Light fixture connected between HOT and Ground wires... ?
This is in a 40 year old house we just purchased. While changing the light fixture at the top of the stairs, saw that the two wires from the light were connected to switched hot and ground respectively. The ground wire from the light was not connected to anything.
Not sure what the previous electrician was thinking, and I would ordinarily sigh and fix this properly. However, I also see another Romex in this box, connected with the black and white wires reversed (see image, cant describe what I am seeing in words)
More info - this light is on a 3 way switch, controlled from bottom and top of stairs.
Of the 2 Romexes in the junction box, the one in the 4 O clock position is always hot. The 12 O clock one is switched, I verified it turns on/off from either of the 2 switches. The light fixture was connected between this switched hot and the ground wire towards the 10 O clock position. The ground by the 2 O clock position is just floating.
Please share your thoughts on what the previous electrician was thinking. Not sure where the always HOT wire is coming from/going to, I plan to untiwst both pairs and look into that next... Any tips on investigating this?
Posted Dec 6, 2025, 8:00 PM UTC