"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
11/05/2015 at 19:25 • Filed to: Houselopnik
0
19|
"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
11/05/2015 at 19:25 • Filed to: Houselopnik | 0
| 19 |
Was trying to replace a 1-gang box with a renovation version, and....I counted 5 Romex wires to this single outlet. This, this can’t be the norm, right? -_-
The weird thing is that the outlet is split, but they are both on breaker #9. I see no point to that. Also, where do all the wires go?!?! An outlet should really have two Romexs, tops. This could be a junction box (I think it’s called that) as well, but that makes no sense either.
This wall has one other outlet, and two light switches that do nothing (but have power to them). Breaker #9 doesn’t extent past this wall, so I have no idea what’s going on.
Update: through critical thinking, I think I might of figured it out. I think it’s a junction box, which carries the power from the basement ceiling, to the attic , which then carried the power to the rest of the room. That or it’s leftover Romex that was never removed.
Update update: just discovered it's not a junction. I disconnected it and trim the power on, just an outlet stopped working, that's all.
JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
> zeontestpilot
11/05/2015 at 19:32 |
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oh dear. That’s messy. Do you have a toner? Might be time to get one if you don’t...
http://www.amazon.com/Extech-TG20-Wi…
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zeontestpilot
> JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
11/05/2015 at 19:40 |
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What does a toner do?
PS9
> zeontestpilot
11/05/2015 at 19:44 |
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Destroy the clothes you’re wearing if you ope-
* notices the word ‘cartridge’ is not present*
-... uhh...nothin’. Nevermind. I didn’t say anything.
CounterTorqueSteer
> zeontestpilot
11/05/2015 at 20:25 |
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Tell you when you are about to have a bad time.
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JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
> zeontestpilot
11/05/2015 at 20:27 |
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it sends an electrical warble signal down a wire pair, which with the use of an appropriate sensor allows you to trace the course and endpoints of a wire pair. you obviously have to turn off the breaker first... But then you can figure out where all that shit goes without ripping the walls apart.
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zeontestpilot
> JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
11/05/2015 at 21:04 |
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So it’s like a miracle in a bottle then, and exactly what I need.
dsigned001 - O.R.C. hunter
> zeontestpilot
11/05/2015 at 21:06 |
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Five huh. Ok, so one is your power in, one to each switch is three and one to the outlet is four. So you’ve got one that goes somewhere else. Or, maybe those switches are supposed to be a three way. Are you sure they don’t turn on/off power to the outlet?
Regardless, you need to figure out what’s power in, and what’s power to the outlet. If those are they only two things you need, then you can put but connectors on the other ones (which should not have power) and forget about them.
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zeontestpilot
> dsigned001 - O.R.C. hunter
11/05/2015 at 21:26 |
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I'm sure the switches don't respond to outlets, I tested it. One Romex goes to an outlet down the line (lamp plugged in), but the others are still a mystery. Two head toward the basement, but nothing on that breaker is down there.
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JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
> zeontestpilot
11/05/2015 at 21:36 |
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yup. you can buy one that works pretty OK from Lowes/HomeDespot for about $60, or you can get the one I linked to on Amazon in my first reply (extech TG-20) for $24.
deekster_caddy
> zeontestpilot
11/06/2015 at 08:45 |
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If the original outlet was split, there is probably a switch on one of those wires.
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deekster_caddy
> PS9
11/06/2015 at 08:46 |
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Yup, I’ve done that. Why do they always give the “dirty printer” job to the new kid?
shop-teacher
> zeontestpilot
11/06/2015 at 10:30 |
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I’m sure the reason why the outlet is split, is that there are least used to be a switch for one half of it. That’s another old house thing. As for the rest of it .............
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zeontestpilot
> shop-teacher
11/06/2015 at 11:23 |
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Eh, maybe. I’ve discovered some fishy things as of late. The wall in the pic is drywall with fake wood paneling on it. Our closet entrance lines up with that wall, which (as I discovered last night) it’s drywall, fake paneling, then drywall again. The wooden wall might be a newer addition.
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shop-teacher
> zeontestpilot
11/06/2015 at 11:45 |
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It could be. Old houses be crazy!
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zeontestpilot
> shop-teacher
11/06/2015 at 12:01 |
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Crazy like figuring a programming bug with no prior knowledge of what's going on.....
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shop-teacher
> zeontestpilot
11/06/2015 at 12:23 |
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Sounds about right.
You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much
> zeontestpilot
11/06/2015 at 13:44 |
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http://www.amazon.com/Klein-Tools-ET…
Or check out a circuit tracer. You plug it in and go to the panel and it will tell you which breaker your outlet is hooked up to. No need to turn breakers off and they work well. I’ve been remodeling my kitchen and this has come in handy. The previous owner of my house has been cursed at a lot over the past two weeks.
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You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much
> JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
11/06/2015 at 13:45 |
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These guys work well and you don’t have to turn power off. Just plug it in and run the sensor up and down your panel to figure out which breaker powers your circuit.
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JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
> You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much
11/06/2015 at 13:56 |
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yes, great for figuring out breakers, but a toner like the one I linked is more useful for tracking mystery wire outside of the breaker box.