Alpo Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 My bathroom wall switch. From left, room light, shower light, heat lamp and exhaust fan. Left hand don't work. The other three still do. And I checked - the light bulbs still work. My logic says if I take the faceplate off and remove that left hand switch and put a new switch in its place, I should once again have lights in the bathroom. Figgered before I started playing with electricity and attempting to electrocute myself, I would ask someone that does this for a living. Should it be that simple? Or am I overlooking something quite obvious to people that know what the hell they're doing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 The left switch, the room light used to work and does not now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamus McGillicuddy Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 OK Alpo, is this really happening to you or something out of the latest novel you are reading? Seamus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finagler 6853 Life Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 It would appear to be that simple. There is always the outside possibility that the light fixture itself is shot but if this is the primary light used, the switch is most likely toast. Easy peasy to replace. I'm not an electrician but I have replaced many switches, fixtures and even wired my own sheds. Not rocket science. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD Lud Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 Even if you shock yourself it’s not much but a tingle....one time I had to do it twice before I realized what it was. An inexpensive fluke can be your friend if you want to shut off breakers and such and go about it safely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michigan Slim Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 That's the hot wire there Alpo. Find the breaker first. Don't lick it either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Kit Cool Gun Garth Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cypress Sun Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 30 minutes ago, Alpo said: My bathroom wall switch. From left, room light, shower light, heat lamp and exhaust fan. Left hand don't work. The other three still do. And I checked - the light bulbs still work. My logic says if I take the faceplate off and remove that left hand switch and put a new switch in its place, I should once again have lights in the bathroom. Figgered before I started playing with electricity and attempting to electrocute myself, I would ask someone that does this for a living. Should it be that simple? Or am I overlooking something quite obvious to people that know what the hell they're doing? Is the room light a fluorescent? If so, it is probably the lamps or ballast. If those are Slater switches, circa 1980's, it could be a bad switch. Switches, other than Slater of that period, can go bad. I can walk you through it if it isn't a flo. light or even if it is. Changing a switch or ballast isn't rocket science but electricity can and will kill you if you get crossed up with the power on. Let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 34 minutes ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said: The left switch, the room light used to work and does not now? That is correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 1 minute ago, Cypress Sun said: Is the room light a fluorescent? Pretty sure that's a NO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428 Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 Switches are the easy inexpensive fix. For a few bucks and a few minutes you can determine for certain that it isn't the switch, if you dont have a good multimeter to check things with. Others have said it, but it is worth repeating.... turn off the breaker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cypress Sun Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 1 minute ago, Alpo said: Pretty sure that's a NO. Okay, make sure that the bulbs are good, If so get what is called a Single Pole switch. Doesn't have to be a $5.00 switch, a $1.00 one from Home Depot or the like will do. If you would like help via phone, let me know and we can exchange #'s. It's really an easy change out and better than paying an electrician $100.00 to do it. Heck, worthless could do it if he had opposable thumbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 And while on the subject of lights -- though it still works now, I'm sure that eventually the bulb will blow in the shower. How in the heck did he DO YOU get to it to replace it? There doesn't seem to be anything resembling a screw. Is (most likely) the chrome ring just pressed into the ceiling? You just kinda sorta pry it down? That's how (I discovered) you got access to the lightbulb in the foyer. It got wet during the hurricane and when I turned the switch on it went "pop". 6 minutes ago, Cypress Sun said: Heck, worthless could do it if he had opposable thumbs He's a she. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 46 minutes ago, Seamus McGillicuddy said: OK Alpo, is this really happening to you or something out of the latest novel you are reading? Seamus The latest novel I'm reading is about Xanth, and they don't use electricity there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawMan Mark, SASS #57095L Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 3 minutes ago, Alpo said: And while on the subject of lights -- though it still works now, I'm sure that eventually the bulb will blow in the shower. How in the heck did he DO YOU get to it to replace it? There doesn't seem to be anything resembling a screw. Is (most likely) the chrome ring just pressed into the ceiling? You just kinda sorta pry it down? That's how (I discovered) you got access to the lightbulb in the foyer. It got wet during the hurricane and when I turned the switch on it went "pop". He's a she. On the one I have like that, the trim ring pulls down on two flexible wires, then you unscrew the flood bulb from the socket. Install a new one and push the trim ring back up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 3 minutes ago, Alpo said: And while on the subject of lights -- though it still works now, I'm sure that eventually the bulb will blow in the shower. How in the heck did he get to it to replace it? There doesn't seem to be anything resembling a screw. Is (most likely) the chrome ring just pressed into the ceiling? You just kinda sorta pry it down? That's how (I discovered) you got access to the lightbulb in the foyer. It got wet during the hurricane and when I turned the switch on it went "pop". He's a she. Then “Worthless could do it if she weren’t blonde” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 Cold, dude. Really cold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cypress Sun Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 Mark is correct. Just pull down on the trim, that's what it's called, and it will come down about 3". Squeeze the springs together and the rim comes out. Buy a new LED "weather resistant" trim at HD or Lowes. They come with coil springs, install that and it will be a hell of a lot brighter in the shower. Sorry, I've only seen pic's of Worthless from the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted January 15, 2020 Author Share Posted January 15, 2020 There you go. Worthless from the back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cypress Sun Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 5 minutes ago, Alpo said: There you go. Worthless from the back. Not that I want to see butt it's difficult to tell gender from this angle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assassin Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 You might check your breaker first. Make sure it's not tripped. Then take a tester and check for power to one side of the switch. If there is no power coming into the switch there's a break in the circuit somewhere. Does the light flicker when you jiggle the switch side to side? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438 Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 I understand the desire for thrift, but there are better places to save a few bucks than on electrical switches. Cheap switches are cheap because they use substandard components or materials, or are built to looser tolerances. They are more subject to poor internal contacts and faster degradation from use, both of which can cause arcing and fire. Taking the risk to save $5 is not wise. Buy a good, US made UL-rated switch from a known maker, like Leviton; avoid the Chinese discounted junk. LL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 Before you pull the cover off on the 4 switches. Shut ALL the circuits off that feed those switches at the main panel. OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cypress Sun Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 1 hour ago, Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438 said: I understand the desire for thrift, but there are better places to save a few bucks than on electrical switches. Cheap switches are cheap because they use substandard components or materials, or are built to looser tolerances. They are more subject to poor internal contacts and faster degradation from use, both of which can cause arcing and fire. Taking the risk to save $5 is not wise. Buy a good, US made UL-rated switch from a known maker, like Leviton; avoid the Chinese discounted junk. LL A 15 amp rated single pole switch made by Leviton costs about a $1.00 at HD. Even if Alpo was able to find 150 watt lamps to install in the light fixture (sockets probably rated at 75 watt max), 450 watts divided by 120 volts is approximately 3.2 amps...way under what the switch is rated for. By the way, most of the Leviton and Square D stuff (and many other name brands) are made in Mexico or Canada now. The chances of the bathroom lights/etc in that switch bank being on different circuits is very slim. Still best to check with a volt meter or similar tester. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted January 16, 2020 Author Share Posted January 16, 2020 1 hour ago, Cypress Sun said: Not that I want to see butt it's difficult to tell gender from this angle. Side view better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cypress Sun Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 Yes, but I always let sleeping dogs lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted January 16, 2020 Author Share Posted January 16, 2020 She don't lie. Most truthful dog I ever met. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 45 minutes ago, Alpo said: She don't lie. Most truthful dog I ever met. Dogs don't know how to lie. OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 You never had a dog blame it on the cat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cypress Sun Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 Dogs may try to lie but their tails always give them away. That's why I like playing poker with dogs, you can always tell when they have a good hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duffield, SASS #23454 Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 Trip the breaker and then VERIFY ABSENSE OF ENERGY before you touch that switch. Breaker panels have been known to be mis-labled. Duffield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duffield, SASS #23454 Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 The wires on the switch were probably pushed into holes on the back of the switch instead of curled around the screws and then tightening the screws. When you replace it, use the screws, not the holes. Duffield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cactus Jack Calder Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 31 minutes ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said: You never had a dog blame it on the cat? We had a cat that would jump up on the kitchen counter and claw through the packaging on cold cuts etc. Then when someone approached the kitchen he would bat it on the floor next to the dog and sit there looking at the ceiling all innocent and uninterested in what deviltry the dog had been into. “Who Me?” CJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 Alpo, To verify that the circuits are dead buy a non-contact voltage tester. Easier to use than a multi-meter and you are less likely to get a false reading and accidentally electrocute yourself. There are lots of them available but the only ones I would buy are made by Klein Tools. As an added bonus the dual range versions can be used to troubleshoot Christmas tree lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cypress Sun Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 44 minutes ago, Duffield, SASS #23454 said: The wires on the switch were probably pushed into holes on the back of the switch instead of curled around the screws and then tightening the screws. When you replace it, use the screws, not the holes. Duffield Big +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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