Converting switch to plug, burned wire?
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Converting switch to plug, burned wire?
Hi all! In my garage, there are two switches with two lights. I would like to convert the switch at the far end to a half hot outlet if possible. I wrote a diagram to show my current situation and am a stand still tonight since I left my multi meter at work!
The note of burned wire was that in the first light the black and white pig tail down to the light were obviously burned, and that light has never worked in the year and a half we've been here, as you can tell in the picture, I noticed the bare ground was quite green, I can even photograph the wires at the back of the light, it shorted quite nicely!
I would like to convert the second switch, at the bottom of the diagram, to a half hot plug if possible. What in the heck do I gotta do?!
Thank you all in advance!
The note of burned wire was that in the first light the black and white pig tail down to the light were obviously burned, and that light has never worked in the year and a half we've been here, as you can tell in the picture, I noticed the bare ground was quite green, I can even photograph the wires at the back of the light, it shorted quite nicely!
I would like to convert the second switch, at the bottom of the diagram, to a half hot plug if possible. What in the heck do I gotta do?!
Thank you all in advance!
Last edited by PJmax; 09-05-15 at 11:04 PM. Reason: reposted diagram
#2
Welcome to the forums.
A little confused here.....
What diagram ? I see a picture of a round box.
A copper wire turned green means it's gotten wet.
A little confused here.....
I would like to convert the second switch, at the bottom of the diagram,
A copper wire turned green means it's gotten wet.
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I had to resize that image to get it posted. The confusing part to me is in the junction box for the first light is where the burned wire was, I sure hope it didn't get wet in the ceiling! But yes in that junction box the white wire is nutted to a black that continues on to the second junction box, does that mean the switch I am replacing with a plug has black and white neutral and red hot?
#4
I resized and brightened your diagram.
However it doesn't make sense as drawn. You show the neutral/white from the panel going to the top switch ? I don't think the circuit is drawn correctly.
However it doesn't make sense as drawn. You show the neutral/white from the panel going to the top switch ? I don't think the circuit is drawn correctly.
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Here's a photo of the first switch and junction box
You can see the ground and white continue on to the junction box for the first light where things get weird
Edit: In the photo in the top post, the junction box with all the wires in the box for the first light. On the diagram, the connections just to the left of the first light are those in that photo.
You can see the ground and white continue on to the junction box for the first light where things get weird
Edit: In the photo in the top post, the junction box with all the wires in the box for the first light. On the diagram, the connections just to the left of the first light are those in that photo.
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I can get photos here in a moment, I tested the wires at the switch I am replacing with a plug. The black is my neutral, white is 120v and the red wire had 28v across it?
With the other switch flipped, the red gains 120v and white turns to 28v
With the other switch flipped, the red gains 120v and white turns to 28v
#9
The black is my neutral, white is 120v and the red wire had 28v across it?
the red wire had 28v across it?
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In the junction box for the first light fixture, the white wire coming from the panel box is nutted to a black wire that goes to the switch I am replacing with an outlet.
Yes I am using a digital multi meter. It was measured to the bare ground
Yes I am using a digital multi meter. It was measured to the bare ground
#11
the white wire coming from the panel box is nutted to a black wire that goes to the switch
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I reset the whole thing back to square one to check every wire with the multimeter. I can type up those results but mostly I'm curious why the second switch, the one I would like to replace with a plug, has no neutral?
Last edited by Youngunbd; 09-06-15 at 11:18 AM.
#13
That is a three way switch in your last picture. Did I miss where you were working on a 3-way circuit?
Basic dead end 3-way with power at the first switch. You may have power in at the light but the principle is the same.
That is because no neutral is needed for it to work. Note by code the white wire was supposed to be recolored on both ends some color other then white, gray, or green.
Basic dead end 3-way with power at the first switch. You may have power in at the light but the principle is the same.
I'm curious why the second switch, the one I would like to replace with a plug, has no neutral
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Inexperience takes the cake on that one! Is it possible to replace that switch with a plug then? It would be quite nice to have it there but not something that can't be worked around!
#15
Is it possible to replace that switch with a plug then?
Easier solution find another source of power for your receptacle, change the switch box to two gang, run a power cable to the box and install a receptacle alongside the switch or even easier just put the new receptacle in a separate box.