I am replacing the outlets/switches in my bathroom. One receptacle has a light switch and an outlet. I used a meter to determine which of the 3 black wires was my hot one, then hooked up the devices accordingly. 6 inches away is a double switch, controlling a light & exhaust fan. There are 4 pairs of wires in this box, and NONE of them test hot! Both outlets are on the same circuit. If 2 wires were hot, I'd connect them to one side & break the tab, right? I've tried turning the breaker off/on, pigtailing all the white wires, connecting the other outlet first....I've got no power!
I don't know if it's significant, but when I first took off the cover, one of the fixture wires had the insulation removed an inch from the end, and the wire was looped over the first screw before the end was attached to the second screw (on the device side). When I first tried replacing the switch, I put the wires back exactly as I found them (or so I thought), but then activating either switch turned on BOTH the light and the fan. So there was power going to it yesterday! I took it apart to try to separate the fan & light operation, which I assume had something to do with the middle-of-wire connection. Now I kind of wish I'd left well enough alone...
Why are none of these 4 wires hot?
I don't know if it's significant, but when I first took off the cover, one of the fixture wires had the insulation removed an inch from the end, and the wire was looped over the first screw before the end was attached to the second screw (on the device side). When I first tried replacing the switch, I put the wires back exactly as I found them (or so I thought), but then activating either switch turned on BOTH the light and the fan. So there was power going to it yesterday! I took it apart to try to separate the fan & light operation, which I assume had something to do with the middle-of-wire connection. Now I kind of wish I'd left well enough alone...
Why are none of these 4 wires hot?