Electricians - Help!

Can we delete this thread.

I should clarify my acts. I did not rewire anything. This is the way the switch looked when I opened the covering.

Schmidlap wrote: For all the lawyers out there, what kind of liability is Rangerball opening himself up to by doing all this electrical work in a house he is renting when he is clearly not a licensed electrician? If he tries to fix something that the owner screwed up and the house burns down next week, could he be held responsible if poor wiring has been found to be the cause?

I'm a lawyer (and a graduate electrical engineer), but there's no way I'm going to answer a question asked on an internet forum by someone who's asking about a licensed professional's liability for giving advice on an internet forum.

Mazdax605 wrote: I agree there is probably nothing wrong with the way he has it wired,but he did clearly say there WAS another switch there,and it is indeed a two gang box,so that is possible.

IIRC, he said there were supposed to be 2 switches. He never said there were 2 switches wired in.

If there were 2 switches, I'll bet the second one had no wires attached to it.

Mazdax605 wrote: The fact that it is romex,and a plastic box doesn't mean it was added afterwards,but the fact that the style of box (old work) does indeed mean it was added after the fact. At least here in New England Romex has been used as home wiring for decades,and plastic boxes are nothing new either.

I lived in the Northeast for over 30 years. Romex has been used there for decades, but plaster has not. That is wood lathe plaster, which hasn't been used since approximately the mid 1950's. Late 50's wire lathe plaster started, in the 60's gyp plaster began. Since the late 60's early 70's most houses have been drywall.

I guarantee that house was not originally wired with romex. I'd even venture a bet (based on the millwork) that it is a 1940's, perhaps early 50's house.

I'm not really trying to argue. I'm just saying I've seen it MANY times before, and there was NOTHING wrong with the wiring.

SVreX,

I was not assume there were two switches,but he did say there was supposed to be,so that is where I got it. I wasn't arguing the wiring was wrong,but while others were saying the black,and white of each romex attach to each switch would never work. That is not true if wired right which I explained.

I deffinaly agree that the wiring is right now,and that it was done after the fact,but Couldn't tell just by looking at it that romex wasn't the typical wiring for the house. I know nothing about FL construction tendencies or wiring methods. I was just trying to say that the black,and white on a switch doesn't mean you have a short circuit,and the breaker will trip.

I didn't even look at the plaster,but I could deffinately tell it was old work,and not by a professional. I have no idea what is behind that plaster,and lathe is probably a good guess,but who knows what they did back in the 50's in FL.

Ultimately the wiring is correct if not a bit hacky,and I hate backstabbing anything,but switches are sort of okay because they don't get the abuse that outlets get.

billy3esq wrote:

Schmidlap wrote: For all the lawyers out there, what kind of liability is Rangerball opening himself up to by doing all this electrical work in a house he is renting when he is clearly not a licensed electrician? If he tries to fix something that the owner screwed up and the house burns down next week, could he be held responsible if poor wiring has been found to be the cause?

I'm a lawyer (and a graduate electrical engineer), but there's no way I'm going to answer a question asked on an internet forum by someone who's asking about a licensed professional's liability for giving advice on an internet forum.

Now THAT is true legalese. Good show!

Glad I could redeem myself after disappointing you in the other thread.

billy3esq wrote: I'm a lawyer (and a graduate electrical engineer), but there's no way I'm going to answer a question asked on an internet forum by someone who's asking about a licensed professional's liability for giving advice on an internet forum.

Good point.

Any non-lawyers want to make some wild speculation?

SVreX wrote: IIRC, he said there were supposed to be 2 switches. He never said there were 2 switches wired in. If there were 2 switches, I'll bet the second one had no wires attached to it.

For some reason there was a switch plate in my kitchen with two switches and a open hole for a third. It was pretty far down on my list but it was annoying my wife. After a couple days she called me at work to let me know it was fixed. She picked up a third switch and screwed it in place to fill the hole.