Ever see a switch that was put together backwards?

[rslaback]

This switch is in the basement of my wife's parsonage. Off is on and on is off.

It's wired to interrupt just the hot from a bulb containing source power. The switch has continuity with the lever in the down position marked as off.

I originally thought it might've been a case where someone took it apart and screwed up the lever but the mechanism is still held together with the factory rivets so that isn't it.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I have never seen that, but maybe it was the passive aggressive way of an employee about to quit saying ”take this job and shove it”. It may also have been a case similar to some of our factory assembly workers who would nod off asleep and bump their forehead on the assembly setup after staying up half the night. It could also be a Monday morning switch.

 

[CJ7VFR]

That setup is called a switch loop. As you said it is used to make or break the connection of the hot wire.

The incoming Neutral (White) wire from the power source connects directly to the light fixture. The incoming Hot (Black) wire from the power source connects to the outgoing white wire (marked black with either tape or using a Sharpie) running down to the switch. The returned power (Switched Hot) is sent back on the black wire from the switch to the fixture

Perhaps the white and black wires are reversed either at the switch or at the source/light fixture? Check to see if the switch is wired correctly and the source/fixture is wired correctly.

If not, and everything is wired correctly, then in rare cases it could be like you said and the internal connections of the switch are backwards.

Jim

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Perhaps the white and black wires are reversed either at the switch or at the source/light fixture? Check to see if the switch is wired correctly and the source/fixture is wired correctly.

wouldnt be the case because he stated there is continuity with the switch in the down position. clearly its a faulty switch

 

[manwithtools]

Switch was manually assembled backwards in the days before automation was building such things.

 

[matt_i]

I repaired that kind of opposition once on a vapor-tight operator (by inverting the switch), only to find it was a 3-way switch....

 

[CJ7VFR]

wouldnt be the case because he stated there is continuity with the switch in the down position. clearly its a faulty switch

Makes sense.

Jim

 

[Milton Shaw]

I have seen some three way switches that have been put together different. One brand had the travelers only on one side and another brand had travelers on one end. Makes them hard to replace is you are just replacing switch for switch if you don't catch it before trying circuit and troubleshooting three ways will test most DIY electricians.

 

[dscheidt]

I have seen some three way switches that have been put together different. One brand had the travelers only on one side and another brand had travelers on one end. Makes them hard to replace is you are just replacing switch for switch if you don't catch it before trying circuit and troubleshooting three ways will test most DIY electricians.

There's no standardized placement of the terminals of a three way switch, it's common to see devices done either of the way you've described, even from the same manufacturer. If you're oblivious to screw color, and can't figure out how to ring out a switch, you probably shouldn't be working on them.