The switch tag has no wiki summary.
4
votes
1answer
176 views
Where can I purchase push button electrical switches?
Our old house has push button light switches. I would like to find some modern replica switches and face plates for use in some electrical improvements. I have checked at our local home improvement ...
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 ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
How do I install a one-way switch w/ pilot light?
I am trying to replace a very old one-way switch with a pilot light (light comes on when the switch is on). The original switch was extremely old, and used quick-install terminals ONLY. Even worse, ...
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 ...
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
886 views
How to add GFCI to a box with one outlet controlled by a switch?
I'm pretty inexperienced when it comes to electrical work, though I do know my way around a circuit diagram, thanks to some EE courses in college. I think this is one I can do myself, I just would ...
9
votes
2answers
277 views
Where can I get a switch for a 30A circuit?
I would like to add a switch to a 30A plug, but I am having trouble finding one (they are all rated at 15a/20a). Is there a reason you can't buy 30A switches or is it called something different?
To ...
4
votes
1answer
644 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
225 views
What should I do with a 3-way light switch that is no longer needed?
How do I get rid of a 3-way switch? I am rewiring some lights in an older home and found that one of the switches is a 3-way. However, the light it was originally for was removed years ago. So we ...
0
votes
1answer
407 views
How can I add a light switch to an existing lighting circuit?
I have a Light switch that runs four lights, I would like to add a switch to the last light. Is this possible and how could this be wired?
1
vote
0answers
91 views
Which electrical switch do I require? [closed]
I am confused at what to purchase to replace a 3 light switch and one of the lights is 2 way. It gives me the option of 2G 2 way, 3G 2 way or 4G 2way. Which do I need to purchase?
4
votes
1answer
794 views
Why does voltage still exists when a circuit is broken by a 3-way switch?
My parents got a ceiling light for my parents for Christmas, which I was tasked with installing. I don't know why I bothered to check the voltage before putting the new fixture on (and after taking ...
1
vote
1answer
103 views
Is there a remote switch I can use to replace a switch located in a wall being removed?
I am removing two walls that contain light switches for the dining, and kitchen ceiling lights. Is there a wireless switch I can use for control, without fishing wires into the existing walls?
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 ...
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. ...
6
votes
1answer
250 views
How can I get my Self-Destruct switches to do something?
In my house, there were some confusing panels of that had lots of switches on them, so I bought a labeling machine and put labels over all the switches in the house.
There are two blank switches next ...
2
votes
2answers
403 views
how can i find electric short from room to fuse box?
When I came home last night the wife was setting in the dark in the bedroom. Why are the two hall lights strobing I ask? She did not know, she took a nap and when she woke no power in the room. ok??? ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
How do I wire these dimmer switches? The current wiring is crazy
I've installed light switches in other parts of our house, but there is one pair of dimmers that mystifies me. One is a normal dimmer and one is supposed to be a three way dimmer, but the latter is ...
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
3answers
470 views
Is there a way to mark/label a special use switch?
I'm going to be rewiring my front porch light, and in the process I've decided to pull cable for a switched receptacle for Christmas lights. I'm going to install a 2 gang box for both switches ...
3
votes
1answer
935 views
Is my dimmer switch failing or is it bad wiring?
A few days ago my wife mentioned that there was a "burning smell" near the kitchen, but it went away before I could investigate. Today I turned on the dimmer switch in my kitchen, and the lights began ...
4
votes
2answers
276 views
Triple switch plate size issue
I have a plate of 3 light switches that's just taking up too much real-estate. See picture below:
As you can see, I've got a bookcase right next to it, and I could use a little more room there. The ...
1
vote
2answers
313 views
What's the best lubricant for a refrigerator water dispenser switch?
The water dispenser on my refrigerator sticks when you press it in. Sometimes it pops right out, and sometimes it stays in for 10-15 seconds. I've taken it apart a couple of times, cleaned it out, 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
409 views
adding new power outlet, ceiling fan/switch kills the power to it when on
I'm adding a new power outlet for some electronics. I'm dropping a 12/2 wire from the attic where I'm attaching it to a junction box. The junction box has an existing wire, 12/2, and a 14/2 wire ...
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
1k views
Covered or Locking Light Switch?
I have an attic fan that is operated by a regular old light (toggle) switch. The problem is that the switch was installed by the previous owner in the master walk-in closet, right where one would ...
3
votes
1answer
194 views
Identify type of switch
Can anyone identify the type of switch this is? There are 4 connectors at the bottom and 3 at the top.
I've already purchased a 2 gang 2 way switch which turned out to be the wrong one (it only has ...
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 ...
1
vote
2answers
283 views
How do I install a 2 gang low voltage bracket?
Purchased varying 1 gang and 2 gang low voltage screw-in type brackets as seen here.
Upon inspection they appeared to simply sit in the wall with the the screws being screwed into the side of the dry ...
1
vote
1answer
178 views
Installing a surface switch
I have a little utility room with bare cement walls. So I want to install a little surface switch. As far as i understand normally switches are installed on a hot wire, but this switch has no ...
2
votes
1answer
310 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
293 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
266 views
Installing a switch for a water heater's lower element
I'd like to install a switch for the lower element of my water heater. I haven't even looked inside the water heater yet, but I'm a little confused about what the best way to go about doing this ...
8
votes
1answer
5k views
How exactly does a 3-way switch work?
I just finished replacing all of the switches and outlets in my apartment, after fighting a long war with a weird 3-way switch. Needless to say, I won, but I'm still trying to grasp the concept of how ...
8
votes
7answers
2k views
Home light switch circuit with 5 switches
I'm new to the amazing wold of electronics and starting out small. I think...
Early 2010 me and the wife bought a house that was build in 1979. Now I started replacing light switches and encountered ...
1
vote
4answers
2k views
How do I take a live wire off of a two way switch?
if I know how to take the live wire off then my job is easier.
7
votes
4answers
577 views
What should I do with a double gang box if I no longer need two separate switches?
We're relocating our TV to a side of our living room that has a power outlet controlled by a wall switch. The switch is part of a double gang box (1 switch controls the porch light, the other ...
