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rdupont67

Need help bathroom electrical

10 years ago

I am remodeling my bathroom and i took the light down to move the wires and forgot to take pics of the wiring. It has 3 cables going into the box with 2 wires in each. One cable is hot, one cable goes to switch and last cable goes to fan. This was hooked up to the light I am replacing. I have no idea what wire to hook up to each other

Comments (6)

  • 10 years ago

    Connect the black wire from the hot cable to the black wire of the switch cable.


    Re-identify the white wire of the switch cable with black tape as it is no longer a neutral, but will be hot when the switch is closed. The switch cable is a "switch loop". Technically, this arrangement is no longer code compliant as you should carry a neutral down to your switch, but whatever, you only have a two conductor cable going to your switch box. It is what it is. Connect this now re-identified wire to the black of your fan cable and the black of your new fixture.


    Connect the white wire of the power cable to the white wire of the fan cable and the white wire of the fixture. Connect all the ground wires together in your fixture box, along with the fixture ground. You're good to go.


    rdupont67 thanked yankee4210
  • 10 years ago

    I will try this tomorrow thanks for the reply!

  • 10 years ago

    Connect the black wire from the hot cable to the WHITE wire of the switch cable.

    NEC 200.7

    (C) Circuits of 50 Volts or More. The use of insulation that is white or gray or that has three continuous white stripes for other than a grounded conductor for circuits of 50 volts or more shall be permitted only as in (1) through (3).

    (2) Where a cable assembly contains an insulated conductor for single-pole, 3-way or 4-way switch loops and the conductor with white or gray insulation or a marking of three continuous white stripes is used for the supply to the switch, but NOT as a RETURN conductor from the switch to the switched outlet. In these applications, the conductor with white or gray insulation or with three continuous white stripes shall be permanently reidentified to indicate its use by painting or other effective means at its terminations and at each location where the conductor is visible and accessible.



    rdupont67 thanked User
  • 10 years ago

    My bad, what Fred said, connect your black hot to the white of your switch cable. You'll still need to re-identify the white wire leading to the switch with black tape or marker. Technically, you should also re-identify the white wire in the switch box as well, I'm surprised Captain Codebook didn't bring that to your attention in layman's terms ;-).

    rdupont67 thanked yankee4210
  • 10 years ago

    I just drew this out for reference I dont see where the black wire is going from switch?