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Munch
10-25-2011, 1:30pm
There is a switch on the wall in our new house which I call "the mystery switch", I don't know what it does so I assumed it was a switched outlet but it's not. I pulled the switch today and there is thermostat wire running to it with the white and red hooked to the switch. The thermostat is right around the corner with the same type of wire going to it and there are two wires coming out of the body of the furnace. I haven't opened the furnace yet but unless it's labeled where the wires are connected then I will have no idea what I'm looking at.

So before I open the furnace, who wants to guess what the mystery switch does? Flipping the switch while the furnace is running doesn't seem to do anything.

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff68/Dr_Munch/IMAG0310.jpg

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff68/Dr_Munch/IMAG0311.jpg
NeedSpeed
10-25-2011, 1:31pm
Turbo.

You're welcome.
DAB
10-25-2011, 1:32pm
i'm going to guess a remote 'off' switch for the furnace.

if so, i'd swap it for an orange switch. they do make cover plates that say 'boiler off' or something similar.
Munch
10-25-2011, 1:39pm
i'm going to guess a remote 'off' switch for the furnace.

if so, i'd swap it for an orange switch. they do make cover plates that say 'boiler off' or something similar.

I believe the emergency off would be on the line that feeds the furnace and use romex.
Doug28450
10-25-2011, 1:40pm
The "mystery switch" turns the flux capacitor on and off.
mikeg826
10-25-2011, 1:46pm
I believe the emergency off would be on the line that feeds the furnace and use romex.

:iagree: maybe for turning on a zone on/off?
Kevin_73
10-25-2011, 2:10pm
Could be for turning the doorbell on/off.
Rob
10-25-2011, 2:14pm
That switch signals the aliens that the house is in need of more anal probing
Blademaker
10-25-2011, 2:18pm
Your carpet's dirty. :yesnod:
DAB
10-25-2011, 2:20pm
You're carpet's dirty. :yesnod:

your carpet's dirty.....:yesnod:
Blademaker
10-25-2011, 2:21pm
your carpet's dirty.....:yesnod:

:leaving:

And the pisser is, I'm usually pretty good at knowing the difference.
ZipZap
10-25-2011, 2:33pm
Could be for turning the doorbell on/off.

Not a bad guess as the transformer for my doorbell is in the same vicinity.

How about a switch for a humidifier?
Marc
10-25-2011, 2:55pm
The switch works the dimmer. The dimmer is really the thermostat. The thermostat works the overhead light in the dining room. Clear? :cert:
NEVRL8T
10-25-2011, 2:59pm
It's for beaming the misses up to meet Scotty.
NeedSpeed
10-25-2011, 3:10pm
Actually it turns the fridge light on. :D
kingpin
10-25-2011, 3:27pm
Maybe a secret door opens in to a dark concrete fortified tunnel for when the zombies.
Or...
Safety for the furnace/dehumidifier is probably more common.
boracayjohnny
10-25-2011, 6:59pm
And the neighbor wonders why his garage door keeps opening and closing by itself.
Kerrmudgeon
10-25-2011, 7:01pm
I'm thinking it's an over-ride for the thermostat, so you can turn the furnace on even if the thermostat is not kicking in, or to turn it off somehow. :confused5:
MattW
10-25-2011, 10:22pm
I'm thinking it's an over-ride for the thermostat, so you can turn the furnace on even if the thermostat is not kicking in, or to turn it off somehow. :confused5:

Yeah, that's what I was thinking - that the switch, when off, means the furnace wouldn't come on no matter what the bimetal was doing.

If I turn my furnace to "Off" while it is running, it still takes a minute or two or three to actually turn off. How long do you leave the switch off when you're testing "What does this do?"
ConstantChange
10-26-2011, 12:30am
Have you checked to see if the wires are even hot?
navyndi2
10-26-2011, 7:01am
The one in our house here keeps the A/C from turning on so that the heqater and A/c are not running at the same time. :cheers:
Burro (He/Haw)
10-26-2011, 7:24am
You really should put your outlet covers back on before someone gets electrocuted.