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I am replacing an outdoor receptacle that is attached to a lamp post and is electrically tied to the lamp. There are 3 undeground cables coming to the lamp post and 1 cable coming from the lamp itself. I have a GFCI receptacle. How do I connect all the wires together? A light switch inside the house turns on/off the receptacle and the lamp light.

Submitted: 154 days and 13 hours ago.
Category: Electrical
Value: $15
Status: AWAITING CUSTOMER ACTION
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Posted by Glenn 154 days and 13 hours ago.

Info Request

Thank you for asking your question on graphic
You are corresponding with Glenn - Your personal online "Electrical Consultant"

 

Hello

Do you know which one of the 3 is the feed ?

Do you own a test meter ?

154 days and 13 hours ago.

Reply

I don't know which is the feed but I can borrow a test meter.

Posted by Glenn 154 days and 13 hours ago.

Answer

Thank you for asking your question on graphic
You are corresponding with Glenn - Your personal online "Electrical Consultant"

Ok go borrow the meter this will help alot
Do you know where the 3 wires go ?
I know one is the feed and one will be the switch but where does the 3'rd one go ? to another outlet or light ?

154 days and 13 hours ago.

Reply

I am wondering if the 3rd cable was used for somehting that no longer exists. All 3 cables were hooked together undergroung when I dug them up.

Posted by Glenn 154 days and 12 hours ago.

Answer

Ok let's get the meter and figure it out

154 days and 12 hours ago.

Reply

Ok I am going to go borrow the test meter from the neighbor. Be back shortly.

Posted by Glenn 154 days and 12 hours ago.

Info Request

ok

154 days and 12 hours ago.

Reply

I am ready with test meter.

Posted by Glenn 154 days and 12 hours ago.

Answer

Ok

Set it on the 250 volt scale a/c volts
Seperate all the wires and with the power on touch the probes to the black and white of aach indivual romex to find one that reads 110 volts

154 days and 12 hours ago.

Reply

I have found which one reads 110 volts.

Posted by Glenn 154 days and 12 hours ago.

Answer

Ok great now set it to the side
Now set the meter to ohms it looks like a horse shoe set the dial on x1 or Rx1

On the remaining 2 wires touch the probe to the white and black and have someone turn the switch on and off the meter should go from ooo to 1 this will find the switch wire

154 days and 12 hours ago.

Reply

ok will do

Posted by Glenn 154 days and 12 hours ago.

Answer

ok sounds good

Accepted Answer

Hello

I have to go for now but if you find that pair cap the unknown wire and tuck it away

On the live wire connect the white wire to the light and also to the silver screw on the line side of the outlet
Then take the black live wire and wire nut it to the black wire of the switched wire
Now the white wire of the switched wire will go to the brass screw of the line side of the outlet and to the light

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Expert: Glenn
Pos. Feedback: 99.3 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 6/21/2009

Electrical Technician

over 30 years as a technician former journeyman electrician

154 days and 11 hours ago.

Reply

On 1 of the remaining 2 cables, the resistance measured less then 1.0 but stayed the same reading when the switch was turned on or off. The other cable measured over 288.0 but never changed when turning the switch on or off.

154 days and 11 hours ago.

Reply

Glenn:

 

I wasn't sure if your last reply was cutoff or not. Your last sentence says to " Now the white wire of the switched wire will go to the brass screw of the line side of the outlet and to the light". Previously, you had me connect the live white wire to the white wire of the light. What wire on the light should the white wire of the switched wire be connected to?

Posted by Glenn 154 days and 5 hours ago.

Answer

Hello

don't get confused here the wire that is hot black and white the white will go to the light and to the silver screw

The black will go to the switch wire black

The switch wire white will go to the brass screw of the outlet and to the light

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