Found this 75-year old switch wiring, seems okay but not anything I’ve heard of before:
– Junction box and lights in basement
– Switch in kitchen
– 3-wire (BX) cable from junction box to switch
– 2-wire (BX) cable from junction box to lights
Looks like on 3-wire cable, black carries load and red brings it back to be redirected to the light. The switch is not end-of-run because the cable carries on (as 2-wire) above the kitchen ceiling to other outlets (via an evil-looking octopus that I’m taking out).
Replies
There is nothing illegal with this.
Several things could have happend or been planned.
It sounds like this is a switch at the top of the stairs to operate the basement lights. It is possibe that at one time there was 3 way switch at the top and bottom of the stairs and wired through that j-box.
At one time there might have been something that extended off from that switch. OR who ever did it had some plans to extend the circuit off that switch.
Not likely in this case, but if some of the X-10 controls where to be installed they need a neutral along with a not.
Yeah, I didn't think it was illegal, but just wanted to confirm. It's perfectly reasonable: control the basement lights from the kitchen so you don't have to walk down into darkness. Get two uses out of the wire that's carrying the load through that stud bay anyway.