There was an old junction box in our family room with a metal cover over it. It looks like there was probably a wall sconce there at one point and I thought I’d install a new one. However, the wires inside are really confusing and I’m not sure how to proceed. There are two white wires capped together, two black wires and a white wire covered in black sharpie capped together, and a single black wire with black tape on it capped by itself. I am guessing this is some sort of 3 way switch wiring, but I’m not sure what to connect with the wires on the light fixture. Any ideas? See my picture for reference. Thank you
Electrical – 3 Sets of Wires Confusion
electricalmultiway-switchwiring
Related Solutions
I suspect the white wire with the stripe is actually the switched power from the switch. Putting together what you have said, I think your setup probably looks something like this:
Where the green wire is the ground and the red wire is your wire with the stripe.
If this doesn't match up with what you are seeing, then let me know what looks wrong and I will try to figure out how it is setup.
Warning: You'll be working with live electrical wires during this procedure. If you don't feel comfortable doing so, please contact a local licensed Electrician.
- Set up your multimeter (or voltmeter) to measure volts AC.
- Very carefully remove the caps from the white wires, making sure the wires do not come into contact with anything.
- Turn the switch to the ON position.
- Touch one probe from the meter to the bare grounding conductors.
- Touch the other probe to the exposed end of one of the "white" wires.
- Touch the probe to the other "white" wire.
You should have measured 0 volts to one "white" wire, and line voltage (~120 volts) to the other. Using a bit of black tape, or a black marker. Mark the "white" wire that measured line voltage to ground.
- Turn the breaker off, and verify power to the circuit is off.
- Connect the white fixture wire to the unmarked "white" wire from the ceiling.
- Connect the black fixture wire to the marked "white" wire from the ceiling.
Warning: You'll be working with live electrical wires during this procedure. If you don't feel comfortable doing so, please contact a local licensed Electrician.
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Best Answer
This appears to be a classic switch loop with the white wire marked black. With your power turned off, connect your white fixture wire to the group of white wires in the box. Connect your black fixture wire to the single black wire in the box. The box doesn't appear to be grounded so just leave the copper wire from the fixture, if there is one, unhooked and tucked into the box.