How can I trace a light switch?

Question

I recently bought an eighty-year-old house. I have a light switch that is wired, but I cannot figure out what it does. I tested every outlet in the room and the adjoining room. How can I trace the line to figure out what it controls?

Answer 1

Is the switch "hot"  have you tested it for juice?  Many times a switch is just a break in the hot wire that controls a light or outlet.  It may have been disconnected during a past renovation.

You can leave it as is, or call a qualified electrician and see what he finds with his test equipment.

Answer 2

ignore ur problem lol

Answer 3

If the switch has power to it, and works properly, be sure you tested each half of the duplex outlets.  Often, only half is switched.  Are there any blank covers in the room from a fixture that was removed?  Could it control something outside- a light or outlet?

Answer 4

The switch may have switched 1/2 of a duplex receptacle.

Someone may have replaced the receptacle without breaking of the jumper tab(on the hot side), allowing each half to be powered

independantly.

If the switch has a red wire on it, look for a receptacle that has a red wire to it (as well as a black, and white).

If the switch only has a black and white wire attached, look in the receptacle boxes for one that has a white wire tied to the black (or "hot") side of the receptacle.