Help me install a gfci in a 6 wire(no ground wire) box
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Help me install a gfci in a 6 wire(no ground wire) box
I have 6 wires in the box by the bathroom sink.(2 red, 2 white, 2 black soddered and taped together).
got the line/load all figured out. when I go to turn the light on it pops the gfci.
Im at my wits end. It says to contact a qualified electrician if trying to install in a setup with more then four wires (not including grounds) wish I would of read that part a couple days ago.
I have no ground wire but the box is grounded. im guessin I need to run something to the taped blacks?
please help.
thanks in advance
got the line/load all figured out. when I go to turn the light on it pops the gfci.
Im at my wits end. It says to contact a qualified electrician if trying to install in a setup with more then four wires (not including grounds) wish I would of read that part a couple days ago.
I have no ground wire but the box is grounded. im guessin I need to run something to the taped blacks?
please help.
thanks in advance
#4
Try measuring between red and white for voltage or install a regular receptacle and check by plugging in a lamp. The presence of red and black would suggest there might be a switch involved. Any switches you never knew what they did? Is the breaker that supplies this a single pole breaker or a two pole breaker? Red and black could also indicate a multi-wire circuit. Are there any other GFCIs on this circuit?
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Try measuring between red and white for voltage or install a regular receptacle and check by plugging in a lamp. The presence of red and black would suggest there might be a switch involved. Any switches you never knew what they did? Is the breaker that supplies this a single pole breaker or a two pole breaker? Red and black could also indicate a multi-wire circuit. Are there any other GFCIs on this circuit?
All switches accounted for. The switch appears to get to the vanity light through the outlet. no other gfci in the house
The gfci shows it wired properly and works like it should.... untill I turn the light switch.
The instructions for the gfci state to contact a qualified electrician for a six wire setup. Which sounds like it can be done.
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i believe its older cloth black spliced with something I think another black ( gonna run across the street and double check after I post) thats at the bottom of the switch. another black up top.
black and two joined whites for the light. the black turns the light on.
tried to join the hot sodered reds to the black and that leaves the light on regardles of switch.
works fine with a normal receptacle as wired.
really want a gfci there.
black and two joined whites for the light. the black turns the light on.
tried to join the hot sodered reds to the black and that leaves the light on regardles of switch.
works fine with a normal receptacle as wired.
really want a gfci there.
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Switch:
Old cloth black joined with a red feeding the bottom of the switch
modern black wire leaving the switch
cloth white and modern white taped togetherand pushed in the back of box.
Receptacle:
2 reds 2 whites for the outlet
2 blacks taped together pushed in back
Light:
modern white and old cloth white joined
one modern black
cloth black and modern red taped and pushed in back of the box
hope that helps
thanks
Old cloth black joined with a red feeding the bottom of the switch
modern black wire leaving the switch
cloth white and modern white taped togetherand pushed in the back of box.
Receptacle:
2 reds 2 whites for the outlet
2 blacks taped together pushed in back
Light:
modern white and old cloth white joined
one modern black
cloth black and modern red taped and pushed in back of the box
hope that helps
thanks
#9
If none of these are cable my first comment is that the new black and white can;t be used. It must be cable or BX. However this is a code problem not a wiring problem. You said the GFCI stopped working when the switch was on? Do you mean it tripped? Not instantly tracking on how the circuit is wired from your description. It seems both switched (black) and un-switched (red) power goes from the switch to the receptacle then switched power (black) goes to the light. However I'm confused by why in the light Jbox you write cloth black and modern red taped and pushed in back of the box. There should be only a black in the light Jbox unless there is a second light on the switch. Is there a second light? Maybe trying to over analyze. For now just answer what you meant by The gfci shows it wired properly and works like it should.... until I turn the light switch. You mean turn the light on and the GFCI trips?
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If none of these are cable my first comment is that the new black and white can;t be used. It must be cable or BX. However this is a code problem not a wiring problem. You said the GFCI stopped working when the switch was on? Do you mean it tripped? Not instantly tracking on how the circuit is wired from your description. It seems both switched (black) and un-switched (red) power goes from the switch to the receptacle then switched power (black) goes to the light. However I'm confused by why in the light Jbox you write cloth black and modern red taped and pushed in back of the box. There should be only a black in the light Jbox unless there is a second light on the switch. Is there a second light? Maybe trying to over analyze. For now just answer what you meant by The gfci shows it wired properly and works like it should.... until I turn the light switch. You mean turn the light on and the GFCI trips?
the gfci wired prop with line/load had no problem running an industrial carpet cleaning machine. it test properly and shuts down everything after it in the circuit.
as soon as i switch the light it pops
#11
Hopefully one of the pros will come along to help. I am at a loss to explain what is happening.
I am not yet suggesting you do this but this is the point where I would either disconnect all wires and trace them out using an ohm meter then reconnect them in a manner that made sense to me or more likely given the presence of K&T wires, no ground, and a 15 amp circuit just abandon the existing wires and run a new 20 amp grounded circuit to switch, light, and receptacle.
I am not yet suggesting you do this but this is the point where I would either disconnect all wires and trace them out using an ohm meter then reconnect them in a manner that made sense to me or more likely given the presence of K&T wires, no ground, and a 15 amp circuit just abandon the existing wires and run a new 20 amp grounded circuit to switch, light, and receptacle.
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Hopefully one of the pros will come along to help. I am at a loss to explain what is happening.
I am not yet suggesting you do this but this is the point where I would either disconnect all wires and trace them out using an ohm meter then reconnect them in a manner that made sense to me or more likely given the presence of K&T wires, no ground, and a 15 amp circuit just abandon the existing wires and run a new 20 amp grounded circuit to switch, light, and receptacle.
I am not yet suggesting you do this but this is the point where I would either disconnect all wires and trace them out using an ohm meter then reconnect them in a manner that made sense to me or more likely given the presence of K&T wires, no ground, and a 15 amp circuit just abandon the existing wires and run a new 20 amp grounded circuit to switch, light, and receptacle.
No knob and tube wiring. its all covered.(knob and tube is bare wire around ceramic rings, right?)
when I listed as old they are just older cloth.
for now im just gonna put a 3 prong instead of the gfi.
the box is grounded.
everything works fine like that. so untill further info i'll keep it like that.
got lots of other projects to work on.