I have this gangbox in my living room that's about an appropriate height for where a switch would be (picture attached).. I would definitely guess switch if not for some other odd outlets around the room (there is a power outlet on a wall at about 6ft height, no idea what it's for). Is it a switch, is it an outlet, or something else?
I would like it to be a switch that controls one of the floor outlets (to control a lamp).. but I'm not sure whether to have someone come install a switch there, or if I should just buy one of those remote/wireless switches and just cover this bad boy up.
Neutral wires are nutted together it could never work as an outlet. The ground is done right.
It is a switch and the fixture is wired with a break in its hot wire lead. The switch is filling the gap. Flip the switch, the hot wire reaches the fixture.
Given the choice between a receptacle and a switch, shouldn't one of the choices be none of the above? The box looks too full to accomodate either. Maybe it's an optical illusion. But isn't it possible that this is just a junction box?
What's the story here... What was over this, was it just a blank cover?
If you're considering covering this, you would have to use a blank cover. Whatever this is, you can't just drywall or spackle or whatever to cover it it is an electrical box that has to remain accessible.
If it was a switch it might have been a 3-way switch with the 3 conductor cable being in there.
The story.. it's an apartment that we bought from the bank so there are some weird things from a previous remodel that I can't explain.
This was originally covered with a blank cover, and the circuit breaker is on the same wall on the opposite side. However, the position is very close to the front door and basically a very logical place to have a light switch. I was hoping to either install a switch if it's already wired, or install a remote/wireless switch in the same spot.
It's not likely to be a 3-way switch because there aren't other switches in the vicinity.
brygo, spread those wires apart (lift up the tied white wires) and take another pic. Are there any wires in there that have only a wire nut on them (iow: no other wires attached)?
If you could spread the wires out and take another picture, it might help. You mention conduit, but what I see is a plastic box with romex cables. Not likely conduit. The cable that has the red wire should have a black wire also…where is it?
I see a black wire with an orange wirenut, you didn’t mention that. Is that a pigtail off the 2 blacks with the red wirenut? Or is it the black in the same cable as the red?
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