Tagged Questions
3
votes
2answers
68 views
Can I add an occupancy sensor to a 3-way circuit?
If I replace one switch in a 3-way circuit with an occupancy switch, would this cause the occupancy switch to work in reverse (or not at all) if the regular switch was toggled?
If so, would the best ...
0
votes
1answer
187 views
Why am I getting 50V at a light when the switch is off?
I am trying to put in a switch and a light it controls in a storage building and this is how I wired it.
Click for larger view
When I checked the wiring it registered 120V when the switch was on, ...
2
votes
1answer
268 views
What are switches activated by a closet door called?
My father-in-law set up all of his closet lights to turn on and off when the door opens. He used a switch that was apparently designed for that purpose, with a largish contact switch that turned on ...
2
votes
1answer
231 views
Can I replace a single light switch with a 3-way switch that can individually control 2 lights in a fixture?
I have a ceiling light fixture with 2 bulb sockets. Right now it's controlled by a single 2-way switch (on/off).
My idea was to install a 3-way (or possible 4 but not necessary) switch that can ...
1
vote
1answer
129 views
How can I install this programmable switch?
I just had our house re-wired (by a professional, not myself). I'm looking into replacing a light switch with a fancy programmable version (Honeywell Econoswitch RPLS740B).
The location for the ...
1
vote
1answer
415 views
How can I tell what dimmer switch to use with LED lights?
I replaced the halogen GU10 bulbs in my kitchen with LED bulbs... I'm really pleased with the results but as the bulbs I bought are dimmable, how do I know what dimmer switch I can use?
I did try ...
0
votes
0answers
30 views
wiring a single bathroom fan servicing 2 rooms in the master bathroom suite with 2 separate switches on the same circuit as well as lighting [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How can I wire an exhaust fan to turn on from multiple locations?
I am having trouble trying to wire a single in-line bathroom fan servicing a master bathroom suite. ...
0
votes
1answer
64 views
How can I adjust my dimmers to work the way I want?
I have SmartLabs dimmers #2476d in my house and some will turn on all the way on a single tap while other turn half way and then when tap second time they go all the way.
Any idea how I can ...
2
votes
3answers
365 views
Do I need to cut into my drywall to install a switch?
I'm looking to put a light in outside my house. The light is going to be positioned directly behind the outlet I have pictured below where the wires are sticking out. I want the switch to control ...
0
votes
1answer
446 views
Why isn't the switch working to turn off my ceiling lamp after I replaced a fan w/light?
I have properly connected the new ceiling lamp. Once I turn the breaker on again, the lamp turns on immediately. There is a double switch on the wall. One used to turn on a standing lamp on the corner ...
3
votes
1answer
408 views
Is it safe to remove a plug, and wire a light fitting into the wall?
I've moved into a house, and am fitting a series of 5 halogen downlights beneath a shelving unit. The wall on which I am fitting it previously had an uplighter. I removed this so now have exposed ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views
How can I replace multiple 3 way switches with motion sensors?
My tenants never turn the lights off in the stairwells of my 3 family house, so I'd like to replace all of the light switches with motion sensors. Here is a crude diagram of how this is set up now.
...
3
votes
3answers
916 views
Do you know any switches which turns on/off based on day light?
I am looking for having some sensor based switches which will turn on/off the lights based on the light conditions during the day (i.e. turn on when there is less light and turn off when there is more ...
4
votes
3answers
388 views
What's a good way to customize or recess a lightswitch?
I saw this etsy project:
Working Arcade Light Switch
And while it's pretty cool, I'm not huge into arcade or fighting games, so I was going to make my own, and change the buttons.
How would be a ...
4
votes
3answers
482 views
How can I utilize a light switch for a specific outlet?
I just moved into a new apartment and in one of the bedrooms, there is a light switch that switches one of the outlets on and off. Unfortunately, this outlet is placed in the opposite side of the room ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
How can I replace a 3-way light switch with a motion sensor?
I'm trying to replace one of the three-way light switches in my garage with a motion sensor. But I'm confused by the wires on the existing switch. I thought the hot wire goes to the black screw ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
What about a light switch in the closet?
Okay you guys I have next question. And like all good questions this one begins with a story.
I was reading the post about a nick in a wire and read a couple of you mention that light switch in a ...
28
votes
7answers
7k views
When I turn down the dimmer switch on my lights, do I actually use less electricity?
My wife and I have several lights on dimmer switches throughout our home. We generally prefer the ambient lighting provided by dimmed lights. I am curious, though, if we are saving any electricity by ...
1
vote
3answers
2k views
What did I do wrong??! Wiring error is tripping circuit breaker
Here's the scoop:
There are 3 switches in my hallway. One switch on side A and two switches on side B. Side A switch controls same light as one switch on Side B. I replaced the switch on Side A ...
8
votes
1answer
8k views
How can I override a motion detector light?
I am going to be installing one or two motion detector lights to cover my backyard. I would like the ability to "override" the motion detector. What I mean by this is that I would like to be able to ...
11
votes
3answers
9k views
How should I rewire a miswired 3-way switch?
I have a 3 way switch that was wired incorrectly when the switches were replaced with a different color switch. Is there a methodical way for me to identify which wires represent which piece of the ...
2
votes
1answer
696 views
How to determine what 3-way switch system was used?
How can I tell if an old Knob & Tube 3-way switch is still legal by the modern NEC? Specifically I am trying to tell if my switch is a "California 3-way" (or "Coast 3-way", "Hollywood 3-way", ...
2
votes
1answer
144 views
Is it safe to replace a switch with a dimmer on halogen spots?
I live in Europe (so we're on 220V), and in the house we've got two halogen spots (on a transformer) on a plain switch.
Is it safe to replace the switch with a dimmer (like these)? Do the transformer ...
2
votes
1answer
311 views
Adding new lights to a switch
I have a single light controlled by a switch in my garage. It's really pathetic, so I decided to add some shop lights to the same switch.
Upon opening up the light wiring box, I found not 1 but 4 ...
6
votes
1answer
294 views
What do I need to replace 4 light switches on the same circuit?
So we have a single light in our living room that can be turned on/off from four different switches at various entrances to the living room.
We're currently replacing all the switches in our house as ...
5
votes
1answer
5k views
Is it ok to wire light switches and lights with 12/2 cable?
It sounds like light switches and lights are usually wired with 14/2 cable. Is it okay to use 12/2 cable instead? Would I need special switches?
2
votes
3answers
5k views
Is there such thing as a 4-way dimmer?
I have a 4-way switch I want to replace with a dimmer. I understand I can put the dimmer at one of the other 3-way switches, but they're more out of the way. Does such a device exist? If not, what ...
