Subj : Light Switch Replacement
To   : Mike Powell
From : Barry Martin
Date : Fri Dec 13 2024 07:08:00


Hi Mike!

 MP> Moved to another area.  ;)

Now everyone will wonder from where! <g>


 >  MP> It was pretty simple.  I had to replace a light switch in another
 >  MP> room. The old switch had started a nasty habit of flickering the
 >  MP> lights, complete with a little "crinkling" sound if you happened
 >  MP> to be standing next to the switch when it did it.
 > Yes, that switch definitely needed to be replaced!  Not that difficult a
 > job but one with which to take a lot of precautions: electricity across
 > the body is not a good thing!
 MP> Yes indeed.  I turned off (and verified) the breaker for that
 MP> area, replaced the old with the new, turned on the breaker,
 MP> tested it, then turned the breaker back off (and verified) before
 MP> finishing up.  ;)

Double (and triple!) checking is always a good idea.  As a teenager was 
taught the 'One-handed Rule': stick one hand in your back pocket while 
testing with the other -- you don't complete the circuit that way and 
even if you do touch a voltage source without an exit point you should 
be OK. (Highly summarized -- there are a few flaws as phrased.)

Here had an interesting event: I was changing a light switch.  Located 
on the wall between the Kitchen and the Dining/Family Room.  Switch box 
has my switch, which controls lights, and the other switch goes to an 
outlet (switched outlet).  Had the lights on and something plugged in to
the switch.  Flip breaker, both go off - good.  Also had the TV on in 
the Kitchen -- forgot why.

Open the box to remove the switch.  Seems like more wires than necessary
in there.  Didn't like the look of one connection - SPARK!  TV goes off.

Ended up the original house wiring had a common to the Kitchen circuit 
and the Dining Room circuit.  When we bought the house the electrical 
panel was four fuses and two circuit breakers -- the fuses to the 
original house and the two breakers for the added-on Dining Room.  When 
we had the house rewired the Dining Room went to Circuit Breaker #10 and
Kitchen to #12 - with the mystery link undetected.

So yes, there is a note in the switch box about that quirk, as well as a
note in the binder I have by the Service Panel with where-does-this- 
breaker-control page, the specs for the service panel box, whole-house 
surge suppressor, etc.


                     ¯                                 ®
                      ¯  BarryMartin3@MyMetronet.NET  ®
                     ¯                                 ®


.... "Static electricity routing is acting up." "I hope I won't be charged."
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