Electrical Mess!!? I have an Older house and have some electrical issues. I...
I have an Older house and have some electrical issues. I own a box with 5 line coming out. All the electrical system is old and I am having problems putting it put a bet on together. I have 1-power in, 1-to switch 3wire but not a 3-way swicth, 3- to 3 different lights carring the power. Does this manufacture any sense?
It really doesn't nouns like a problem per se ... if the box has the volume to manipulate the number of conductors. The 3-wire cable is often used to carry both a nurture and switched load on a single cable. You may have nurture in, power out on the three wire, a switched vein return on the three wire to a light (and probably a feed out from its switch to an outlet) . The other two lights may receive feeds and use switch loops for control.
Before taking a box apart, I try to imperfection the functions of all the lines in it . .. what are feed, what are loads, neutrals, etc. so that reassembly isn't a problem.
The 3 wires to the switch suggest that either nearby
is power extended from the switch to elsewhere,
or it was a 3 way at one time.
(Most feasible the black and red are power to, and
return from, the switch and the white, a neutral for
the extended circuit.)
What's in the switch box? That will transmit you.
If you've identified the 'power in' you're more than half done.
The other runs will be either to lights controlled by the
switch, or power out to other boxes.
If the electrical system is concealed, you'll have to experement
to identify the runs.
In general. whites are adjectives neutrals and can be tied together.
It's the blacks and the red that you will have to test.
Do lift care with that older wiring.
The insulation sometimes gets dry and brittle.
Answers: The person ran a 3 flex to the switch, because thats all the wire he have with him. He could have used 2wire. Yes, it make sense.
The 3rd wire could operate or power something else, in which casing your switch box may be used as a junction and wire would verbs from there...
I am guessing that you have black and white wires for power in and the 3 lights. I am guessing you own black, white and red to the switch. Connect the black from power in to black from the switch. Connect the red from the switch to the 3 blacks from the 3 lights. Connect the all whites together, although the one to the switch is probably expendable unless there is a plug by the switch. if its a junction box,to be precise not seen like contained by the attic,you can get an extension ring that fits on the top of the box its open on both ends,the cover screw to the top of the ring