Another electrical question

[SideShow Bob]

One hot wire in to the first switch, the second switch tapped off of the first at the hot connection, nope not 3-ways.
If you are getting 120V at one switch and only 85V at the second, the hot jumper between the switches, or the second switch is your problem.

Also, you need a grounding jumper to each switch, that is what those crusty green screws on the bottom of each switch are for.

[Hotchef181818]

Check hot to neutral at the switch.

Not sure what that means

[Hotchef181818]

One hot wire in to the first switch, the second switch tapped off of the first at the hot connection, nope not 3-ways.
If you are getting 120V at one switch and only 85V at the second, the hot jumper between the switches, or the second switch is your problem.

Thats is what's odd. The first switch is getting 85 volts, the second is at 121. Unless I'm completely clueless, which is possible. I just try not to kill myself with electricity. I'll show the meter readings in a min to clarify

[SideShow Bob]

Thats is what's odd. The first switch is getting 85 volts, the second is at 121. Unless I'm completely clueless, which is possible. I just try not to kill myself with electricity. I'll show the meter readings in a min to clarify

I edited my post to include this :

Also, you need a grounding jumper to each switch, that is what those crusty green screws on the bottom of each switch are for.

[Hotchef181818]

I edited my post to include this :

Also, you need a grounding jumper to each switch, that is what those crusty green screws on the bottom of each switch are for.

i was wondering about that. I did read today that sometimes when a metal box is used outdoors they ground from contacting the box, any truth to that?

if true why does the spa light work but not the pool light when the aren't screwed in?

Hopefully im not confusing you guys too

[SideShow Bob]

Do you really want to trust that leaky ( see the corrosion in the box ) old box to provide a good ground ?

And the previous mentioned water damage in the box is most likely in the switch and or the hot jumper between the switches.
Replace the bell box, seals and cover along with the switches.
you can get it all for less than a $20 bill.

[Hotchef181818]

Do you really want to trust that leaky ( see the corrosion in the box ) old box to provide a good ground ?

And the previous mentioned water damage in the box is most likely in the switch and or the hot jumper between the switches.
Replace the bell box, seals and cover along with the switches.
you can get it all for less than a $20 bill.

Agreed, I have a new cover and seals awaiting for a working light, I'll grab a box too and swap that out.

What at I don't understand and maybe I don't know what I'm looking at.....The hot wire comes into the box and hits the left switch first(showing 85 volts) then has a jumper to the right switch(121 volts). Also the spa light isn't grounded either and turning on just fine. Does any of this make sense?

Another question...why is the ground wire coming out of the conduit into a wire nut and the to the screw? Why isn't it ran directly to the screw?

[Sparky]

Not sure what that means

Pull the white wires out of the box and remove the wire nut. Put your meter on the constant hot and white wire. Constant is the black tied to both switches. If you get good voltage turn the switch on and test the switch leg to neutral.

[SideShow Bob]

Ground out anything near water or a wet environment (outdoors, even in Texas) or you may get a nasty shock when something goes wrong.
Notice I didn't say if something goes wrong.

Are you measuring the voltages at the switched (controlled) terminal ? If so, there could be corrosion in the contacts inside the switch causing resistance and the voltage drop. If you are measuring at the hot terminal, surface corrosion could be doing the same thing.
Electricity is still a mystery, that is why the schools teach electrical THEORY.

[Hotchef181818]

I'll try some of this in the am, getting dark here. There is a gfci before this j box and the switch on the left I new as of today so I think that would rule out corrosion.