Maker Pro
Maker Pro

hot side of switch?

L

Lloyd

Jan 1, 1970
0
well, the first post did not go so....

I am replacing a porch light, I don't want to turn off all the breakers to
the house to find out which one it is, is shutting the switch off safe
enough? Or is there a hot side of the switch that could be wired to one side
of the light wires, also, it's an old house with no grounding through the
home. Thanks much....
Lloyd
 
S

SQLit

Jan 1, 1970
0
Lloyd said:
well, the first post did not go so....

I am replacing a porch light, I don't want to turn off all the breakers to
the house to find out which one it is, is shutting the switch off safe
enough? Or is there a hot side of the switch that could be wired to one side
of the light wires, also, it's an old house with no grounding through the
home. Thanks much....
Lloyd

That is the way I would do it. BEAWARE there may be other conductors in the
box that are still hot.
 
D

Don Kelly

Jan 1, 1970
0
SQLit said:
breakers

That is the way I would do it. BEAWARE there may be other conductors in the
box that are still hot.
Depends on how old and the code at the time. Now, at least where I am, the
hot wire and neutral go to the lamp box. The hot is run down to the switch
and and back up (using the white conductor which should be marked) to the
lamp.
In that case there will be a hot wire in the box- even with the switch off.
However, this may not be the case but there is still the possibility that
there may be a hot wire in the box.
Since you needed to ask- I suggest that you play it safe and open the
breaker first. It is a nuisance but not as much as a funeral.
 
Top