Questions tagged [switch]
For questions about switches, i.e. electrical devices used to manually open and close an electric circuit on a routine basis.
1,146
questions
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2 views
Two Single Gang Boxes - Faceplate
I ran into an issue when changing an outlet and switch in what I thought was a double gang box. After opening it up I found it was 2 single gang boxes next to each other. The previous switch and ...
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2answers
49 views
3-way switch issue
I'm having an issue with a 3-way switch that I have not gotten around to fixing in many years. When I use switch A to turn on the light and then use switch B to try to turn it off, it flickers off and ...
2
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2answers
55 views
Removing a switch
I have a light switch that turns on an electrical outlet. I want to remove the light switch completely and leave the electrical outlet always "on".
When I turned the power off to the room and ...
2
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1answer
39 views
limit detection angle of a motion sensor light switch
Is there a way to limit the horizontal angle of a motion based indoor (occupancy) light switch to it doesn't pick up movement within, say 90 degree horizontal angle only
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1answer
42 views
Wiring switch outlet to be half hot
I currently have an outlet that is wired to a switch. I want to turn it into only half hot so one is always powered on and the second is controlled by the switch. I understand that to accomplish ...
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2answers
65 views
Wiring 3-way switch (power at light and switches meeting in junction box)
Always have trouble wrapping my head around 3-way switches. I have a good book that I usually turn to, but didn't see a diagram for this pattern when a junction box is in the middle. How can I wire ...
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1answer
50 views
Switch control both light and outlet
In the en-suite bathroom, there is a switch (1 of 3) that controls the main overhead light and the outlet. Is there anyway to get the outlet to have constant power? Or is this one of those jobs that ...
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2answers
85 views
The on/off switch on my computer won’t stay on so the computer won’t boot. What can I do about it?
The on/off switch on my computer won’t stay on so the computer won’t boot. What can I do about it? The computer was working just fine when suddenly the screen went dark and the computer turned off. ...
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2answers
28 views
Replace single-pole switch with 3-way and add additional 3-way switch. Non-conventional solution needed
I have a single pole switch with 4 lights, that I want to replace with a 3-way switch. Power currently runs to the switch. I don't have a way (without drilling a lot of holes, which is really not an ...
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3answers
4k views
Replace a motion-sensor/timer with simple single pole switch
I am trying to replace a motion-sensor that has a timer functionality to turn off the lights after 30 minutes. The motion sensor never worked when we moved into the house. I just want a simple single-...
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1answer
36 views
Separating 2 Light Switches (1 is a 3 way) Hardwired Together
I have 2 light switches (in one box) in my laundry room. The one switch is a 3 way which operates the light in my garage (just behind the laundry room). There is only 1 switch to the laundry room. I ...
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1answer
52 views
Where do I connect the ground wire of a transfer switch being connected to a sub-panel?
I would like to add a gen-tran manual transfer switch to my electric panel but I live in a condo where the main panel is in an external meter room and my only interior panel I assume is a subpanel.
...
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1answer
96 views
How can I add lights and a switch downstream of a pull-chain fixture?
I have a challenging wiring question.
I have power coming in to a pull chain light fixture(beginning-of-run). it needs to stay in its current position. I need to borrow power from it and add two ...
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0answers
80 views
Is my plan to use Alexa to turn on a fireplace reasonable?
I have a fireplace (gas) with a constant 0.5V low voltage current as the igniter connected to a single pole switch. I would like to add Alexa via a 120VAC separate smart switch that has a timer that ...
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1answer
35 views
Ceiling fan replacement, one wire is always hot
So when we moved into our place, the dining room light was always on unless you used the pull cord to turn it off, the wall switch did nothing. Replaced the switch, no change.
Trying to change out ...
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2answers
97 views
Light switch doesn't turn off lights
I just recently installed a light switch. It's not a dimmer switch, so there's just an off and on. Now, the lights are constantly on! When I turn the light switch off, they dim slightly, and when I ...
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2answers
72 views
Why does my bath fan turn off when light switch is on and vise versa?
I just put a new exhaust fan in the bathroom and connected it to existing light switch, which is connected to the bathroom light. When I turned the power back on, the bath light came on but not the ...
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3answers
29 views
Garage ceiling fan / light - changing switch
The house I bought has numerous light/fan switches with smart switches. The one in my garage started going crazy so I removed it and bought a regualr dual switch to replace it. The problem is, once I ...
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2answers
102 views
How can I configure my wireless power switches to default to on after power outage?
I currently have ETEKCITY remote power switches.
I need to use two of these for ceiling LED lights that needs to be default on after power cycle.
This video shows someone being able to configure it ...
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1answer
33 views
1 switch controls lights and fan, the other controls nothing. How can I make one control lights and one control the fan?
It seems like this was the way it worked originally, but someone had it changed. There is another area in my apartment that is in the same situation. I measured 114VAC from the right switch (I'm ...
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1answer
54 views
Convert 4 gang to 3 gang switch box
I’ve a block of 4 switches in my house. One switch doesn’t work. Like it doesn’t do anything near as I can tell. How to make this a 3 gang? There a thing as a 4 plate cover with a blank? May look ...
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2answers
232 views
Left switch on gang light pair not getting power
I’m trying to install a set of light switches to control my fan and lights. The left switch has two black cables running to it and the right has a red and black.
I installed both switches and the ...
3
votes
3answers
195 views
How to identify the wires on the dimmer to convert it to Conventional on/off switch
I have a dimmer switch that I need to convert to a conventional on/off switch. I have checked this link for guidance already: How do I replace this dimmer switch to a conventional switch?
It seems ...
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1answer
26 views
Master bedroom light switch is controlling the bathroom too?
Ok so I’m changing out the old outlets switches from the 80’s cause they are old and yellow from age... and the outlets will occasionally spark when you put a plug into them. They are all grounded ...
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1answer
42 views
Help powering new light and switch off existing switch
I have a 4 season room with a new light. I ran a wire from this light to a 2-gang box in the room, and ran a romex wire from this new box to an existing box in the kitchen (they are on the opposite ...
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1answer
44 views
How do I connect a single pole light switch with three 2-wire cables in box?
In a bedroom a “friend“ removed the light switch. I have no idea if it was a single or double. There are 3 cables coming into box with 3 wires each, black, white and copper. One of the black is ...
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1answer
52 views
What type of switch do I need to plug into a gosund outlet to open and close a garage door?
I have a Gosund switch that plugs into an outlet. I’d like to plug it into the outlet near my garage door opener and open and close the garage door. What type of switch can I plug into the gosund ...
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2answers
57 views
Converting to a double switch but lost power to rest of circuit
When we put in a new bathroom fan we replaced the switch in the bathroom to put the fan/overhead light and the vanity light on different switches. It was originally wired with a single pole switch ...
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0answers
27 views
Multi-light dimmer switch broken: one light dims, other lights brighten
I have 3 light installations in my kitchen that are controlled by one of two switches. The switches either turn all 3 lights on/off, or dims/brightens all 3 lights at the same time (with a long press)....
2
votes
2answers
93 views
Red wire spliced into a bundle of blacks?
This switch currently provides power to the top half of an outlet, through a junction box. I installed some pot lights and want to tie into the circuit, at the junction box. I attach the black ...
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vote
1answer
55 views
Help adding a 3 way switch
I have a 4 season room with some lights but the switch is in the kitchen. I installed a 2-gang box in the room and ran a 3-wire romex wire from the new box to the existing box (they are on the ...
1
vote
2answers
66 views
Two light switches and three black wires
I've never seen this setup before and was wondering if others had. One of the switches powers a ceiling light in the foyer and the other powers two outside lights on the front porch. Right now neither ...
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0answers
48 views
3 black wires into switch
I have a simple light switch in a closet and I wanted to change it out for one with a switch and an outlet. The back of the switch had 3 black wires - 2 going into push in connectors on the top left ...
4
votes
2answers
105 views
Replacing light switches and outlets without electrical boxes
I have a '96 manufactured home I'm getting ready to sell and most of the outlets and switches are a tan color that doesn't work with the color scheme I'm changing it too, plus they just look dirty. I ...
4
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7answers
8k views
I want light controlled by one switch, not two
I have two switches that control one light. I would like to close one of the switches, so that the light is only turned on and off by one of them. I removed the light switch from one of them (pictured)...
2
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2answers
91 views
I opened a light switch and found an unterminated wire in the junction box. Is this unsafe?
I switched of the main circuit breaker to the house and opened up a light switch to see if I had a neutral wire, so I could buy a smart switch.
But when I took off the plate I found what appears to ...
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0answers
45 views
3 cables into a 2 switch box
My breaker keeps tripping because of this wiring and/or faulty switches and now with a new switch, my ceiling fan won’t turn but the light still works and it still trips. I’m trying to figure out how ...
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1answer
43 views
Extra Wire in Light Switch Box?
I'm attempting to replace two switches in my house with smart switches (specifically, this one for the lights and this one for the fan). Upon opening my switch box and loosening the old light switches,...
2
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2answers
222 views
First time changing switches and outlets (receptacles). Anything special I should know?
I am replacing a bunch of switches and receptacles in my house.
While I understand the basics, this is pretty much my first electrical project, and I figure there must be some hidden "gotchas" or ...
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2answers
34 views
Can a simmerstat switch be fixed? And how?
I stumbled across this site and think it sounds like someone might be able to help me with my problem…
Let me outline… I have a cooktop (St George CC355, if that's useful) and it has two hotplates (...
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0answers
51 views
Remaining AC Voltage [duplicate]
So I have a three switch box and one goes to a light/receptacle outlet on the wall. The other two go to my ceiling fan. When I read the wires out when they are switched off I get 0vac. When I turn ...
3
votes
2answers
4k views
Replacing 5 gang light switches that have 3 of them daisy chained together
I am trying to figure out how to wire these with a new style light switches (the basic 1 and 2-way switches from Home Depot).
I've installed light switches before but this is confusing to me because ...
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0answers
28 views
Charred ground, dimmable switch, no light, keep shining coffee table
this old house, ongoing issues. I'm having a hard time figuring this out, here's the story with the living room lights,
Lutron S-603P dimmable switch 600W max 5A
Charred copper ground wire. The ...
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4answers
70 views
Rewire attic fan from switched to always-on
I have an attic fan wired to a thermostat that I'd like to come on whenever it's hot enough. The problem is, the fan is wired to a circuit that's operated by the light switch for the stairs into the ...
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0answers
66 views
Remove Light Switch - Bury or Move?
I have an interesting concern. I bought a house built in 1978, and since then the previous owners made some changes. One of which I can't figure out how to do safely and up to code. And I have read ...
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0answers
27 views
Replacing old bathroom fan/heater/light switch
Not changing the fan, but wanted to change out switch. This is what I'm seeing so I'm not sure what is going on. Thoughts?
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0answers
37 views
Dedicated 240v 30A Circuit Switched for A/C and NEMA 14-30 [duplicate]
I have a dedicated 240 volt circuit that's hard wired into my air conditioning unit. The circuit has a 30 amp breaker at the main box and another 30 amp breaker on the wall next to my air conditioner....
0
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1answer
38 views
Installed dimmer switch caused another switch to stop working
I installed a dimmer in my bedroom today and I just realised that the dimmer in my mom's room and in the corridor is not working anymore...
Followed standard procedure :
Breaker off, changed the old ...
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1answer
104 views
What did I do wrong with this Legrand RRW600U wiring?
I just moved into a new house, and I'm trying to wire up TWO Legrand RRW600U 3-way occupancy switches to a light in the basement. I want motion at the top or bottom of the stairs to turn on the light....
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1answer
75 views
Can an illuminated switch be made to work with LED bulbs?
I have an illuminated switch (made by Viko, a Panasonic brand).
The switch controls a fan with a LED bulb. The bulb flickers when it is off and the switch is off: video
To avoid this, I have to ...
