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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Circle, MT
    Posts
    90

    Default Improvised and unconventional

    In two rooms the black wire was stripped out of the romex, run through a switch, re-entered the romex and went to a light fixture. White wire went around the switch. I wrote it up as improvised and unconventional, but I'm sure there is more to it. Can't get photos to upload.

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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Orlando, FL
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    1,592

    Default Re: Improvised and unconventional

    First, how did you come upon this wiring, and second, what exactly do you think is incorrect? Your description is vague.


  3. #3
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    Mar 2007
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    Circle, MT
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    Default Re: Improvised and unconventional

    Quote Originally Posted by Robert Meier View Post
    So the white conductor is unbroken within the switch box?
    White conductor did not go into the switch box; only the black wire went into the box and back out.

    Dom: Basement was unfinished.


  4. #4
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    Mar 2007
    Location
    Plano, Texas
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    4,245

    Default Re: Improvised and unconventional

    Quote Originally Posted by Duane Nelson View Post
    White conductor did not go into the switch box; only the black wire went into the box and back out.

    Dom: Basement was unfinished.
    It is unsafe if as I envision. The sheathing must cover the conductors fully until inside the box.

    Jim Luttrall
    www.MrInspector.net
    Plano, Texas

  5. #5
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    Mar 2007
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    Orlando, FL
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    1,592

    Default Re: Improvised and unconventional

    Quote Originally Posted by Duane Nelson View Post
    White conductor did not go into the switch box; only the black wire went into the box and back out.

    Dom: Basement was unfinished.
    Ahh, basements---I don't see those around here.

    If they stripped a conductor out of NM cable, or somehow managed to expose only one conductor, then it's improper. Love to see a photo.


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    2,809

    Default Re: Improvised and unconventional

    Duane,
    I know exactly what you are saying.
    The switch is not grounded = wrong.
    The ground and neutral need to be in the switch box and correctly pigtailed to switch.

    The method used was a waste of time by someone that just did not know what they were doing even thought the switch worked. Would like to have them explain their thinking on the method.


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,032

    Default Re: Improvised and unconventional

    Quote Originally Posted by Garry Sorrells View Post
    Duane,
    I know exactly what you are saying.
    The switch is not grounded = wrong.
    The ground and neutral need to be in the switch box and correctly pigtailed to switch.

    The method used was a waste of time by someone that just did not know what they were doing even thought the switch worked. Would like to have them explain their thinking on the method.
    That's what I am envisioning too - that they simply slipped some stripped off black insulation over the bare ground and shoved it into the NM cable to make it look like there are 2 blacks and 1 white, in reality, there is still a bare (uninsulated, but covered, conductor in there which is now being used as a hot switch leg).

    And, as you said, there is no ground.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Circle, MT
    Posts
    90

    Default Re: Improvised and unconventional

    Still trying to upload photos. First try they were too large, so I resized, now it says it is not a valid image file.

    Garry, Dom and Jim are on the right track.


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