The switch tag has no wiki summary.
7
votes
2answers
231 views
Should switches in a kitchen area have GFCI protection?
Do the switches on the wall and over the counter areas have to be on a GFCI protected circuit? As there is live power at the switch all the time, I would think this to be true, but I'm not sure.
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, ...
1
vote
2answers
76 views
How can I convert switched receptacles to half switched receptacles?
In my new house, I have two outlets which are both fully switch, and can be controlled by two different switches (three way of course). I would like to convert the outlets both to half switched, but ...
3
votes
2answers
65 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
193 views
How do I wire a 3 gang switch in my new bath?
I am putting a basement bath in and I need help. I will be adding a new 20 amp circuit for the single pole outlet. Also, a 20 amp line for a 3 switch box. Switch #1 is for the vanity light, #2 is for ...
0
votes
0answers
69 views
How can I install this automatic transfer switch?
I currently have a Gentran 3028 subpanel connected to a 12,000 watt generator over a 30 AMP branch and the utility/main panel over a 60 AMP branch. I want to replace the Gentran with a APC UTS10BI. ...
3
votes
3answers
320 views
How do I fix drywall around wall box so switch plate covers damage?
In my house, there are maybe three or four outlet boxes and switch boxes where there was damage done to the drywall surrounding the box at some point. There are no structural or electrical issues ...
1
vote
3answers
105 views
I need a multiple-switch light switch which can't all be turned off at once
I have a 4 switch (I think it's called "4-gang"?) light switch on the wall.
It's not connecting to lights though, but to AC vent doors. Now, these AC vents must never all be closed at once. Meaning, ...
1
vote
1answer
2k views
How do I wire two lights with a switch?
How do you wire two ceiling lights on one switch? I have installed the switch, and the two lights, but only one light is working. It is the light that the power source enters. My setup is like ...
7
votes
3answers
263 views
How should I rewire this situation?
In my dinning room, I have this:
There is a wire run going up through the floor from the basement. It then goes outside the wall, around a stud (or studs, I'm can't tell there is more than one), back ...
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 ...
4
votes
2answers
167 views
Is this switch properly grounded?
I replaced a standard single pole switch with an Intermatic ST01 timer switch, into a metal electrical box with three other switches. The switch I was replacing had no ground connection, but some of ...
2
votes
1answer
267 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 ...
6
votes
4answers
610 views
Should I put a dimmer switch on a ceiling fan?
I have a ceiling fan on our bedroom's vaulted ceiling. Since we don't want 7' pull-cords, the speed is stuck at full-tilt, which is no good. The fan has separate switches on the wall for lights and ...
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 ...
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
109 views
How do I rewire this circuit controlling several lights and receptacles?
The wiring is suspended on the ceiling inside a metal tube that connects to each light socket and set of outlets at independent metal junction boxes. The first light in the chain finally stopped ...
1
vote
1answer
413 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
229 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
120 views
How can I install this programmable switch where a neutral is not present?
I'm trying install this programmable switch but the instructions do not match reality. The instructions refer to the existence of a black (load) cable and a white (neutral) cable supposedly coming out ...
1
vote
1answer
128 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 ...
0
votes
2answers
377 views
Does a single-gang double timer switch exist?
I have a single gang outlet that current has a double/split switch installed controlling an inside light and an outside light. Ideally I'd like to have the outside light on a timer.
Does a single ...
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. ...
1
vote
0answers
208 views
Is there something wrong with this 3-way lamp switch?
We have a floor lamp with a three-way combined switch and socket. I noticed arcing sounds when rotating the switch, so I disconnected it. Later I found that the "low" and "high" settings worked fine, ...
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 ...
2
votes
3answers
1k views
How can I replace a two way switch with a ZW4001 Z Wave enabled light switch?
I am trying to replace a single switch connected to a single light bulb with a Z Wave enabled switch, model ZW4001Z; a link to the manual for the switch is at the bottom. There is a wiring diagram on ...
5
votes
1answer
215 views
How do I mount this non-standard wall plate to a completed drywall wall?
I have this
But it only has what you see in that pic. I was told I needed the box thing to go behind it to mount it to in the wall. There is no hole in the wall right now, so how do I get this to ...
0
votes
0answers
219 views
Why does my ceiling fan turn itself on at night?
We have a ceiling fan with three lights that came with the house, and that is operated by an electronic switch driven by a 9V battery and with 5 buttons: Hi, Med, Lo, Off (for the fan) and Light (a ...
1
vote
4answers
439 views
Would my Lighting diagram work?
Hi, i was just wanting some people to take a loot at this diagram i threw together to see if this system would work? and if so do i need to put each area that i tie the main 12/2 together in a box ...
3
votes
2answers
415 views
How can I replace pull switch lights with wireless remote receivers / switches?
does anyone have experience with the Lightning Switch or Illumra or recommend any other remote switches for replacing the pull switch light fixtures without having to rewire the house. The tech looks ...
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 ...
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
229 views
Can I use a transfer panel with something other than a generator?
What I am trying to do is use a transfer panel to power some 15-amp sockets with ether a dimmer pack, or from the main. (trying to set up a theater space so when there's not a show going on you 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
438 views
What can we use as a wireless switch for a ceiling light?
I removed a light/ceiling fan that had a pull string when we installed my son's bunk bed (we didn't want the fan blades knocking him in the head). We now want to install just a ceiling light. There ...
2
votes
2answers
382 views
How did I mess up this wiring?
I had to take down a ceiling light to remove an old wire while renovating.
I eventually managed to wire everything up correctly, but I'm still puzzled by how I miswired it the first few times. I ...
6
votes
2answers
576 views
Light flashes on then turns off. What do I look for?
I just moved into my first home and the light fixture in the water closet broke. I replaced the fixture with a new one, but the light only flashes on, then turns off. I checked for loose ...
4
votes
5answers
867 views
How do I raise light switches so my kids can't keep toggling the light?
My flat at the moment has all the switches at about 1 meter off the floor. Naturally my growing kids are starting to toggle the lighting now that they are tall enough. Is it possible to raise the ...
0
votes
1answer
444 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
6k views
How do I wire a GFCI/Switch Combo?
I'm replacing an old GFCI/Switch combo. In the old one there are two wires coming into the line side, a hot wire and a neutral. On the load side there is one wire leading up to the lighting fixture. ...
2
votes
1answer
460 views
How to unstick my light switch?
I was messing around trying to change a light fixture and the circuit breaker for the house tripped open. I reset the circuit breaker, fixed it correctly and everything else is working. But the light ...
3
votes
2answers
740 views
Why don't my 3-way switches work like 3-way switches? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How should I rewire a miswired 3-way switch?
I just moved into a house and am trying to figure out all the switches. I have now determined there are two switches at ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
How do I replace this dimmer switch to a conventional switch?
I want to replace the dimmer switch in my kitchen with a conventional light switch. However I could use a little guidance.
I understand the two black wires are the hot wires, and the green is ...
4
votes
1answer
645 views
How do I wire a switch/receptacle combination?
Here's my current situation. I've got 14/2 to the ceiling. The hot wire has a runner, which runs down to the switch, and the other wire is a switched hot, back to the light. The other side of the ...
3
votes
2answers
145 views
How do I trade the lights that these two light switches control with each other?
I have two light switches in my bathroom. I'd like to swap the lights that they operate with each other.
I have no experience with this kind of thing, but I'm hoping the proximity of the two ...
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 ...
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 ...
4
votes
4answers
2k views
How can I remote control a switch for a pool pump?
I want to be able to start and stop two pool pumps by remote control, independently.
Each one works at 220V, 1 kW (i.e. around 5A, expect a current spike when starting.)
Do you know an off the shelf ...
7
votes
1answer
333 views
How can I remove a switch and terminate a circuit in its place?
I have a switch that used to control outdoor lighting. It no longer does any more and I'd like to just leave it off permanently. Is there an easy way I can terminate it from within the gang box? ...
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.
...
