Problem Wiring A Porch Light

AuD14 · 10-31-2010, 07:20 PM

Hello,
New guy here. I'm having a little trouble getting our porch light to work. When we bought our house I replaced all the switches and outlets because they had been painted to match the original walls which we were repainting. I'm no electrical expert but I know how to replace an outlet and a switch. Or so I thought. I tried to pay careful attention to how each was wired but I guess I screwed things up with these switches.

There is no overhead light in the room so my wife and I are both a little befuddled by the two switches.

I believe that the switch on the left is the one that is going to porch. It's ground is clipped and there is no ground coming out of the brickwork to the light. One thing that really confuses me is the return neutral being tied in with the ground of what I believe to be the source line.

The other issue is with the outlet on that same wall. According to the handy dandy outlet tester I have, with both switches on the circuit is good. With only the left switch on, it shows a hot/ground reverse. With only the right switch on, it shows an open ground.

Sorry I tend to ramble a bit. If you need any other info/pictures let me know. the one thing I havent done yet is get up in the attic and try and trace lines.
There is an outlet on that same wall that is tied into the switches.

bobelectric · 10-31-2010, 07:42 PM

Yowll! You are using the grounding conductor as a neutral. You will have voltage on all ground points.

oleguy74 · 10-31-2010, 07:44 PM

first dangerous and illegal.they are useing a ground for neutral.you better get an electrician there before you get hurt.the sw on right looks like it set up for a half hot to a plug.get it fixed soon...

joed · 10-31-2010, 07:46 PM

It appears someone tapped a switch loop for power. You need to disconnect that white and ground wire and run a new cable with the proper amount of wires.

Hot ground reversed is the indication you get on those testers for an open neutral.

frenchelectrican · 10-31-2010, 07:47 PM

Yikes .,,

That is not a good set up.

First thing is go to the nearest receptale and find out how it hook up to the switch { the one that is either switched or alive } and make a note how it hook up with all the colours.

And post it back here we will go from there and do the same thing with the porch luminaire how that hook up as well.

this is more than just a basic set up.

Merci.
Marc

oleguy74 · 10-31-2010, 11:09 PM

now you know why the 2011 code will require a switch loop to be 12 or 14-3.a 12 or 14-3 ,so there would be a neutral in the box.

10-31-2010, 07:20 PM	#1
AuD14 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2	Problem Wiring A Porch Light Hello, New guy here. I'm having a little trouble getting our porch light to work. When we bought our house I replaced all the switches and outlets because they had been painted to match the original walls which we were repainting. I'm no electrical expert but I know how to replace an outlet and a switch. Or so I thought. I tried to pay careful attention to how each was wired but I guess I screwed things up with these switches. There is no overhead light in the room so my wife and I are both a little befuddled by the two switches. I believe that the switch on the left is the one that is going to porch. It's ground is clipped and there is no ground coming out of the brickwork to the light. One thing that really confuses me is the return neutral being tied in with the ground of what I believe to be the source line. The other issue is with the outlet on that same wall. According to the handy dandy outlet tester I have, with both switches on the circuit is good. With only the left switch on, it shows a hot/ground reverse. With only the right switch on, it shows an open ground. Sorry I tend to ramble a bit. If you need any other info/pictures let me know. the one thing I havent done yet is get up in the attic and try and trace lines. There is an outlet on that same wall that is tied into the switches.

10-31-2010, 07:42 PM	#2
bobelectric Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: 84,Pa.15330 Posts: 983	Problem Wiring A Porch Light Yowll! You are using the grounding conductor as a neutral. You will have voltage on all ground points.

10-31-2010, 07:44 PM	#3
oleguy74 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 388	Problem Wiring A Porch Light first dangerous and illegal.they are useing a ground for neutral.you better get an electrician there before you get hurt.the sw on right looks like it set up for a half hot to a plug.get it fixed soon...

10-31-2010, 07:46 PM	#4
joed Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Welland, Ontario Posts: 6,096	Problem Wiring A Porch Light It appears someone tapped a switch loop for power. You need to disconnect that white and ground wire and run a new cable with the proper amount of wires. Hot ground reversed is the indication you get on those testers for an open neutral. __________________ Do not PM with questions that can be asked in a forum. I will not respond.

10-31-2010, 07:47 PM	#5
frenchelectrican " Euro " electrician Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: WI & France { in France for now } Posts: 5,095	Problem Wiring A Porch Light Yikes .,, That is not a good set up. First thing is go to the nearest receptale and find out how it hook up to the switch { the one that is either switched or alive } and make a note how it hook up with all the colours. And post it back here we will go from there and do the same thing with the porch luminaire how that hook up as well. this is more than just a basic set up. Merci. Marc

Problem Wiring A Porch Light