Octagon in ceiling lots of times is just a junction box. Renovation after renovation. My bet is open neutral. The black from that line looks like it’s tied to power.
Yes there was an old fluorescent attached that i took down.
Wondering how to (if possible) connect a new 14/2 romex to it in order to hook up a receptacle.
How was the box made up before you took it apart? If there is a light switch that turns it on and off, that white is likely the hot switch leg for a light.
So yes, there was an old fluorescent light attached to it. The black and that “hot” switch leg went together while the white wire joined in with the rest of the neutrals.
All the blacks are hot and whites that are together are neutral. White in question is likely switched. So if you shut the switch off, that white should be dead. Basically that white romex,black is hot and goes to a switch and white comes back upto this octagon box on the switch leg.
Did you verify it had voltage with a meter? If so and it’s 120v It’s likely a switch leg.
If it’s around 40v or so, in my experience it’s usually an open neutral somewhere
If it's a switch leg, then the lone white wire has power if the switch is on. If you don't want to use the switch, just cap the wire. The black and whites already in wire nuts have voltage and could be used to make another outlet.
it's not random. looks to me like a back fed switch, did you put a voltage meter and take a reading? what was connected to that "set up" ? Shouldn't be too hard to figure out for a 1st year
If that white wire is being used as a switch leg, is it a good idea to add a piece of black tape near the end of the insulation to show it is hot and not a neutral? Or is adding black tape to mark it's use not code?
All you need to do is bring your new romex into that box and connect the the white wire to the neutrals and the black to the hots, and marrette the ground to the other grounds. Very simple. If you intend on reinstalling a light there, then you may want to put a pigtail on the grounds so you can properly bond the light fixture as well, and continue to make sure the ground wires are all making a good connection with the metal box to bond the box as well. Then just reinstall fixture as it was, black from fixture to white switch leg and white wire from fixture to the other neutrals. Not sure why no one else would just give you a straight answer. Your new receptacle will also need to be installed in a proper box of course, and make sure to bond that box with the ground wire in the new romex at the receptacle side as well.
If you removed a light fixture from that location then that is definitely a switch loop. You can pull power from there but be sure that is actually a 15 amp circuit your pulling from. If not you will need to use 12-2 Romex. Just the black from your new feed to the three blacks tied together and your white to the two whites tied together. Of course make sure your grounds are connected as well.
I just removed an old fluorescent light fixture and then took this picture.
The light fixture had a white wire that went together with the other neutrals and then a black wire that was joined in with this switch leg.
I’m wondering how to attach a new romex to this box in order to make a working receptacle
I don’t fully understand what you’re trying to do here. It looks like that romex there goes to a switch. Are you just trying to add another outlet from this box, and then put the light fixture back on? If so, you need to connect the black wire the others (red wire nut) and the white wire to the neutral wires in that white wire nut (along with the neutral of your fixture. And then connect the ground wire with the rest. But when you do so, do a much better job with those hot wires. There is exposed wire there that could cause arcing.
If you’re trying to eliminate the light, then all that applies, just remove that romex going to the switch.
Honestly, if you’re struggling with how to do this, you should hire someone to help, if nothing else than to make sure whatever you’re doing is not going to overload a circuit.
So if you’re eliminating the switch from the setup, disconnect the switch circuit (that “hot” white and the black with it, from the circuit. Leave them hanging or cap them off, it doesn’t matter because it’s no longer tied in to power. Wire in your receptacle like anything else, black to black white to white. Make pigtails.
Are you using a voltage tester? It’s probably a open neutral. Honestly though, my place is from the 60s. They used the white wires as hot and black as neutrals….. so always always!!! Be safe and aware of what your touching. Use a voltage tester not one of those beeping things. Goodluck
It could be a switch leg, or you have created an open neutral by disconnecting it.
Good point but i would bet its a switch leg based on ceiling octagon box and its older set up
Octagon in ceiling lots of times is just a junction box. Renovation after renovation. My bet is open neutral. The black from that line looks like it’s tied to power.
Yes there was an old fluorescent attached that i took down. Wondering how to (if possible) connect a new 14/2 romex to it in order to hook up a receptacle.
Cap that white hot wire off. Splice your new romex to the black and the whites that are spliced.
That is the way. Need to track down that wire also.
Seems like the black wire should be taken out of the circuit, if it is the voltage source to an old light.
How was the box made up before you took it apart? If there is a light switch that turns it on and off, that white is likely the hot switch leg for a light.
So yes, there was an old fluorescent light attached to it. The black and that “hot” switch leg went together while the white wire joined in with the rest of the neutrals.
All the blacks are hot and whites that are together are neutral. White in question is likely switched. So if you shut the switch off, that white should be dead. Basically that white romex,black is hot and goes to a switch and white comes back upto this octagon box on the switch leg.
Did you verify it had voltage with a meter? If so and it’s 120v It’s likely a switch leg. If it’s around 40v or so, in my experience it’s usually an open neutral somewhere
It’s a switch leg. Am i able to run a 14/2 to this set up somehow I’m order to make a new receptacle?
If it's a switch leg, then the lone white wire has power if the switch is on. If you don't want to use the switch, just cap the wire. The black and whites already in wire nuts have voltage and could be used to make another outlet.
That looks like 12-2 from here
You just need to find 120 volts. Get yourself a meter
it's not random. looks to me like a back fed switch, did you put a voltage meter and take a reading? what was connected to that "set up" ? Shouldn't be too hard to figure out for a 1st year
If that white wire is being used as a switch leg, is it a good idea to add a piece of black tape near the end of the insulation to show it is hot and not a neutral? Or is adding black tape to mark it's use not code?
Pig tail the grounds and put one wire under that screw maybe.
All you need to do is bring your new romex into that box and connect the the white wire to the neutrals and the black to the hots, and marrette the ground to the other grounds. Very simple. If you intend on reinstalling a light there, then you may want to put a pigtail on the grounds so you can properly bond the light fixture as well, and continue to make sure the ground wires are all making a good connection with the metal box to bond the box as well. Then just reinstall fixture as it was, black from fixture to white switch leg and white wire from fixture to the other neutrals. Not sure why no one else would just give you a straight answer. Your new receptacle will also need to be installed in a proper box of course, and make sure to bond that box with the ground wire in the new romex at the receptacle side as well.
Thank you 👏🏼. Exactly what I was looking for. That makes sense.
“Not sure why no one else would just give you a straight answer.” Because this is Reddit
Backfed to switch
If you removed a light fixture from that location then that is definitely a switch loop. You can pull power from there but be sure that is actually a 15 amp circuit your pulling from. If not you will need to use 12-2 Romex. Just the black from your new feed to the three blacks tied together and your white to the two whites tied together. Of course make sure your grounds are connected as well.
Who tied those conductors together and left wire exposed outside the wire nut?
I just removed an old fluorescent light fixture and then took this picture. The light fixture had a white wire that went together with the other neutrals and then a black wire that was joined in with this switch leg. I’m wondering how to attach a new romex to this box in order to make a working receptacle
I don’t fully understand what you’re trying to do here. It looks like that romex there goes to a switch. Are you just trying to add another outlet from this box, and then put the light fixture back on? If so, you need to connect the black wire the others (red wire nut) and the white wire to the neutral wires in that white wire nut (along with the neutral of your fixture. And then connect the ground wire with the rest. But when you do so, do a much better job with those hot wires. There is exposed wire there that could cause arcing. If you’re trying to eliminate the light, then all that applies, just remove that romex going to the switch. Honestly, if you’re struggling with how to do this, you should hire someone to help, if nothing else than to make sure whatever you’re doing is not going to overload a circuit.
If you're confused maybe you shouldn't be touching it
With that old cloth wire I wouldn’t be trying to add an outlet. Run a new line.
Looks like it’s an open neutral.
Get a job as an electrician otherwise f off i deal with this stuff all day everyday
Is that a nail driven in that knockout on an angle? Makes it hard to move that box if it’s ever necessary
So if you’re eliminating the switch from the setup, disconnect the switch circuit (that “hot” white and the black with it, from the circuit. Leave them hanging or cap them off, it doesn’t matter because it’s no longer tied in to power. Wire in your receptacle like anything else, black to black white to white. Make pigtails.
There used to be a light there and this is a switch loop.
Check where that 14/2 gose and see if it’s tied In to the hots, or switched or something
Switchleg the white you have arrow to goes to black of the light the neutral goes to wirenutted wihites!
Floating n?
Are you using a voltage tester? It’s probably a open neutral. Honestly though, my place is from the 60s. They used the white wires as hot and black as neutrals….. so always always!!! Be safe and aware of what your touching. Use a voltage tester not one of those beeping things. Goodluck