I have a question with wiring a basement light socket and a light switch and junction box.?

Question

I replaced a damaged wire to the light switch. No problem there. The switch has a black wire on the bottom screw, white wire on the top screw and the switch is grounded to the metal box. I hooked everything back together like it was previously. I dont like at all how it was previously done thats why I am asking.
First of all they had the black wire coming from the switch conncected to the one side screw on the light socket-- No problem there.
Second they had the white wire coming from the switch connected by a wire nut to the black wires in the junction box.
I did not like the looks of this. The other side screw of the light socket has a white jumper wire coming off the white wires pigtailed together.The switch works fine, it never caused a dead short it just looks like they did it backwards. Other: concern is that it is old wiring and they did not use wire nuts they just twisted the wires together and soldered some and taped over. I hate the 3 in. bare wire just solder/tape over

Answer 1

That's actually pretty common... I'm not crazy about mixing colored wires on the same circuit either, so I always carry an extra spool of black, and white wires to run switches.

I imagine those wires on the switch are jacketed together? That's the most common use of dual colored wire... you get the wires in the one 'romex' strand... and instead of peeling it back, and using twice as much wire (to get the same color) the previous technician just used the other wire in the strand, to complete the switch circuit. It is a safe practice, altho it can get confusing, hehehe. As I said, I prefer to carry an extra roll or two... however, if youre just doing one house, its not worth the investment in additional wire.

You can still go in and add wire nuts, where they will fit. Clip off any wires that are too long, and install the wire nuts. I go the extra step and tape the wire nuts, to prevent them from coming off if the wires are twisted any during handling. Use a good quality tape.

If the wiring is 'cloth wrapped'-- it is indeed old, and you should rewire the home. Cloth wrapped wiring is old enough now, that it is a fire hazard. If it is the typical 'rubber' jacket, then I would inspect the 'rubber' to see if it is brittle or cracked...if it is.. I would rewire the house.

If for any reason, you decide to rewire the home, seriously consider installing a new circuit box. Our home had 60 amp service when we moved in... I replaced it with a very large 200 amp service box. The utility company told me to upgrade my meter base (and I did), and then they went ahead and upgraded the transformer supplying power to our home, and our neighbors, and ran new wires to my mast for me. They didnt charge for any of that. I was able to eliminate all of the old cloth wrapped wires in the home, and had some room for new circuits (I detest sharing a circuit for my computers with anything else, lol).

Good Luck

Answer 2

You did everything correct, this is what is called a switch leg. Since it is standard to use 2 wire (w/ground) romex on all residential construction. It is within code to use one section from the junction box to the switch box. How it is hooked up: you have a constant hot feed on the white and your switch leg (which only has power when the switch is on) is the black, this is the preferred way to connect it. Then it is sent from the junction box to the light on the black wire (switch leg) and a white wire is connected to other neutral wires. ( i normally mark the white that is the constant power to the switch with black tape to indicate that it is supposed to be a hot leg).

Answer 3

It sounds like it was done correctly. The black from the source should be connected to the black on the light through the switch. What they apparently did NOT do was use black tape to "mark" the white wire from the switch as a hot wire (BOTH wires to the switch are hot wires).

Bert

Answer 4

Very common to see that in everyday homes. The solder is actually a better connection than the wire nuts. Best not to monkey with stuff, especially if your house is old. Most often the case, electrical systems don't go bad until they are tampered with. If you feel you have to investigate still the most common problem with old houses is improper wattage in incandescent lights(*) Plus to add to the fact the lights themselves aren't well insulated for heat to dissipate. The heat usually leads to wear and tear on thin ceilings and in worst cases actually causes fire.

(*) Romex wiring only. Bx (Metal Sheath) wiring w/ out a ground is another problem in and of itself.

Answer 5

That sounds right to me. the solder and tape is old school. You could cut, re twist and wire nut, but it should be fine the way it is. but your white wire being converted to a hot should have a piece of black tape or paint on it depicting that it is a hot lead.

hope this helps. hard to visualize without actually seeing it.

Answer 6

useing a jumper wire to extend a wire is ok as long as its properly covered and marked, if the wireing has a cloth type covering then its old, and they didn,t have wire nuts then, it was soldered and taped.

Answer 7

the white wire does NOT go to the switch.

only the black wire is interrupted by the switch.