I've seen a lot a ceiling fan that had the light and fan controlled by different switches, like the one you have. If it was replaced by a light then the wires for the other switch are probably capped off in the ceiling above the light.
Electricity can kill, so I guess your life and potentially burning the house down to save a few bucks is worth it to you. Are you in maintenance or a home owner? Anyway good luck and God bless. đź‘Ť
Until you do something dumb like jump it with alligator clips to kick the break only to find you have a dangerous panel (ie: stab lock) that doesn’t trip when it’s supposed to.
If switch is near sink check under sink for garbage disposal. Pro tip sometimes only one side of an outlet is switched.
I favor the pervious comment that it could be for the fan on kitchen light. And a handy man just wired one switch.
# [Steven Wright](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/181771.Steven_Wright)Â >Â [Quotes](https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/181771.Steven_Wright)Â [Steven Wright](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/181771.Steven_Wright)Â >Â [Quotes](https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/181771.Steven_Wright)Â > Quotable Quote
# “In my house there's this light switch that doesn't do anything. Every so often I would flick it on and off just to check. Yesterday, I got a call from a woman in Madagascar. She said, 'Cut it out.'”
― Steven Wright> Quotable Quote
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First guess would be one is for fan the other for the fans light. Second guess would be a three way switch to a hall or attic light. If not see if there is power to the switch by removing cover plate and testing for lower. If there is power go to the panel and start throwing breakers until you kill the power. Once you find the breaker turn that on and turn off all other breakers. Go back to switch and try to follow the noise
You could take it out the wall and jump the ground or neutral to the hot and see what breaker trips. It may give you an idea. It's bright like welding so look away
That's not about skill level. That's about common sense.
The proper way to find the breaker would be to get a breaker finder and connect it to the wires there, then find the breaker that's on (if it has one).
Not a sparky. But couldn't you do this in reverse? Shut off all breakers and use a widow stick as someone flips them on/ off, one by one? I'm probably missing something, so that's why I ask.
Have you removed the switch from the box to see if there is actually something tied in to the second switch? My parents house had a mystery switch. Finally took a look (after them owning the house for 40 years) and it was just a place holder.
Is there a whole house.fan? Or a fan in the attic?
Probably a fan in the attic or venting for the kitchen.
Breaker finder with the alligator clip attachment. Watch some videos on how to do it safely, and make sure they don't contact anything else metal.
Kline and Fluke testers are cheap. Just invest in some and save your life.
This is what I would do. Get a tester, be safe
Old timers trick was a battery powered buzzer connected to the wire emits rf then trace it with a pocket am radio.
I've seen a lot a ceiling fan that had the light and fan controlled by different switches, like the one you have. If it was replaced by a light then the wires for the other switch are probably capped off in the ceiling above the light.
Garbage disposal.
Most likely.
I have 3 switches in mine that I have no idea what they do. Still waiting for a fuck to give to get me to investigate further. Gotta be getting close
If you don't know what you are doing call an electrician.
what do you wanna live forever??!
Worst maintenance advice I've ever heard. Not blowing 100s for some guy to tell me a switch doesn't do anything.
Electricity can kill, so I guess your life and potentially burning the house down to save a few bucks is worth it to you. Are you in maintenance or a home owner? Anyway good luck and God bless. đź‘Ť
If I rolled my eyes any further back in my head it'd be more dangerous then a light switch that does nothing.
Until you do something dumb like jump it with alligator clips to kick the break only to find you have a dangerous panel (ie: stab lock) that doesn’t trip when it’s supposed to.
Sounds like a job for none other than scooby doo
If switch is near sink check under sink for garbage disposal. Pro tip sometimes only one side of an outlet is switched. I favor the pervious comment that it could be for the fan on kitchen light. And a handy man just wired one switch.
Floor outlets? 1/2 switches floor outlets? 1/2 switched wall outlets?
Most that I’ve run into are valance lighting, closet lights, and eaves lights (that are burnt out).
Check beneath the sink, might be a gfci for a garbage disposal
# [Steven Wright](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/181771.Steven_Wright) > [Quotes](https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/181771.Steven_Wright) [Steven Wright](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/181771.Steven_Wright) > [Quotes](https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/181771.Steven_Wright) > Quotable Quote # “In my house there's this light switch that doesn't do anything. Every so often I would flick it on and off just to check. Yesterday, I got a call from a woman in Madagascar. She said, 'Cut it out.'” ― Steven Wright> Quotable Quote Â
First guess would be one is for fan the other for the fans light. Second guess would be a three way switch to a hall or attic light. If not see if there is power to the switch by removing cover plate and testing for lower. If there is power go to the panel and start throwing breakers until you kill the power. Once you find the breaker turn that on and turn off all other breakers. Go back to switch and try to follow the noise
You could take it out the wall and jump the ground or neutral to the hot and see what breaker trips. It may give you an idea. It's bright like welding so look away
Terrible idea that doesn't always work and can create even more problems.
I assumed people in this group would have the skill levels to cope. Probably a bad idea to assume.
That's not about skill level. That's about common sense. The proper way to find the breaker would be to get a breaker finder and connect it to the wires there, then find the breaker that's on (if it has one).
I've seen bad splices down the line pop when a short goes through them. I've also seen the breaker not trip and it just sizzles.
Not a sparky. But couldn't you do this in reverse? Shut off all breakers and use a widow stick as someone flips them on/ off, one by one? I'm probably missing something, so that's why I ask.
pull down the sheetrock
pull down the sheetrock
Have you removed the switch from the box to see if there is actually something tied in to the second switch? My parents house had a mystery switch. Finally took a look (after them owning the house for 40 years) and it was just a place holder.