[Laxputs]

I would like to wire an overhead light in my master bedroom in a pan abode house. The switch controls a receptacle on the left wall. I want to take power from the switch as it is closer to where I want the overhead light spot by 20 feet (than using the receptacle).


Inside the switch box, there seems to be something funny going on. There is a black wire going to a terminal screw, a white coming out of the other terminal screw, and a white grounded to the box. All the rest of the house uses the same cable but has a white, black and ground in the cable. It looks like someone has cut 2" of white wire coating and slid it onto the ground, connected that ground to the switch below the black wire connection, and actually grounded the white (normally neutral) wire to the box. Has anyone seen that before? Is that possible/safe/normal? The switch works and controls the receptacle. Can I pull power from that switch? Which wires do I splice?


Both the switch and the receptacle only appear to have one cable coming in. Safety caveat, I turn off the breaker and test for power before I proceed.



Thanks for the help. Here is a picture of it, notice there is a white wire grounded to the box and a white wire coming from the switch: http://postimg.org/image/3wqnuhh3p/

 

[Jim Port]

It sounds like a switch loop. The white should be bringing power to the switch while the black returns as a switched hot.

The ground to the box does not need to be insulated. It should also not be white.

Can you confirm?

 

[Laxputs]

That's why I'm confused. If you look at the pic, the white wire on the bottom left is curved back and grounded. The black is to the switch. And the other wire (which looks to me like someone has pushed on 2" of white wire cover) is at the switch. How can I test or proceed from here? And can I pull power from here and wire an overhead light?

 

[Jim Port]

Right now there is no neutral at the switch.

The pictures do not show.