Building and Construction - Bathroom Light Fixture

Author

Bathroom Light Fixture

smk01@comcast.net

2007-02-20, 9:25 am

Hi,

I have a new house but my electrician bailed on me before installing
the last few ligth fixtures. The only problem I have is a bathroom
vanity light. There is a switch on the wall to the left of the vanity
and another on the right side.

When I cut through the drywall to find the wire the only thing I can
come up with is a wire, probably 14/3, that appears to run from the
direction of the switch on the left up to the level where the vanity
light would go and then down towards the switch on the right. My
thinking is is that I should cut this wire and install the light
resulting in a switch to light to switch type circuit. Am I right or
am I missing something here?

Thanks for the help.

J.C.

2007-02-20, 5:25 pm

Google for "Circuit Detective" without the quotes.

<smk01@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1171982028.709056.217220@t69g2000cwt.googlegroups.com...
> Hi,
>
> I have a new house but my electrician bailed on me before installing
> the last few ligth fixtures. The only problem I have is a bathroom
> vanity light. There is a switch on the wall to the left of the vanity
> and another on the right side.
>
>
> When I cut through the drywall to find the wire the only thing I can
> come up with is a wire, probably 14/3, that appears to run from the
> direction of the switch on the left up to the level where the vanity
> light would go and then down towards the switch on the right. My
> thinking is is that I should cut this wire and install the light
> resulting in a switch to light to switch type circuit. Am I right or
> am I missing something here?
>
>
> Thanks for the help.
>

Dennis

2007-02-20, 8:25 pm

I purchased an inexpensive laser level at Wal Mart that incorporated a
"inside the wall, hot wire finder" (Ok I made up the title, but you get the
point.) Anyway, using a simular device, you could check the cable to
determine if it was the right one by flipping the switch on-and-off and
watching to see if the current stopped.

The two switches are a puzzle unless one was intended for the fixture over
the lavatory and the other for a ceiling vent fan. (Strange way to wire them
thought.) If the cable is indeed 14/3 (check this carefully) you will need
to determine which ungrounded conductor was intended for the fan and which
for the light. As it'sin the right spot, it's probably the cable intended
for the light. Picking the correct, ungrounded conductor is one probem,
installing the proper junction box is the other. (Not a big deal if you have
done this before.)

However, if you at all uncertain as to how to do this, do hire a
professional and make certain, as poorly made electrical connections have
the very real potential of causing fires; even years later. Don't mess with
electricity if you really don't know exactly what you are doing.

<smk01@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1171982028.709056.217220@t69g2000cwt.googlegroups.com...
> Hi,
>
> I have a new house but my electrician bailed on me before installing
> the last few ligth fixtures. The only problem I have is a bathroom
> vanity light. There is a switch on the wall to the left of the vanity
> and another on the right side.
>
>
> When I cut through the drywall to find the wire the only thing I can
> come up with is a wire, probably 14/3, that appears to run from the
> direction of the switch on the left up to the level where the vanity
> light would go and then down towards the switch on the right. My
> thinking is is that I should cut this wire and install the light
> resulting in a switch to light to switch type circuit. Am I right or
> am I missing something here?
>
>
> Thanks for the help.
>

Noncompliant

2007-02-21, 9:25 am

Seen something like that in long hallways. Lightswitch on either end. The
direction (up/down) to turn the switch to energize the lights in the hallway
varies on the other switch position (up/down). They were obviously
dependent on each other in the circuit.

--
Noncompliant

<smk01@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1171982028.709056.217220@t69g2000cwt.googlegroups.com...
> Hi,
>
> I have a new house but my electrician bailed on me before installing
> the last few ligth fixtures. The only problem I have is a bathroom
> vanity light. There is a switch on the wall to the left of the vanity
> and another on the right side.
>
>
> When I cut through the drywall to find the wire the only thing I can
> come up with is a wire, probably 14/3, that appears to run from the
> direction of the switch on the left up to the level where the vanity
> light would go and then down towards the switch on the right. My
> thinking is is that I should cut this wire and install the light
> resulting in a switch to light to switch type circuit. Am I right or
> am I missing something here?
>
>
> Thanks for the help.
>

Dennis

2007-02-22, 8:25 pm

That's called a "three-way" and is required for stairs (switch at each
level) and is usually found in hallways. Can also have 4-ways, 5-ways, etc.
if desired.

Doubt that was what was going on in bathroom. Probably using single circuit
to control two different fixtures (oh light and ceiling vent fan.) Fairly
common.

"Noncompliant" <spamyourself@blackworm.net> wrote in message
news:6TUCh.4624$tD2.1588@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> Seen something like that in long hallways. Lightswitch on either end.
> The direction (up/down) to turn the switch to energize the lights in the
> hallway varies on the other switch position (up/down). They were
> obviously dependent on each other in the circuit.
>
> --
> Noncompliant

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