Pre-1970 House – Backyard Light Switch Stopped Working After Replacing Light with GFCI Outlet

I have an old house (pre-1970), so there are no ground wires. Originally, there was a light in the backyard controlled by a switch inside the house. A few years ago, I removed the light and replaced it with an outdoor open splice box. I spliced the wire there and installed a GFCI outlet outside. However, the original switch (which I didn't touch) no longer controlled anything. That didn't bother me at the time because I didn't need the outlet to be switched. Now I want to install an outdoor light where the open splice box is but still keep the outlet, so I need the switch to work again. I tried replacing the switch, but that didn’t make a difference. Any thoughts on why the switch isn’t working? submitted by /u/varun3096 [link] [comments]

Apr 23, 2025 - 17:26

I have an old house (pre-1970), so there are no ground wires. Originally, there was a light in the backyard controlled by a switch inside the house. A few years ago, I removed the light and replaced it with an outdoor open splice box. I spliced the wire there and installed a GFCI outlet outside.

However, the original switch (which I didn't touch) no longer controlled anything. That didn't bother me at the time because I didn't need the outlet to be switched.

Now I want to install an outdoor light where the open splice box is but still keep the outlet, so I need the switch to work again. I tried replacing the switch, but that didn’t make a difference.

Any thoughts on why the switch isn’t working?

submitted by /u/varun3096
[link] [comments]