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Mystery Electrical Circuit

Leho
10 years ago

I have a light fixture box that is capped off. It is located over the garage where a flood light would be. I also have 2 3-way switches by two nearby doors that appear to do nothing. I think the switches go with the light that must have been removed at some point.

The box for the light fixture has three 14/2 wires running into it. That does not match any of the wiring diagrams that I see for a light with 3-way switches. Any idea what is going on here?

Comments (6)

  • bus_driver
    10 years ago

    Any idea of the date that might have been installed?

  • Leho
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    The house was built in the 70s

  • Ron Natalie
    10 years ago

    Put a meter on the wires and try throwing the switches in various combinations.

    Possible that if they put 3 way switch wiring in, they just used a length of 14-3 to feed the light with one conductor unused.

  • bus_driver
    10 years ago

    In the 1950s and earlier, it was not unusual to install two runs of 2 conductor NM cable in lieu of one run of 3 conductor NM for 3-way circuits. One of the conductors would be left unused. Some electricians continued the practice out of habit even after 3 conductor NM became more available and the code required all conductors to be in one cable.
    Another possibility is that the installer simply did not know what he /she was doing and just gave up on it.

  • pharkus
    10 years ago

    Another possibility is that the installer simply did not know what he /she was doing and just gave up on it.

    I have been away from this forum (and on to social networking) for way too long -- I just found myself looking for the 'Like!' button.

  • bus_driver
    10 years ago

    I fear that experience has turned me into a misanthrope. The comment about the installer came from an experience on a volunteer rush house building project. 8 men were going to do the electrical in an afternoon and as much of the night as necessary. At least 3 were licensed contractors and two of the others were people who thought they knew much more than they did-- if you know what I mean. Two circuits connected together in wall box in bedroom-- cost me a ruined pliers plus nasty shock twice while trying to find the problem. Wall boxes all over the house with blank covers because the circuits simply did not work. I told the lead man that we needed to test everything before the drywall went up-- but he did not agree. I always test my own work while the walls are open. Some do not like the delays that involves.