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I'm getting rid of this old hideous lightswitch with a nicer looking paddle switch. It only goes to one light.

White at the top right and bottom right, red at the bottom left, black at the top left.

I'm assuming I should wire nut the two whites together in the back of the box, and then with the new switch put black on gold and red on silver? Is that right or do I need a different kind of lightswitch for this with more terminals?

Lightswitch

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    It is very unusual to have more than 2 wires (not counting possible green or bare ground) ion a light switch unless it is a 3-way or 4-way switch. Do any other switches control the same light?
    – manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact
    Commented Jan 3 at 18:51
  • There is one other switch that controls the light.
    – Joshua
    Commented Jan 3 at 18:56
  • 1 - We need to know what other wires (if any, but likely at least one) are in this box. 2 - We need to know what wires are connected to the other switch. 3 - There is quite possibly another switch, because 4-wires is normally on a 4-way, which is normally in between two 3-way switches.
    – manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact
    Commented Jan 3 at 19:00
  • It depends on how the switch is being used. If this is a double-pole, double-throw, then there will be two inputs and two outputs (a 240v switched circuit for a heater or motor, etc.) If if is a 4-way, then it is just swapping travelers. If you put in the wrong switch, there may be a short when you switch it.
    – RG Hughes
    Commented Jan 3 at 19:09
  • Okay, probably not a short, but the switch won't do what you want if it is the wrong kind.
    – RG Hughes
    Commented Jan 3 at 19:22

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You have a 4-way switch. [called 3-way outside of North America] That normally works with 2 3-way switches [called 2-way outside of North America] and as many more 4 way switches as needed for the desired number of switches to control a light. The fact that you only know of one more location might mean you haven't noticed the other 3-way switch, or that things have been modified since the original installation.

Your safest bet is to get another 4-way switch and wire it up exactly like this one. At bare minimum you need a 3-way switch to have two switches controlling one light, but since that is NOT what you presently have, it might require considerable investigation to determine what wires to use on it.

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