I am just finishing a basement bathroom remodel and it was time to install the new sconces, GFCI but the switches were looking a bit 'ratty', so I decided to pull and replace them. Very happy that I did, though it took much longer than it should have done...
5 romex cables in a 2 gang box with one single and one dual switch. Cables were supply, feed to GFCI and then one each for overhead lights, sconces and exhaust fan. All sounds good so far except it was a tad cramped in there. Then I started pulling it out. Five hots (3 of them pigtails to the switches) were twisted together with no wire nut and no tape - just exposed in the box! 3 grounds twisted together and another 2 twisted together and NEITHER switch was grounded! The box had two nails through one side into a stud that the hot cluster was brushing and it wasn't attached the other side at all, so was loose, causing movement of said exposed wiring every time you toggled the switches. Surprised we have't had a fire in there. Feeling much safer now.
5 romex cables in a 2 gang box with one single and one dual switch. Cables were supply, feed to GFCI and then one each for overhead lights, sconces and exhaust fan. All sounds good so far except it was a tad cramped in there. Then I started pulling it out. Five hots (3 of them pigtails to the switches) were twisted together with no wire nut and no tape - just exposed in the box! 3 grounds twisted together and another 2 twisted together and NEITHER switch was grounded! The box had two nails through one side into a stud that the hot cluster was brushing and it wasn't attached the other side at all, so was loose, causing movement of said exposed wiring every time you toggled the switches. Surprised we have't had a fire in there. Feeling much safer now.
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