pendragon1998
Well-known member
Our bathroom has a two switch wall panel that controls the fan and the light over the sink. Today, when I switched on the bathroom light, I heard a sizzling from the wall switch, and the light was flickering. I figured it was likely a bad switch. They used the cheapest builder grade **** they could find for this house, which is a two-section modular home.
I bought two single pole switches and replaced both switches, being careful to swap each wire over where it was on the corresponding original switch. The stripped areas on the original wires were a tad longer than they needed to be, so I even nipped a 1/8" off the bare ends so there wouldn't be any bare wire protruding (probably overkill).
When I flipped the breaker back on, it immediately tripped. I removed both switches again, thinking I'd screwed up somehow. I checked both switches for resistance before reinstalling them, and they were working just as they should. I reinstalled the switches. Once reinstalled, I again tested resistance in the on and off postions. One switch was working correctly, but the other switch only has 56 ohms of resistance when it's switched off. This time, however, the breaker didn't trip.
Am I correct in thinking I probably have an intermittent short in the wiring? We previously had some wiring with abraded insulation from where the wires crossed over from the breaker box side of the house to the other module that holds the water heater, so it wouldn't surprise me. If it's the wiring, I'll call in an electrician.
I bought two single pole switches and replaced both switches, being careful to swap each wire over where it was on the corresponding original switch. The stripped areas on the original wires were a tad longer than they needed to be, so I even nipped a 1/8" off the bare ends so there wouldn't be any bare wire protruding (probably overkill).
When I flipped the breaker back on, it immediately tripped. I removed both switches again, thinking I'd screwed up somehow. I checked both switches for resistance before reinstalling them, and they were working just as they should. I reinstalled the switches. Once reinstalled, I again tested resistance in the on and off postions. One switch was working correctly, but the other switch only has 56 ohms of resistance when it's switched off. This time, however, the breaker didn't trip.
Am I correct in thinking I probably have an intermittent short in the wiring? We previously had some wiring with abraded insulation from where the wires crossed over from the breaker box side of the house to the other module that holds the water heater, so it wouldn't surprise me. If it's the wiring, I'll call in an electrician.