Electrical help. (Adding outlet to light switch box)

I need to add a gfi outlet to my wifes bathroom. I want to add it to the cu rrent light switch box. This box currently has two switches, one for the fa n,light and one for the vanity light. Each switch has a white wire, a black wire, and a ground. When checking with a voltmeter, the white wire on both switches always has power. Each black wire only has power when the switch is turned on. I am assuming the white wire is the power wire. Can I take th ese white wires off the switches, connect them to the top and bottom "hot" terminal on the gfi outlet, then feed the switches from both terminals on t he other side of the gfi? When I did this messing around with the switches, everything worked properly. I just thought that the black wire was always the constant power wire.

Reply to
stryped1
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current light switch box. This box currently has two switches, one for the fan,light and one for the vanity light. Each switch has a white wire, a bla ck wire, and a ground. When checking with a voltmeter, the white wire on bo th switches always has power. Each black wire only has power when the switc h is turned on. I am assuming the white wire is the power wire. Can I take these white wires off the switches, connect them to the top and bottom "hot " terminal on the gfi outlet, then feed the switches from both terminals on the other side of the gfi? When I did this messing around with the switche s, everything worked properly. I just thought that the black wire was alway s the constant power wire.

First, this sounds like a hack job done by someone clueless. The white wires should be the neutrals, not the hots. If they area as you say, I would put white tape on the ends to identify them. Next, the GFI needs a hot and a neutral for the circuit is protecting. You only take one hot, one neutral, and a ground over to it. If all you want protected by GFI is the new outlet, that is all that is required. If other outlets are fed by that circuit and you want to protect them and/or the light switch, light, etc then you could bring the downstream gfi protected side of the gfi back to power the existing switch or switches.

But there are some caveats here. Whatever the GFI protects, both the hot and neutral for that must be coming off the GFI. Both of those switches are probably on the same circuit, but you need to verify what is feeding what and make sure it's done correctly.

Reply to
trader4

They bothe have their own hot wire to it. The bot are tuned off by the same breaker. That much I know. I kind of thought what you said. I just wanted to tripple check.

And yes it must have been a hack job. I also noticed that one of the switch es was grounded and the other one was not.

current light switch box. This box currently has two switches, one for the fan,light and one for the vanity light. Each switch has a white wire, a bla ck wire, and a ground. When checking with a voltmeter, the white wire on bo th switches always has power. Each black wire only has power when the switc h is turned on. I am assuming the white wire is the power wire. Can I take these white wires off the switches, connect them to the top and bottom "hot " terminal on the gfi outlet, then feed the switches from both terminals on the other side of the gfi? When I did this messing around with the switche s, everything worked properly. I just thought that the black wire was alway s the constant power wire.

Reply to
stryped1

e current light switch box. This box currently has two switches, one for th e fan,light and one for the vanity light. Each switch has a white wire, a b lack wire, and a ground. When checking with a voltmeter, the white wire on both switches always has power. Each black wire only has power when the swi tch is turned on. I am assuming the white wire is the power wire. Can I tak e these white wires off the switches, connect them to the top and bottom "h ot" terminal on the gfi outlet, then feed the switches from both terminals on the other side of the gfi? When I did this messing around with the switc hes, everything worked properly. I just thought that the black wire was alw ays the constant power wire.

Why do you say this is "hack job"?

If the power for the fan comes into the fixture and the power to the vanity light comes into the vanity fixture, then it is code compliant to use a single run of romex to bring the hot to the switch box and back to the fixture. The switch switches the hot as it should be done. Granted, the white at the switch should be marked with *black* tape or marker to designate it as a hot, but there is nothing wrong with how the switches are wired.

That configuration, albeit for a single switch, is shown here:

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That said, without a neutral to the GFCI, it won't do it's job, which is to monitor the current on both the hot and the neutral.

When the OP says "When I did this messing around with the switches, everything worked properly" I'm not surprised that the switches still worked since the hot was probably being passed through the GFCI from the Line terminals to the Load terminals and then to the switches, but I would be surprised if the GFCI worked as an actual receptacle without a neutral.

White tape on a white wire? Why?

Reply to
DerbyDad03

the current light switch box. This box currently has two switches, one for the fan,light and one for the vanity light. Each switch has a white wire, a black wire, and a ground. When checking with a voltmeter, the white wire o n both switches always has power. Each black wire only has power when the s witch is turned on. I am assuming the white wire is the power wire. Can I t ake these white wires off the switches, connect them to the top and bottom "hot" terminal on the gfi outlet, then feed the switches from both terminal s on the other side of the gfi? When I did this messing around with the swi tches, everything worked properly. I just thought that the black wire was a lways the constant power wire.

I've marked the white hot with black since I wired my first circuit about 30 years ago. I don't recall where I read about marking it, or whether it was just a "suggestion" at the time, but it made so much sense - especially in a fixture box where the white wire is wire nutted to the black wires. It eliminates so much confusion and assumptions.

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Reply to
DerbyDad03

current light switch box. This box currently has two switches, one for the fan,light and one for the vanity light. Each switch has a white wire, a bla ck wire, and a ground. When checking with a voltmeter, the white wire on bo th switches always has power. Each black wire only has power when the switc h is turned on. I am assuming the white wire is the power wire. Can I take these white wires off the switches, connect them to the top and bottom "hot " terminal on the gfi outlet, then feed the switches from both terminals on the other side of the gfi? When I did this messing around with the switche s, everything worked properly. I just thought that the black wire was alway s the constant power wire.

Reply to
stryped1

the current light switch box. This box currently has two switches, one for the fan,light and one for the vanity light. Each switch has a white wire, a black wire, and a ground. When checking with a voltmeter, the white wire o n both switches always has power. Each black wire only has power when the s witch is turned on. I am assuming the white wire is the power wire. Can I t ake these white wires off the switches, connect them to the top and bottom "hot" terminal on the gfi outlet, then feed the switches from both terminal s on the other side of the gfi? When I did this messing around with the swi tches, everything worked properly. I just thought that the black wire was a lways the constant power wire.

Yes it is. But I would use the black in the Romex for the wire that is going to be hot whenever the circuit breaker is on and re-label the white in the Romex for the path connecting the the other side of the switch. As is, they have a white that is hot with no marking.

Yes, you could do it that way. But I'd note two things:

1 - That example is correctly taped to identify 2 - IMO, it's still not a good idea to use the white connected to the live feed, even with re-marking, when it's not necessary. You have a choice of using the black, it's right there. I would always use that to be the conductor that is directly connected, live to the panel all the time. I'd use the white with black tape for the switched side.

Yeah, if there is no neutral in that switch, then it's not going as a GFI or as an outlet either. Since he doesn't say what he actually tested or didn't test, who knows.

I meant put black tape on the white.

Reply to
trader4

me breaker. That much I know. I kind of thought what you said. I just wante d to tripple check.

ches was grounded and the other one was not.

The key quesiton here is whether you have a neutral in that switch box or not. As Derby pointed out, this looks like the feed goes to the light and fan locations, not to the switch box. If you have no neutral at the switch, then you can't run the outlet off of it.

Reply to
trader4

The essential question is, do you have a neutral in that switch box. Piecing together what you've said, it sounds like there probably is not one there. If there isn't you can't even do a regular outlet, let alone a GFI.

One confusing part is that you said you tested it out temporarily and it worked? What exactly did you do? GFI or outlet, either one, needs a neutral.

Reply to
trader4

The outlet worked when I hooked it up. I will have to go back and look but I know one wire from the hot went in o n the side, I cut another wire off an old cable and ran that from the other side of the outlet to one of the switches. I will have to look at home to be sure. I will say the outlet worked becasue I had a hair dryer connected to it and both lights worked. Also, when the switch for "test" was hit, the outlet did not work and both lights still worked.

I wish I had it hear in front of me. It was late last night.

I do know I have two white wires and two black wires and a ground go> I need to add a gfi outlet to my wifes bathroom. I want to add it to the

current light switch box. This box currently has two switches, one for the fan,light and one for the vanity light. Each switch has a white wire, a bla ck wire, and a ground. When checking with a voltmeter, the white wire on bo th switches always has power. Each black wire only has power when the switc h is turned on. I am assuming the white wire is the power wire. Can I take these white wires off the switches, connect them to the top and bottom "hot " terminal on the gfi outlet, then feed the switches from both terminals on the other side of the gfi? When I did this messing around with the switche s, everything worked properly. I just thought that the black wire was alway s the constant power wire.

Reply to
stryped1

current light switch box. This box currently has two switches, one for the fan,light and one for the vanity light. Each switch has a white wire, a bla ck wire, and a ground. When checking with a voltmeter, the white wire on bo th switches always has power. Each black wire only has power when the switc h is turned on. I am assuming the white wire is the power wire. Can I take these white wires off the switches, connect them to the top and bottom "hot " terminal on the gfi outlet, then feed the switches from both terminals on the other side of the gfi? When I did this messing around with the switche s, everything worked properly. I just thought that the black wire was alway s the constant power wire.

Reply to
stryped1

current light switch box. This box currently has two switches, one for the fan,light and one for the vanity light. Each switch has a white wire, a black wire, and a ground. When checking with a voltmeter, the white wire on both switches always has power. Each black wire only has power when the switch is turned on. I am assuming the white wire is the power wire. Can I take these white wires off the switches, connect them to the top and bottom "hot" terminal on the gfi outlet, then feed the switches from both terminals on the other side of the gfi? When I did this messing around with the switches, everything worked properly. I just thought that the black wire was always the constant power wire.

The NEC used to allow using the white as the power feed to switches without remarking the wire to black (or some other appropriate color).

That is the way the NEC wants it done now (and was a good idea before).

I agree that there does not appear to be a neutral, and a GFCI won't work.

================================== If switches are in a metal box they do not have to have a ground wire attached to them. The requirement for a ground wire in a plastic box is a relatively recent addition. (The grounding of the switch is in case a metal plate is used.)

Reply to
bud--

in on the side, I cut another wire off an old cable and ran that from the o ther side of the outlet to one of the switches. I will have to look at home to be sure. I will say the outlet worked becasue I had a hair dryer connec ted to it and both lights worked. Also, when the switch for "test" was hit, the outlet did not work and both lights still worked.

nto the box in the wall. Like I said, before checking it out, I tested and both white wires have power all the time. The black wires only after its in dividual switch is flipped.

If those are the only wires you have in the box, then it would seem the only possibilities are:

A - Hot comes from panel, to one fan wire, white wire goes from other fan wire to switch, other side of switch (blk) goes back to where fan is and is connected to neutral there.

B - Hot comes from panel to where fan is, but is not connected to the fan there. Instead the hot is connected to the white wire that goes to the switch. Other side of the switch (blk) goes back to fan and is conneced on one fan wire. Other fan wire is connected to neutral.

Either way, you have a problem. At the switches, in case A, you have a neutral, but no hot. What appears to be hot is passing through the fan or light. In case B, you have a direct hot, but no neutral. If that is in fact what's there, one clever solution that I think could work, would be to make one switch like case A and one like case B. Then you would have a hot and a neutral in the switch box for the new outlet. But you could not use the downside load connections on the GFI, but that isn't essential, especially if the other stuff is just the lights, fan, etc, ie no outlets.

To do the above, you'd only have to move two wires around at either the light or the fan.

The puzzling thing left is that you say it worked. If it's wired like we think it is, that would mean that the hair dryer worked because it was in series with either the light or the fan motor....

Reply to
trader4

o the current light switch box. This box currently has two switches, one fo r the fan,light and one for the vanity light. Each switch has a white wire, a black wire, and a ground. When checking with a voltmeter, the white wire on both switches always has power. Each black wire only has power when the switch is turned on. I am assuming the white wire is the power wire. Can I take these white wires off the switches, connect them to the top and botto m "hot" terminal on the gfi outlet, then feed the switches from both termin als on the other side of the gfi? When I did this messing around with the s witches, everything worked properly. I just thought that the black wire was always the constant power wire.

We're on the same page here. My use of the term hack job went too far. Like you, I would have marked those wires. And I would have used the black in that Romex for the wire that was directly live and used the white with tape for the other side of the switch. But as is, it's not what should be called a hack job.

Reply to
trader4

current light switch box. This box currently has two switches, one for the fan,light and one for the vanity light. Each switch has a white wire, a bla ck wire, and a ground. When checking with a voltmeter, the white wire on bo th switches always has power. Each black wire only has power when the switc h is turned on. I am assuming the white wire is the power wire. Can I take these white wires off the switches, connect them to the top and bottom "hot " terminal on the gfi outlet, then feed the switches from both terminals on the other side of the gfi? When I did this messing around with the switche s, everything worked properly. I just thought that the black wire was alway s the constant power wire.

Reply to
stryped1

in on the side, I cut another wire off an old cable and ran that from the o ther side of the outlet to one of the switches. I will have to look at home to be sure. I will say the outlet worked becasue I had a hair dryer connec ted to it and both lights worked. Also, when the switch for "test" was hit, the outlet did not work and both lights still worked.

I fail to see how the GFCI worked, based on your description. With only hots (the white wires) going to the Line side, and the continuation of the hots out of the Load side and to the switches, I don't see how the GFCI worked.

I also don't see how the lights switches still worked when you tripped the GFCI since tripping the GFCI should have killed power to the Load side. That's how they are supposed to work. That's the purpose of having a Load side - so it can be protected by the GFCI.

Something is either wrong with your description of how it is wired or with the original wiring to the switches in the first place. If it were me, I'd be opeing up the light fixture and the fan fixture and tracing the wires to determine which one's are actually the hots and which are the neutrals.

It's possible that one switch switches a hot and the other switch switches a neutral, which would mean that a hot and neutral would be present for the GFCI (assuming you hooked both whites to the Line side of the GFCI) allowing it to work. However, that wouldn't explain why the switches still had power after the GFCI was tripped. As I said, with a properly wired GFCI, the Load side will be dead when the the GFCI is tripped. If it isn't the GFCI is not doing it's job.

Something just doesn't make sense.

nto the box in the wall. Like I said, before checking it out, I tested and both white wires have power all the time. The black wires only after its in dividual switch is flipped.

e current light switch box. This box currently has two switches, one for th e fan,light and one for the vanity light. Each switch has a white wire, a b lack wire, and a ground. When checking with a voltmeter, the white wire on both switches always has power. Each black wire only has power when the swi tch is turned on. I am assuming the white wire is the power wire. Can I tak e these white wires off the switches, connect them to the top and bottom "h ot" terminal on the gfi outlet, then feed the switches from both terminals on the other side of the gfi? When I did this messing around with the switc hes, everything worked properly. I just thought that the black wire was alw ays the constant power wire.- Hide quoted text -

Reply to
DerbyDad03

The two connections i made were at the top only. The bottom terminals of th e outlet had a sticker over them saying to only use these if you wanted ano ther outlet or something "downstream" protected by the GFCI. So, on the out left there are four screws, one left and right on the top, one left and rig ht on the bottom. I only used the top pair. I think one white wire to the h ot side and a "jumper" wire from the other side to one switch. (Of course t he ground wire was also attached).

I will double check when I get home. This is from memory.

current light switch box. This box currently has two switches, one for the fan,light and one for the vanity light. Each switch has a white wire, a bla ck wire, and a ground. When checking with a voltmeter, the white wire on bo th switches always has power. Each black wire only has power when the switc h is turned on. I am assuming the white wire is the power wire. Can I take these white wires off the switches, connect them to the top and bottom "hot " terminal on the gfi outlet, then feed the switches from both terminals on the other side of the gfi? When I did this messing around with the switche s, everything worked properly. I just thought that the black wire was alway s the constant power wire.

Reply to
stryped1

Keep in mind that residential lighting circuits in the US are typically 15A and outlet circuits are typically 20A. While what you did may work, especially if you only tested it for a few minutes, longer use with something that can draw a significant amount of power (like a hair dryer) is likely to trip a breaker (best case) or cause wire overheating or worse...

Reply to
Robert Neville

the outlet had a sticker over them saying to only use these if you wanted a nother outlet or something "downstream" protected by the GFCI. So, on the o utleft there are four screws, one left and right on the top, one left and r ight on the bottom. I only used the top pair. I think one white wire to the hot side and a "jumper" wire from the other side to one switch. (Of course the ground wire was also attached).

...Snip>>>

Makes no sense to me. You can't run any receptacle, GFCI or standard, with just a hot. You need a neutral to complete the circuit.

"Can I take these white wires off the switches, connect them to the top and bottom "hot" terminal on the gfi outlet, then feed the switches from both terminals on the other side of the gfi? When I did this messing around with the switches, everything worked properly"

That tells me that you "did this" (connect them to the top and bottom "hot" terminal on the gfi outlet) already, yet now you say that "The two connections i made were at the top only". Do you see my confusion?

If you have in fact only removed the hot from one switch, attached it to the Line In Hot at the GFCI and connected a jumper from the Line In Neutral of the GFCI to that same switch, then the other switch should have nothing to do with any of this since it's not even in the circuit.

I still fail to see how any of this can power the GFCI since either: Case 1 - you have no Neutral or Case 2 - You have not described your connections properly.

I suggest we stop discussing this until you know what you have and know what you have tried. Right now, AFAICT, it just can't work the way you've described it.

Reply to
DerbyDad03

current light switch box. This box currently has two switches, one for the fan,light and one for the vanity light. Each switch has a white wire, a bla ck wire, and a ground. When checking with a voltmeter, the white wire on bo th switches always has power. Each black wire only has power when the switc h is turned on. I am assuming the white wire is the power wire. Can I take these white wires off the switches, connect them to the top and bottom "hot " terminal on the gfi outlet, then feed the switches from both terminals on the other side of the gfi? When I did this messing around with the switche s, everything worked properly. I just thought that the black wire was alway s the constant power wire.

Reply to
stryped1

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