Behind one of the “master control panels”. These switches and dimmers controlled the lights in the back hall. It was not clear to me why I needed a dimmer on the closet light.
I have written about some of the oddities of the wiring before. I have managed to simplify and “naturalize” (place the fixture where one would expect it) several switches, outlets, and lights, but at the expense of leaving behind scars in the walls. With the other un-remodeling efforts of removing the tunnel to the bedroom, removing the chimney, and installing a new closet door, there was enough restoration work that I sought help from sheetrock and carpentry experts.
And now they were coming to do the work! I needed to finish my electrical un-wiring and re-wiring before they could proceed. So here are the highlights of my getting the electrons to flow where I wanted them.
– Move the shower room light switch from behind the door to where it can be reached as one enters.
– Replace the bathroom fan and its broken switch, also in an accessible location.
– Move the light from above the bathtub to the opposite side of the wall where it won’t be an electrocution hazard.
– Combine the bathroom lights; there is no need for them to each be on their own individual dimmer switches.
– Move the bedroom light switch from the bathroom to the bedroom (duh). Connect it to the other lights in the bedroom and remove the excess switches.
– Move an outlet from where the closet door is to be installed.
– Add an outlet to meet the code requirements for bedrooms.
– Move the closet light so that it illuminates the contents of the closet.
– Add a closet light to the new closet space.
– Remove light switches and wiring that now go nowhere (the tunnel ceiling and party lights that were demolished).
– Install outdoor flood light to see the path to the garage from the back yard.
– Replace the hidden GFI outlet behind the refrigerator.
– More…
There is a mix of emotional results from this work. I am pleased that the lights and switches are now more “natural”, but as I become accustomed to their new locations (quite easy for the very reason that they are now where you expect them), I am rapidly forgetting the awkwardness of how they once were. This is one of those investments that will be entirely unappreciated by some future owner of TOH.
No matter. Before that future owner takes possession, I will have enjoyed years of being able to turn the lights on without cursing and searching in the dark for the switch.
After simplifying the wiring, only two switches remained.
Another switch simplification. This was previously a bank of five. Now a single switch and an outlet. This remaining gap in the sheetrock, and others, now needed to be patched.