Finding Ground/Neutral Wire in Switchboard
by
VJ
+9
Hello all,
Similar to this https://www.hometalk.com/diy/q-installation-of-wifi-light-switches-34406068, I was installing another WiFi switch at my place.
However this time when I opened the socket board, I did not find any Green wires, all the switches had suspended green wires which were not connected to any other wire.
I have taken a photo, can someone please help me find out Ground/Neutral pls.
From what i can see....black wires are hot. White would be neutral. Ground wires would be bare. Looks like you also have some black/white which also would be neutral.
The green wire.
On your switch. Neutral are connected to the silver colored screws. Hot wires are connected to the gold colored screws. Your switch box has what are called joints made up in it. Switches are not required to have a ground. So likely all grounds are tied together under a wire nut, as well as your neutrals and hots under seperate nuts. I hope this helps.
The green wires should be connected to the mass of bare wires (ground), which are all twisted together at the back of the box and capped with the yellow twist cap. You may want to attach a single wire to the mass, and then connect all the unattached green wires with a separate cap.
You need a pigtail (short piece of wire, then attach it to the mass of spiraled bare wires in the bottom right of the photo (use a larger wire nut for secure connection, and then attach it to the ground on your switch or whatever you are installing. If you are going to add two extra outlets it will be easier to run a jumper wire from the ground screw that you attach the pigtail to the other switch or plug instead of installing two pigtails to the mass of wires.
You need to call an electrician! Whoever connected these switches without connecting the grounds shouldn't have. Who knows what else may be wrong!
I vote with Reo33875684 don't get a jack leg or your neighborhood DIY electrician. You may want to have the entire house electrical system inspected.
If you have a fire and the insurance company can lay the problem to bad wiring they may deny the claim.
I also agree with Reo33875684. It looks like the house had a DIY neighbor who helped nothing. They did you no favor. I had the problem when I replaced switches in a previous home, the builder never attached ground wires. Sloppy lazy and dangerous.
Usually red wires are "travelers". Meaning two switches in different locations can operate the same light.
I’m with williams and a few others. A ground is 99.9% green in the USA. Light switches do not normally require a ground. And if there were a ground wire, it generally is found in the actual appliance/light/ceiling fan...itself. And I would check the fixture to see if you are looking for something that is not located where your pictures are showing us.