Switch to nowhere - ideas? (floor, ceiling, rooms, kitchen)

[markjames68]

I have been gradually replacing 20 year old ivory toggle switches with white rocker style, and today came across a 3 gang box which has me stumped.

One light switch is 3-way for the back porch. No problem.
One light switch is a single for backyard floodlights. Also no problem. Both on the same circuit.

The last doesn’t seem to switch any lights, it’s a single switch w/14 gauge wire so not likely a switched outlet and is on a different circuit that’s also used by the kitchen (next room over).

I replaced it but still don’t know what it does.

Any ideas?

[walmill]

Can you access the attic to trace the line

[JonahWicky]

Trace the circuit. The only way anyone on this forum could help is if you post a wiring diagram for your house.

[K'ledgeBldr]

Tracing will definitely get you a definitive answer.

Not knowing where the switches are make guesses a bit obscure- but I've had people ask me this question when switches are in hallway- and it's the light in the attic. Just a guess!

[grampaTom]

14AWG is a switch leg. Could be for 1/2 of a recep for a lamp or a light fixture 'somewhere'. I had a similar mystery switch that went to a light in the basement stairway.

[tickyul]

Check for current to make sure.

[markjames68]

Thanks to all so far. Given its location on the first floor I don’t think it runs to the attic but down to the basement which is completely finished.

There are outlets outside on the patio so given what it’s ganged with I wonder if it’s a switch for an outside outlet. Will give that a try tomorrow.

At some point I can do a formal trace but as I’ve been in the house for a year and never bothered with it yet it’s more of a “want to know” at this point.

[KNPV PSD]

I have one like this. Four switches with two controlling lights on the deck and one controlling the ceiling fan on the covered deck. The mystery switched I eventually traced to a box under the deck. Guess the builder planned it for something and the prior owner never finished it.


Maybe check outside under the eaves? My last house had Christmas light sockets under the eaves controlled by a switch at the front door.

[old_cold]

As grampaTom mentioned.....I've twice had one together with the outdoor light switches in rooms with no light fixtures. It controlled half of an outlet near the door,, presumedly for a lamp that could be turned on before entering the room.

[Sarahsez]

I had one of those. The house was custom built for us so I was able to find out the answer. The answer was that the HOA required a light on a lamppost outside. The electrician was unsure of where that lamppost would be located so he put in a switch on both sides of the garage and only hooked up the one.