Questions tagged [switch]
For questions about switches, i.e. electrical devices used to manually open and close an electric circuit on a routine basis.
2,114
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How should I connect my ceiling fan/light in this box?
There was a ceiling fan which I removed. I usually would take a picture of the wiring before removal but the design of the fan made that difficult and only after I got the fan down did I see this mess....
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1
answer
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Did they switch the neutral wire on accident? (1970)
Replacing a ceiling fan in 1970 house on a slab - most power is run to the J box in the attic. But from my limited knowledge it looks like they switched the common and not the hot?
Q: Why would they ...
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0
answers
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Bathroom light/fan switch [closed]
I have 2 light switches in the bathroom. One Controls the vanity light. The other controls fan/light over shower. I went to replace the old switch that controlled fan/shower light. Well now both ...
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0
answers
9
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Adding a new can/light on same switch-controlled circuit as ceiling fan
Objective: to install a new can light fixture, to be controlled by an existing wall switch. Original configuration: the wall switch supplies power to a ceiling fan with light kit.
What I did: I ...
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votes
2
answers
31
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How do I wire a new 3-Way switch with the old existing wiring (2 black & 1 Red wire)?
I connected the 2 black wires with a pigtail and attached to one side and attached the red wire to the other side, lights did not work.
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1
answer
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3-way light switch,faulty sensor switch or incorrect wiring?
I am looking to replace one my 3-way toggle switch to a 3-way sensor switch (Leviton DOS05). After wiring per instruction provided, the second switch (non-sensor) does not work unless the sensor ...
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0
votes
1
answer
36
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4-way switch replacement in a 4 switch setup
I have a 4-way switch system with 4 switches that controls the lights in my MBR. Picture shows 2 switches side by side - one is for hallway and one for MBR. There are 4 such switch sets. One of the 4-...
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votes
1
answer
28
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Replacing old dimmer with a new one
I bought a dimmer on Amazon. The ASIN number is B002DN2PGY. It has two black wires and one green. The old dimmer only has two wires, one black and one red. It is connected to two wires, one orange ...
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0
answers
34
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Trying to wire new kitchen light
I live in the U.K. and I’m trying to wire a new light fixture in my ceiling. Coming out of the ceiling I have two red wires twisted together three black wires of which two are twisted together and ...
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1
vote
0
answers
29
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Two light three way circuit to Single light three way, single light single pole
I have two existing dining room lights that are controlled via a three switch.
The existing wiring has two switch locations:
Box 1 (garage)
One 12-2 romex (black to black terminal on 3-way)
One 12-3 ...
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0
votes
1
answer
37
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Box fill calculations for a light switch in a Carlon old work box
I thought I got the box fill calculations right but there must be an issue, still. Because, assuming my calculations are correct, no single box on the market would be large enough for a simple light ...
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1
answer
37
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Wall switch doesn't work on fireplace [closed]
Our gas fireplace has the panel underneath for ignition, gas level, and pilot/on/off. We can fully operate the fireplace from here regardless of the wall switch. I'd like to leave the one knob on on ...
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0
votes
0
answers
41
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Swamp Cooler switch
I would like to take this swamp cooler switch off the wall since I now have central air. What are the chances/How do I know if it isn't connected to something else like a light switch or plug and if I ...
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0
votes
1
answer
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My light switch is stuck in on position and blew all the lights of the house off!
My kitchen has a 2 gang light switch which one of the switches have been blowing all the lights in the house whenever turned on, I accidentally turned it on today and it is stuck in the on position so ...
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3
answers
80
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How to find a light fixture j-box hidden behind ceiling drywall?
Our house was remodeled by previous owners, and there is a two wire light switch that is a mystery, it doesn't seem to control any of the wall outlets. I tested the switch with a multimeter to make ...
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0
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I want to add another switch and fixture from a switch
I have power coming through a light to the switch with 12/3 wire. at the switch location I want to add another switch to another fixture. How do I wire it?
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22
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Replacement fan+light switch wiring
I am in the process of updating/modernizing the switches in our home (DIY - I am not an electrician) and I have replaced an old fan/light switch with a knob for the various fan speed with a Lutron ...
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0
answers
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3gang switch old house to new 3gang switch
I’m trying to help my mother in law with replacing some old 3 gang switches. Sadly the cabling is all the same colour and incredibly frustrating. I tried connected it up but ended up with 1/3 lights ...
2
votes
2
answers
375
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How can I simultaneously disable an inverter (that draws big currents) when switching off another circuit?
I have the setup below in my cabin. Currently I have to manually turn off the inverter for the 220V as well as the main switch when leaving the cabin. I would like the main switch to control both, by ...
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0
answers
46
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Motion sensor switch replacing regular switch for laundry room light - what went wrong?
I have a laundry room with a single ceiling light fixture operated by a single pole wall switch. I removed the switched and saw a single black wire that was spliced and I saw an orange wire tied to ...
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votes
1
answer
57
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Wiring a switch to a series of outlets
I am looking to wire 5 outlets on a custom table. I'd like there to be a switch at the beginning of the run to shut power on/off to all switches at once. What is the best way to accomplish this, and ...
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1
vote
1
answer
85
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Proper wiring for two 2-gang boxes on one circuit
I have a system in my bathroom that was causing a flicker in one of my lights, so I investigated and found a wiring setup that I was unfamiliar with, so I thought that it was the cause of the problem. ...
2
votes
1
answer
772
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Is it required to connect ground wire to light switch?
I'm installing a new rocker light switch. When I removed the old light switch I noticed that the ground wire was not connected. I also noticed that the other switch for the fan also does not have the ...
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1
answer
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Replacing light switches
We are replacing light switches for color change reasons. Our home was built in 1996 and was a panelized system. The wiring was already in the panels when they arrived at the site and we’re finding ...
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1
answer
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Help installing light switch please
Ignore the wire already attached. I started before realizing there were two black wires. I was able to determine the hot wire by turning on the circuit breaker and using a non contact voltage tester.
...
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1
answer
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Light switch on 15a breaker, cable 12g, connected a 15a light switch with a 14g ground. Is it okay?
The original light switches had the ground spliced at the back and not connected to the switch. I am replacing the switch with a new 15a rated light switch and spliced a 14g ground (I just cut a new ...
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votes
1
answer
65
views
Can I replace this old light switch with a countdown timer?
California house built around 1983. I have just replaced an old incandescent porch light fixture with an integrated LED sconce, working fine on the existing on/off light switch.
Now I want to replace ...
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0
answers
54
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Is this switch wiring normal?
New homeowner here and total electrical newbie.
These switches have been smelling lately, and was told this means they need replacing. No signs of any other issues in the wall, so assuming this is so.
...
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1
answer
39
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Re-wiring switched box to pass through
I'm dealing with a two-gang electrical box that currently houses two switches. The one on the left controls a bare bulb that I'd like to eliminate, while the other switch has been stuck in the "...
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votes
7
answers
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How can I make it so that locking a deadbolt switches on the porch light?
I have a detached garage, which was unfortunately the setting for a recent bike heist in my neighborhood. I would like to start locking the garage door at night. The door is a normal metal clad ...
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0
answers
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How to change a light socket from being controlled by light switch to having constant power
I want to remove a light and put in a ceiling fan however the switch not only controls this socket but another 2 lights in the room. Is it possible to change the one to have constant power and not be ...
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votes
2
answers
44
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Possible to covert normal switch to three way?
I'm in the middle of a home renovation project (not doing it myself) and I purchased some nice brass light switches for my office. There are two places in the room where we have switches and they are ...
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63
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Two light switches, one with only two screws and four wires
I’m not even finding photos of the switch I have online so I’m asking for advice.
I have two switches in the same box. The first one has only two screws: top left (TL) and top right (TR). TL is black ...
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vote
1
answer
102
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Do 3-way switches burn out?
I have a light (that is on two three-way switches. 1 AT top of stairs, 1 at bottom. It has worked for years.) the light burned out. I replaced it and the new one did not work, either. I checked the ...
4
votes
1
answer
50
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Installing leviton ODS10 motion occupancy switch on 3 way switch
I'm trying to install a motion sensor occupancy switch on a 3 way switch. It can be used with sensors in 2 locations as shown in instructions below, but I want to use the regular switch at the other ...
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1
answer
70
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Why does a light on a 3-way circuit turn itself on or off?
I have a light that is wired into a 3-Way circuit with one switch upstairs and one downstairs. There might be other lights on the same circuit, but I am not sure.
About a week ago, said light starts ...
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1
answer
196
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How to Replace One of the 2-way Light Switches with Smart Switch
I have 2 light switches on separate walls of a hallway that power the same light, and I am wanting to replace just one of these light switches with a smart wifi-powered light switch. The smart light ...
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1
answer
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Where to Tap Into Neutral Wire for Smart Light Switches Install? (country: US)
Originally, there was a set of 3 light switches in one box. The 1st one switched my porch lights, the 2nd one switched my garage lights, and the 3rd was to switch an electrical outlet outside (used ...
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1
answer
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Something strange [closed]
Ultimate light switches would be off in the down position. All of a sudden one has changed where the on position is off and the off position is on. There's no second switch and this just happened at ...
1
vote
1
answer
61
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How to Re-Wire Switch to make the Connected Outlet Permanently Hot
I have a light switch that controls an outdoor light and bottom wall outlet simultaneously. We live in the Northern Virginia area. Per the diagram below, I would like to have the switch only control ...
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1
answer
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Connecting Amana Furnace Pressure Switch
Hello fellow DIY'ers,
I had to turn on the heating for the first time this season, our Amana gas furnace didn't stay lit for more than ~7 seconds. I did some research online, ended up cleaning the ...
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1
answer
51
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Replace 3-way switch with fan speed controller
Current situation is a fan/light combination on a three way circuit. Two switches on opposite sides of the room.
Light is on pull chain.
Replacing the fan. No light on it.
Variable speed wall switch ...
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0
votes
1
answer
80
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Changing old UK light switch to modern switch
I have a two-gang switch with pre 1970 wiring.
One switch is one way to bathroom and other switch is a two-way switch for hallway. The first picture is old switch with bathroom switch on the left of ...
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3
votes
2
answers
71
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Modifying ceiling fan switch for independent fan/light control -- Is it acceptable to run 14/3 alongside existing 14/2?
I'm looking at modifying an existing fan installation setup that is wired in the typical 1980s builder-grade way: The power enters and leaves at the ceiling box, and there is a 14/2 switch loop with ...
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3
answers
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adding a single pole light switch in same box that has 3-way switch
I have a 15 AMP circuit powering a 3-way switch [A] - 14/3 - 3-way switch [B] to 14/2 to 6 recessed lights in kitchen. The power comes into the Switch[A]. I want to add a single pole switch in ...
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1
vote
2
answers
402
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Using 15 amp smart switch requiring 14awg wires for lighting/fans on 20 amp circuit
I am hoping to install zooz smart switches, however the instructions state "14AWG wires only!", but I have a 20amp circuit which uses 12awg wire. Looking at the code regarding smart switches:...
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vote
3
answers
54
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Replace 3-way switches with motion sensors [duplicate]
In my pass-through (i.e. two entryways at opposite ends) laundry room, where people walk in holding laundry baskets with both hands, I'd like to replace the two 3-way switches with motion-sensor ...
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1
vote
3
answers
293
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Help me understand the wiring - Two neutrals, one hot, switched outlet
This double outlet is connected to a switch. Both outlets depend on the switch. If the switch is on then both have power. If it's off the both don't.
The picture shows the wiring involved. The outlet ...
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0
answers
28
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Help with wiring three switches
I am trying to wire three single pole light switches. Previous person removed middle switch and capped off the wires (I believe only the two yellow ones which is a black wire and a beige/white wire)
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votes
2
answers
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Is my replacement light switch wiring correct?
I have a single pole Decora light switch in my upstairs hallway that controls our attic light. I replaced the old switch (a single pole toggle, we are new owners of the home), and want some ...
