How do I get rid of 3rd garage light switch?

[fergie_1977]

Another easy one for you pros...
My garage lights are wired on 3 light switches.
1 inside the house, 1 at the side garage entrance and 1 near the garage doors.
I just want to get rid of the one near the gargage doors as it is useless and never used.
Do I just remove the switch and connect the hot and neutral and turn it into a junction box??
Fergie

 

[Norcal]

Another easy one for you pros...
My garage lights are wired on 3 light switches.
1 inside the house, 1 at the side garage entrance and 1 near the garage doors.
I just want to get rid of the one near the gargage doors as it is useless and never used.
Do I just remove the switch and connect the hot and neutral and turn it into a junction box??
Fergie

If they are all controlling the same lights you have 2, 3-way switches & 1, 4-way, there is not normally a neutral present on a switch unless it has a pilot light.

 

[avc8130]

Why not just leave the switch? If you don't use it, it shouldn't bother you. No matter what you can't cover the junction box per code so it would always have to be there anyways.
ac

 

[mraredneck]

Why not just leave the switch?

Best idea. But some things just get on your last Q;^/ So if it is a 4way it's an easy fix. Turn off the power, Test. Power off?? Then remove the switch there will be 4 wires 2 on each side of the switch, (if there are 3 its a 3way and a lil more involved) A 4 way just breaks the travelers, so all you need to do is remove the switch and connect the travelers 2 in and 2 out. So splice one in, to one out. Then repeat. Make sure your ground isn’t lost at the switch.
This is now a Junction box. So blank cover and you are set.

 

[babzog]

Can you pull the wires back to another box (switch, light)? If so, then you could conceivably remove that box entirely and not have to have something with a cover on it. If not, I'd say leave the switch, it's causing no harm.

 

[avc8130]

Can you pull the wires back to another box (switch, light)? If so, then you could conceivably remove that box entirely and not have to have something with a cover on it. If not, I'd say leave the switch, it's causing no harm.

I hope he CAN'T. Those wires SHOULD be secured near the boxes making their removal near impossible without wall damage.

Just leave the switch and go tackle another REAL problem.
ac

 

[babzog]

I hope he CAN'T. Those wires SHOULD be secured near the boxes making their removal near impossible without wall damage.

True, but that depends on whether the walls are finished or not.

Just leave the switch and go tackle another REAL problem.

What I would do.

 

[6768rogues]

Put a sign over the switch that says in large letters, "DO NOT USE THIS SWITCH". Everyone will start to use it and you will no longer have an unused switch.

 

[Striker]

I hope he CAN'T. Those wires SHOULD be secured near the boxes making their removal near impossible without wall damage.

That is only applicable if the wires were added before the walls were covered up. If they were added after the walls were covered then there is usually only one staple right about the renovation box.