light switch to nowhere

[jfitty]

I have a light switch in the master bedroom of our house we bought that does not seem to do anything. i pulled off the cover and it has 14/3 wire and they have it wire black and red on the hot side and the white and ground on the other side. flip the switch and the white and ground are powered. Seems like maybe a DIY job because it is not a shared neutral. the 14/3 wire is the only sheath coming in. i have tested it by turning off and on and trying lights, receptacles, etc in the bedroom. There is a motion sensor light outside by the window of this bedroom that does not seem to have an off switch on any of the normal outside light switches that control the other motion flood outside lights. Wonder if what this switch could control. have not found anything yet.

 

[joeysh03]

Put a circuit tracer on it. Might help you find it IF its hooked up to something.

 

[Strouty]

I thought this was going to be a political joke, doncha know?

 

[kd3pc]

does your master have the "attic access"....the switch may turn on attic or crawl space access lights.

I have two dormers in the attic, where the builder placed two outlets, with a light switch near the front door, just for "Christmas decorations or accent lighting"....

I have wanted to put some creepy, shadowy, silhouette with a random timer to set it off every now and then...

Anyway a couple of odd things to check

 

[bofe954]

Does it shut off an outlet somewhere in the bedroom?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Do u have a pic? If the screws on both sides are in the same places then this sounds like a 4-way switch thats jury rigged and is using the ground wire as a traveller!

Post some pics

Does it shut off an outlet somewhere in the bedroom?

Theres too many wires for the switch to be controlling an outlet

 

[EOC_Jason]

Meanwhile at your neighbor's house there is a light going off & on randomly... lol

Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[67carl]

Pull the cover to the motion detector and test those wires with your master bedroom switch in both positions. I would bet this is what it's for. I have power to my attic gable fan run through a switch in my garage. It doesn't necessarily turn the fan on, just energizes it and allows it to come on if the temp gets to a certain point set on it's thermostat. I diable it if we're sitting in the back yard and don't want that thing blowing hot air on us. I bet the previous owner wanted to be able to disable the light on occasion (is the light near a bedroom window?).

 

[justsam]

flip the switch and the white and ground are powered. QUOTE]

Clearly not something I would want to keep if there is a condition where the unsheathed ground is energized.


Are these toggle or Decora switches? If toggle, look for other switches that do not have ON/OFF embossed on the handles.

Are there any other three or more way switches that you just have not been able to find a mate(s) too?

I agree with Wylie, sounds like someone tried to "create" a 4 way but did not have the proper wiring topography. That could well mean there is another one lurking someplace. It is difficult for me to imagine a 4 way configuration, where all conductors would be coming in from a single sheath, but perhaps someone got creative.

 

[G_P]

I have the same thing. Except mine is a switch that is mounted 1' off the floor in an enclosed porch. No voltage going to it thankfully.

 

[Mustang51js]

It's prob a 3 way for a outside light

 

[wyliesdiesels]

It's prob a 3 way for a outside light

Since the ground wire has power on it when he flips the switch, a 3-way switch wouldnt make sense!

 

[Mustang51js]

Ground wire with power going through it is an issue wether it's a 3 way or not. I would bet that someone wire nutted the neutral and ground together else where thinking it was a neutral when it's actually the common on the 3way. You need to start opening things up and look for another switch maybe in basement that doesn't do anything.

 

[kaffine]

How are you determining the ground is being powered? Does it have voltage on it compared to a nearby outlet ground? Or are you just seeing power when checking between the white wire and the ground wire?

 

[Cameronl]

Does it shut off an outlet somewhere in the bedroom?

Check both plugs in the outlet. It's common in newer construction to have the switch control only one plug in the outlet.

 

[Freejack]

Do you have a central light fixture in the bedroom? If so, could it be a seperate switch for a ceiling fan?

Jake

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Bump...any updates OP?