home wiring oddity
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 544
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From: Cupertino, CA
home wiring oddity
Hi, all -
I figure someone here must have an idea on this.
I'm trying to extend some wiring in my attic (to add an attic fan). I've found some wiring that's immediately above a wall switch. (in the switch box there is also an unswitched wire that goes up to the attic.
Here's the weird part:
At the box, the VAC is about 122.
Five feet above, the other end of this wire meters at 68.2 VAC.
There is *nothing* between the ends of the wire.
Can ANYONE give me an idea of what the heck is going on here?
Thanks.
I figure someone here must have an idea on this.
I'm trying to extend some wiring in my attic (to add an attic fan). I've found some wiring that's immediately above a wall switch. (in the switch box there is also an unswitched wire that goes up to the attic.
Here's the weird part:
At the box, the VAC is about 122.
Five feet above, the other end of this wire meters at 68.2 VAC.
There is *nothing* between the ends of the wire.
Can ANYONE give me an idea of what the heck is going on here?
Thanks.
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 544
Likes: 0
From: Cupertino, CA
I found the error. It was between my ears.
From my vantage point in the attic, I couldn't distinguish between two lines in the wall. I was actually measuring a switched line with the switch OFF (as a side bar, I wonder if that switch needs to be replaced to allow that much voltage through in the off position.)
Anyway, thanks for taking a look.
From my vantage point in the attic, I couldn't distinguish between two lines in the wall. I was actually measuring a switched line with the switch OFF (as a side bar, I wonder if that switch needs to be replaced to allow that much voltage through in the off position.)
Anyway, thanks for taking a look.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,476
Likes: 224
From: Frequently frozen MN
Could be that they're switching the neutral side of the line. I'm sure that's a code violation -- and it's an awfully bad idea. You get voltage hanging around in places that are 'off'.
May be some other explanation. Can't imagine that it's a bad switch.
May be some other explanation. Can't imagine that it's a bad switch.
