, 2007, 1:51 pm
Grimley wrote:
> I'll try to be as thorough and descriptive of my problem..
>
> I recently replaced a bunch of outlets and switches in a room. I have
> two switches which I believe are at the end of the circuit.
>
> One switch controls an outlet (Switch A) and one switch (Switch B)
> controls an outdoor light. They are side by side in the same box.
>
> The switch controlling the outlet works properly. The switch
> controlling the outdoor light does not seem to.
>
> I have been testing the wires and here are my results... Keep in mind
> I know very little about wiring.
>
> 1) On both switches, Testing the "in" to the "out" in both the on and
> off positions yields nothing.
> 2) On both switches (both on), testing Switch A in to Switch B in is
> successful.
> 3) On both switches (both on), testing Switch A in to Switch B out is
> successful.
> 4) On both switches (both on), testing Switch B in to Switch A out is
> successful.
> 5) On both switches (both on), testing Switch B out to Switch A out is
> successful.
> 6) If either of the switches is off, testing from either in to out or
> out to out is not successful.
>
> The question I have now, is there something I am missing? It would
> seem to me that I have the sources coming into the switches correctly
> and at least the the "out" wired properly on Switch A. Does this seem
> like the appropriate wiring? I don't believe there are any other
> variables here. If there are I haven't caught them yet.
>
> Any guidance would be appreciated. If more information is needed I
> can supply that too.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Chad
>
Hi,
Obviously you miswired when replacing them. Switch interrupts
hot side to the load(light, outlet or whatever). So either switch has
hot side(120V)? The other side is going to your light and outlet.
Black, red is usually hot, white is neutral, green or bare wire is
ground.(Maybe you know this already) My guess is miswiring caused one
switch controlling another instead of controlling it's load side.

Posted by RBM on September 15, 2007, 1:58 pm
Your description of in and out wiring at the switches, doesn't tell me
anything. I would want to know how the wires are connected to the switches
and their colors. I would also want to know: With the wires disconnected
from the two switches and isolated from each other, which wires are hot to
ground, with the power turned on. Also how many cables in the switch box and
how many wires in each cable


> I'll try to be as thorough and descriptive of my problem..
>
> I recently replaced a bunch of outlets and switches in a room. I have
> two switches which I believe are at the end of the circuit.
>
> One switch controls an outlet (Switch A) and one switch (Switch B)
> controls an outdoor light. They are side by side in the same box.
>
> The switch controlling the outlet works properly. The switch
> controlling the outdoor light does not seem to.
>
> I have been testing the wires and here are my results... Keep in mind
> I know very little about wiring.
>
> 1) On both switches, Testing the "in" to the "out" in both the on and
> off positions yields nothing.
> 2) On both switches (both on), testing Switch A in to Switch B in is
> successful.
> 3) On both switches (both on), testing Switch A in to Switch B out is
> successful.
> 4) On both switches (both on), testing Switch B in to Switch A out is
> successful.
> 5) On both switches (both on), testing Switch B out to Switch A out is
> successful.
> 6) If either of the switches is off, testing from either in to out or
> out to out is not successful.
>
> The question I have now, is there something I am missing? It would
> seem to me that I have the sources coming into the switches correctly
> and at least the the "out" wired properly on Switch A. Does this seem
> like the appropriate wiring? I don't believe there are any other
> variables here. If there are I haven't caught them yet.
>
> Any guidance would be appreciated. If more information is needed I
> can supply that too.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Chad
>



Posted by Toller on September 15, 2007, 2:10 pm

> I'll try to be as thorough and descriptive of my problem..
>
You failed.
I am guessing that "in" mean hot and "successful" means there was voltage;
but who knows...

I take photos of stuff like this before I start, so if anything goes wrong I
know how it was.

Test the wires for voltage against a ground wire.



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