dsdsds t1_j6jv489 wrote
Are you measuring voltage?
When the switch is off, the 2 points will have a voltage difference of 120v. When the switch is on, the 2 points are physically connected, the voltage difference between them is 0.
Look up how to use a multi meter.
iswagpack t1_j6jw6h7 wrote
Bingo chicken dinner
enc-nyc OP t1_j6jxk8h wrote
I did look up. Yes, was measuring a voltage, didn't think it was one line, my mistake.
Thank you.
Now measured a continuity. Seems like everything is working as intended but light is always on anyway.
abdoughnut t1_j6lt2up wrote
Are you sure your switch is for the lamp?
Are there other switches for the same lamp?
enc-nyc OP t1_j6mrvmv wrote
It's switch for the lamp since there are 3 lamps in the kitchen. There is nothing else, no other switches, no other things to turn on.
abdoughnut t1_j6mth95 wrote
The switch works, the wires are the correct ones, then the last owner might have done some weird bypass. Can you show us the wiring more clearly? Try to get a good picture of where they come from and where they go
enc-nyc OP t1_j6n06j8 wrote
It's quite a mess there.
abdoughnut t1_j6n7xdk wrote
Looks like a 3way light switch is needed based on those 3 wires, is that what you installed?
enc-nyc OP t1_j6n9bht wrote
No, I've installed a regular one. There's one black cord coming from a 3rd switch that has a opening in the middle. Have no idea what it is for as end of it goes to one of connections of 3rd switch.
2 cords (black and red) should control the 2nd switch I assume.
As a wrote in comment below 2nd light works even with no switch hooked, so it's hardwired somewhere else I guess?
abdoughnut t1_j6natda wrote
I’ve never seen that before, you should definitely get an electrician to look at it as the idea of a loose wire scares me
The_cogwheel t1_j6pg8qo wrote
Is there any voltage between those wires, what's the voltage between the red and neutral, and whats the voltage between the black and neutral?
enc-nyc OP t1_j6n8fqv wrote
I actually (with 2nd switch taken off) put a bulb in a 2nd lamp and it lights up.
Seems like it's hardwired somewhere without even touching the switch. What a nonsense.
The_cogwheel t1_j6pfw71 wrote
To expand.
Voltage is a relative measurement - think of it as "what is the difference in electrical pressure between these two points".
If you measured two ends of the same wire, no matter what else is happening on that wire, voltage will read close to 0, unless the wire is extremely long (150 ft or longer). Most of the time when we say "oh that's a hot. It's 120v" we're using a reference that is always constant - the ground. Like the literal ground beneath your feet (or the ground wire, which eventually goes into the actual earth outside your home). Because that measurement tells us how likely (and painful) it's gonna be to get a shock from it. More volts = more pressure = more likely and more pain.
When the switch closes (aka in the "on" position), it's the same as having one long chunk of wire rather than two chunk, when it's open (aka in the off position), it's separated agian. So when it's open there is a difference in electrical pressure - one side has 120v (referenced to ground) and the other side has 0v (agian, as referenced to ground) as they are now two separate wires, one with a connection to the panel, the other with a connection to the lights.
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