Questions tagged [switch]
For questions about switches, i.e. electrical devices used to manually open and close an electric circuit on a routine basis.
1,223
questions
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0answers
21 views
Insinkerator and light switch
My insinkerator and a light bulb comes in to a wall socket. I replaced the switch panel.
There were three wires total.
Two on one side on each screw and one on the other side of the switch.
...
0
votes
2answers
135 views
Can I switch my washer between two power sources? Double throw switch?
What switch can I use to connect my washer to my electricity and my tenants electricity so that we can switch between the two power sources without having to unplug and plug the machine multiple times?...
1
vote
1answer
73 views
Okay to remove light switch and cap wires?
I have a dimmer switch that’s currently controlling a set of ceiling lights. I’d like to install smart bulbs in those light fixtures, which don’t play well with the dimmer.
Since I want power to the ...
0
votes
2answers
83 views
Tying a switched line into a switched line
Built a bathroom onto our office and need to run a switched line for bathroom ceiling light and exhaust fan. For simplicity's sake, looking to pull power source off the end of a line already on a ...
1
vote
2answers
108 views
Timer Switch Problem
I'm trying to replace a basic on/off switch for the fan in my powder room with a timer switch (which requires a neutral). The timer switch comes with red, white & black wires, the same as what the ...
1
vote
1answer
21 views
Control fanlight with both remote and switch
I would like to control my fan using remote and the light on the fan using both remote and switch. Is that possible.
I have 1 black wire, 1 red wire for light, neutral and ground wire coming from the ...
3
votes
1answer
67 views
NEC Compliance: Removing a wall switch in favor of a remote for a ceiling fan
In my bedroom, there is a wall switch that controls a ceiling fan. I recently installed a wireless remote controller in the canopy of that ceiling fan so I could turn it on and off from the comfort of ...
1
vote
1answer
42 views
How do I correctly wire this lighted switch to provide power down the line?
I've gotten in over my head!
I just the Leviton lighted switches like the one in the pic shown for our bathrooms. There's just something so nice about the small light it gives off when it's the ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
Replacing outlet switch combination with GFCI outlet switch combination
I'm trying to replace an old non-GFCI outlet switch combination in the garage ceiling, that looks like this:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/LoWQrqFkNhoNZkoK6
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NsCgwuyd2xrby1Vp8
...
1
vote
2answers
73 views
Why does my light switch have 2 wires on the top?
I went to change my light switch to a new touch light switch I ordered and for some reason it has 2 wires on top. I googled this and searched for awhile but nothing came up about this topic and all I ...
1
vote
1answer
40 views
Exists: power to outlet1 to outlet2 to switch - can't change wiring, would like switch to control only outlet #2
Not sure how I would make the connections at outlet #2 and switch to control outlet #2??
Any help appreciated.
1
vote
2answers
22 views
Relay in Thermostat: current capability \ rating
When designing a thermostat, a relay must swtich a 24V AC signal to call for cooling / heat / fan etc.
Industry standard thermostat wire color code used for most systems:
White. The white wire ...
3
votes
1answer
97 views
Could a neutral wire be black?
I have these two switches which the left one is for the bathroom fan and the right one for the light.
Everything already works.
Now I want to add a minuter switch to the fan and the minuter have all ...
2
votes
3answers
57 views
Adding an outlet to the dishwasher/disposer circuit
I have switched garbage disposal, like many people do. The switch is on a wall w/o any outlets. I'd like to convert the switch to a switch/outlet combo. I read that you shouldn't add an outlet to ...
2
votes
2answers
185 views
Do metal outlet boxes act as grounds?
Here’s a photo of the inside of a switch I’m replacing. As you can see it has no ground wire, plus it’s got a blue wire instead of the normal black. All the new 3 prong outlets I installed in this ...
2
votes
2answers
39 views
Trying to replace a garage light switch with old wiring
Trying to replace a light switch in the garage with a new one but the wiring doesn’t match.
Old switch has white (currently matched to red/black) and black (currently matched to black) coming out of ...
2
votes
2answers
55 views
light switch controlling wrong light
I have a light in the bed room controlled by its own switch and one in the closet with its own switch. when turning lights on each switch controls only the light it was intended to control. However ...
2
votes
1answer
49 views
Double light switch issue
We have just wired a new 2 way, 2 gang, switch plate, which works, but for one side the 'on' position is up, and for the other it's down, which looks odd and is impractical. Is this a problem with the ...
4
votes
2answers
135 views
How can I uninstall this old school light switch from the wall?
I have a few of these old school light switches in my current accommodation:
I now need to replace one because it is not working anymore so I'm trying to uninstall it from the wall. Alas, I'm not ...
2
votes
1answer
38 views
Wiring ceiling light from switch that controls outlet [duplicate]
I am trying to add a ceiling light to a switch that currently controls a floor outlet (top plug only). Coming into the light switch are a ground, a hot and a switched hot. I have pulled an ...
1
vote
1answer
48 views
Light flickers once when fan is turned on
Greetings beloved comrades,
I have several lighted ceiling fans of the same model wired with separate, non-dimming, wall switches for the fan and light. The lights inside may be LEDs, but I haven't ...
1
vote
1answer
28 views
Replacing fan/light switch
Trying to replace an old switch that controls a ceiling fan with light. The original switch had a knob that you would push in to turn the light on or off and use the knob to dim the light.
I ...
1
vote
0answers
36 views
Connecting power to switch
3-way switchI have a 2 gang box in wall. There were two 3-way switches installed. Removed one of those switches but kept the wires intact and capped off properly and power runs thru them to keep ...
4
votes
6answers
12k views
How do 5 light switches in 2 boxes with all black wires work?
I'm attempting to replace some switches and have opened up two of the boxes in my bathroom. I've found that for all the switches (5 total switches in 2 different boxes) they only use black wires.
...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
How should I eliminate an unused switch in a two gang box?
Florida, USA
We bought a house with five ceiling fans, each with a light fixture installed. Each fan is controlled by a pair of wall switches in a two-gang box, one for the fan motor and one for the ...
1
vote
1answer
41 views
Wiring help needed with 2 separate lights and switches
I have a single switch in my garage for the light outside my garage. I have a single switch at my front door for my porch. I want to have it so either switch will turn on both the garage, and porch ...
0
votes
2answers
78 views
How do I connect touch panel 3 gang switch?
I’m confusing about line2 from wall has 4 wires instead of 3? Line 1 and Line3 has only 3 wires. Line 2 is not 3-ways switch. What I know is only 3-way switch has 4 wires. My question is how do I ...
0
votes
0answers
50 views
Light switch replication
I appear to have a not so common request.
I have two light switches which are located 1m (3ft) apart and control two ceiling lights located 2m (6ft) apart.
There must have been some idea behind it, ...
3
votes
2answers
105 views
Wiring a switch and a dimmer
I have a box with a switch and a dimmer side by side. Last year I replaced them with smart switch/dimmer and had no problem until the dimmer stopped working. I am replacing the dimmer, but foolishly ...
13
votes
6answers
9k views
Identifying Wires behind Light Switch
I am trying to upgrade my rocker switches to Smart Switches and ran into a problem identifying wires behind the old switches.
It seems that the old switch is connected with a ground and 2 white ...
0
votes
1answer
141 views
I need a wireless gadget that may not exist. Pic and description attached
Between the laundry in the basement, the kitchen (sink and dishwasher) and a full bath on the first floor, and a full bath on the 2nd floor, sometimes taking a shower can be interrupted with the cold/...
1
vote
2answers
48 views
Light switch with 3 sets of wires (not 3 way)
I'm trying to replace a couple of old switches with new dimmer switches that have the wifi capability. I understand electronics fairly well and have done basic electrical work around the house before. ...
0
votes
0answers
39 views
Why was one of the light switches wired differently from other location?
Last night I installed a master dimmer and a companion dimmer in the dining room. Upon removing the wall plate to one of the two switches, I discovered that a black wire was attached to the black ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Dual light switch changing to dual smart switch
I currently have 2 switches. Each switch has a black wire and a white attached to it. I’m trying to install a dual smart switch, which requires 4 black wires and a neutral wire. Confused on how to ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
Can I fix heat regulator (burner switch) of electric range?
So the burners stay on no matter what setting - low or high. I opened and found the switches (heat regulator) were the problem.
The metal contact of the green board is broken because it's too thin.
...
1
vote
2answers
49 views
Identifying wires in an Intermatic pool pump timer
I’m trying to positively identify what is on each of the four terminals in a pool pump’s timer box (before replacing it with a z-wave smart switch):
The trick is that both line- and load-side wires ...
1
vote
1answer
51 views
14/2 wire 2 way switch adding 14/3 wire to make it a 3 way
I want to turn a 2 way switch into 3 way with 14/3 wire. I am assuming wire nut the white wires, and put the other wires on the switches.
I bought 2 3 way switches as well.
0
votes
3answers
46 views
Light switch no power when on
I have this bathroom light switch, when I turned it on, I tested power between red and black wire, there is no power
If I turned it off, there is power red/black line
How does it work exactly? I don’...
0
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0answers
61 views
Need Help I'm moving a light switch from one wall to the other, but I ran into a problem
I recently moved into a house and I'm converting the attached Garage into a workshop. The thing is the light switch was on the other side of the Garage by the Garage door, I decided to move the switch ...
2
votes
3answers
66 views
Ceiling light wiring problems, please advise
I was changing my light fittings as they were old and yellow.
My living room has 2 lights on the ceiling at opposite ends
Controlled by a single on off switch.
The first fitting was normal, red/live ...
0
votes
0answers
25 views
(Need help)- Can I wire a ceiling fan/light fixture from an existing 3-way switched outlet?
Link to Imgur for pictures with reference drawings: https://imgur.com/a/ETfCvZl
As title says, I'm trying to wire a new ceiling fan/light fixure. I currently have a 3 way switch that controls one ...
3
votes
2answers
71 views
Is this outlet wired to a switch correctly?
I have been upgrading to grounded outlets in my 1950s house and I just want to make sure that this particular outlet was wired appropriately by the previous homeowner. This outlet is controlled by a ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
when I turn off the breaker, light goes out but I still see some voltage with my voltage checker
there are two switches in the box. One goes to an inside light the other goes to an outside light. i turn off the breaker and both lights go out. when I check with my voltage checker, I don't see ...
5
votes
2answers
724 views
Shared ground on bathroom light, fan, heater combo
I plan on replacing the exhaust fan in my bathroom and want to replace it with a light/heater/fan combo. In doing so, I want to be able to power both the vanity light and the fan light with a single ...
4
votes
2answers
675 views
Handybox Extension
Can you stack a handybox with an extension outside of the drywall? This puts the total box size at just shy for 4". I know handyboxes can be used with conduit, but can they be double-stacked in a ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
3-Toggle to 2-Toggle
I’d like to replace the three toggle switch with a two toggle switch. The leftmost switch (as shown in the below photo) does not control anything in my bathroom. I’d like to replace this leftmost ...
-1
votes
1answer
36 views
Gfi outlet trying to install light switch and light
While trying to install light switch and light from an existing gfi outlet the circuit faults whenever switch is turned on also the light comes on in the off position 12 gauge 3 wire coming to ...
1
vote
2answers
95 views
Why three wires?
I have a carport light that takes two switches to operate. An inside switch essentially sends power to an outside switch. In other words, when the inside switch is in the "on" position, the outside ...
0
votes
0answers
49 views
Reed switch not maintaining state
I have a reed switch that connects to a relay to control lights in a closet. switch is normally closed. when the closet door is open, it turns on the light, when I close the door it TURNS OFF the ...
5
votes
5answers
2k views
Sump pump automated battery backup
I have 1/3 horsepower sump pump currently plugged into my home's 120 volt outlet. I have a 105 amp hour 12-volt battery and a 1200 watt pure sine inverter ready to go when the power goes out.
The ...
