I have an older mobile home, 80's model. the light switch in a bedroom busted out of the wall so I went to replace it only I am confused about the wiring.
Normally I am fine with this when replacing new lights and stuff but I think this was done wrong. There are two sets of wire bundles in the wall, each with a copper black and white. The switch had a black one the bottom side screw then a copper on the screw above it both from the same line. Then the two whites are put together. Then on the top screw is a wire with black on it and and not positive cause it got pulled out but the copper wire might have been on that same screw and if it wasn't then it was just there in the open.
What is going on? Does that mean two things were hooked up to the switch? But then what?
Best Answer
The standard wiring pattern in USA (but not necessarily elsewhere in the world) for 110/120 AC is
The hot wire brings the current to the outlet or fixture, often through a switch.
The neutral completes the circuit back to the panel.
The ground is a safety mechanism that, hopefully, will shunt the hot current to the ground (literally) rather than through a person if there is a short.
The terminals of a single pole switch (the only switch in a circuit and turning on/off one device or one set of devices) get the black wires, one on each terminal. Many switches also have a grounding terminal. This is not one of the switch terminals, but is usually a green screw on the metal strap of the switch frame, often on the opposite side from the terminal screws.
In general the white wires in a box should always be connected to each other, and never to or through a switch.
Similarly, the ground (bare) wires should be connected to each other and to the ground screw if the switch has one.
In your case, one set of wires (black, white, bare) are the source of the power, and one set (also black, white, bare) go to the fixture.
More complicated systems are possible with more colors, more switching choices and other configurations, but they don't apply in this case.
To work on this, make sure that the power is off (a non contact tester is best), before handling any wires.