As it says on the tin, I just installed my new switch, and it seems to work just fine (both switches function as expected – the wiring/setup was identical between the old & new switches), but (thankfully), before I touched the switch after turning the power back on, I ran my AC voltage detector across them, and surprisingly there was voltage detected.
I thought maybe this is normal, but after checking all of my other switches, no voltage was detected in them. So now I'm afraid to touch the new switch!
The condo is an older building (built in '63) and has no grounding wire; I made sure to mount the switch to the metal box first before testing, as I assume it grounds itself to its box. Any experts here that can advise?
Here's a link to a photo of the old wiring pre-installation, and the new switch showing current on the buttons: https://photos.app.goo.gl/weTS8YD2wdm3tqVm7
Best Answer
I know that seems worrisome, but don't be alarmed. The non-contact voltage testers are notorious for giving false positives. They are overly sensitive. A better way to use one is to hold your finger on the opposite side of the tip of the ncv tester whenever you hold it against a wire (or in this case, a switch). This will help to deaden the sensitivity, but will still indicate a truly live wire conductor.
Your switches are plastic and should also prevent shock.
