Questions tagged [switch]
For questions about switches, i.e. electrical devices used to manually open and close an electric circuit on a routine basis.
1,544
questions
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12 views
Ceiling fan where the fan works but the light goes off on its own
The problem started after we had construction on our house and the general contractor switched the light switches (he did this to ne nice so the whole house matched). Makes me think the issue is on ...
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0answers
24 views
Hard-wired smoke detector chirps when light switch flipped
I have a hard wired smoke detector that is connected to the same circuit breaker as the two hallway lights. The two switches at the end of the hallway do not turn the smoke detector on and off, ...
3
votes
1answer
365 views
Replacing smart switch 3 gang box neutrals all tied up
Just moved in. Have a three gang box trying to replace switches with smart switches (they each require neutral).
I'm unsure though how I'm supposed to wire the neutrals, since they are all bundled up ...
17
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5answers
4k views
Is there a benefit to having a switch control an outlet?
In my house there is a switch in every room that controls an outlet. I’ve asked my electrician to remove that so that the outlet is always on.
He says it’s safer to have a “control switch” but I can’...
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26 views
i want to wire two lights with the power coming in the first light go to the second light and then to a switch [duplicate]
I have two lights with the power to the first light and passing through to a second light then to a switch. how is this wired?
2
votes
1answer
82 views
Why are 4 circuits connected to a single switch?
While working to switch a single switch out for a double (putting a fan and a light on separate switches), I came across an interesting condition -- to make this switch cold, I have to turn off four ...
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0answers
26 views
Power to ceiling light when switch is off
I have changed the old light fixture to a new one.
When I turn off the switch the light bulbs have a slight glow in them as there’s still power going to them and stay like this until the light is ...
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0answers
28 views
How can I wire this old switch for a new one
Hi can anyone suggest how I would wire this switch please. Old one is the one in the wall and new switch is the diagram.
Many thanks
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0answers
38 views
I have a light switch that crosses multiple breakers
The switch is part of a 3way gangbox. I recently had the panel updated to a 220 from 100. But the electricians didn't map it any better than it was already mapped and just essentially gave me more ...
4
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1answer
140 views
How can I wire this switched GFCI combo outlet with two neutrals and two hot wires?
I’d like to wire a switched GFCI combo such that the switch controls the GFCI plug. I found this diagram for doing so:
This looks easy enough. However, after unscrewing the current outlet, I’m seeing ...
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0answers
45 views
Adding Outlet to Switch
I'm trying to add an outlet to this switch box, I live in the UK and tried to diagram this the best I can of what I can see.
How do I connect a T+E cable (attached to an outlet) to this system?
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1answer
56 views
Torque for receptacles and light switches
When connecting wires to the screw terminals on receptacles or light switches, what torque should they be tightened to if no torque is indicated either on the device itself or in its installation ...
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1answer
50 views
Doing a 2-Way, 2-Gang Light Switch
I'm new to this kind of DIY stuff and I need help with the wiring of this light switch.
The old light switch (left picture) has L1, L2, Common in both sides.
On the new switch (right picture), it has ...
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1answer
35 views
Split switched receptacles all stay hot regardless of switch position
I have removed and verified the wiring and tab removal on all receptacles with no problems found.
Somewhere the red hot (switched) conductor and the black hot (un-switched) conductor must be bonded.
...
2
votes
2answers
360 views
Live wire spliced in a switch to provide power to other parts of the room!
I wanted to replace a single pole toggle switch with a smart switch. I opened the switch box to analyze the existing wiring. Typically in single pole switches there should be 3 wires going in. I live ...
6
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4answers
2k views
Techniques to wrap the innards of electrical switches and outlets with electrical tape?
In the comments section of this question, MacGuyver's distant cousin MacGuffin recommended wrapping the innards of electrical switches and outlets with electrical tape to avoid any accidental shorts.
...
asked Mar 17 at 19:30
RockPaperLz- Mask it or Casket
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61 views
Do I have an neutral wire? Could it be red?
I'm trying to install a smart switch over the current 3-way 3 gang switch. I can't tell if I have a neutral wire as there are 2 red wires. One of the red is twisted with one other white wire.
After ...
3
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2answers
340 views
Why are ground wires sometimes not insulated?
I recently replaced a single AC dimmer light switch that was one of two light switches in a larger box. The ground wire leading to the switch was raw copper without any insulation.
After replacing ...
asked Mar 16 at 23:20
RockPaperLz- Mask it or Casket
1,2693 gold badges16 silver badges40 bronze badges
0
votes
0answers
42 views
Is 20' of 2" PVC with 2 45 degree elbows too restrictive for a 92% furnace?
I have a Goodman furnace, 92% efficient, GKS91155DXAF.
The exhaust vent flue was previously 2 inch PVC with one 45 degree elbow about 6 feet long overall, and it was routed directly into a piece of 6&...
0
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1answer
30 views
Switching old light switches with new ones
I am trying to replace my old side by side light switches with new rocker switches. The old switches were single pole, had 2 black wires coming in from the wall and one going in between the switches. ...
0
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0answers
52 views
I replaced a light fixture, now one specific outlet doesn’t work and the light fixture goes dim when something is plugged in
Here’s the layout: there is a light fixture at the top of the stairs. There is one switch for this fixture at the bottom of the stairs and one at the top. On an adjacent wall up stairs, there is an ...
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0answers
53 views
Why does a light switch that is switched off show 50 volts between hot and neutral? [duplicate]
It's a two-wire light fixture without ground. When the switch is on I measure 120 volts between the hot and neutral in the ceiling fixture. If I switch it off I measure 50 volts. Why?
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34 views
Damaged and/or poorly installed light switches and outlet boxes
What is The Right Way to repair the drywall above this switch box?
The problem is that the metal box pictured here is not mounted correctly, and wobbles a bit. This would not be too bad of an issue if ...
3
votes
1answer
45 views
Add a treadmill and refrigerator to the wall outlet in my garage without tripping any circuit breakers?
I rent a house in the US and recently have decided I’d like to add a refrigerator and exercise treadmill to my garage. The washer and dryer are already plugged into a receptacle in the garage so I ...
0
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1answer
47 views
Can I use this smart dimmer switch with these wires?
Kasa Smart Dimmer Switch
http://imgur.com/a/HW0aEcf
I have been able to hook it up so that the switch itself will turn on and connect with my phone, but I just can't get the light to turn on with this ...
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0answers
47 views
Why does my newly rewired light stay on all the time?
I've installed new hallway and bedroom lights. The hallway light is wired to a 3-way switch & working fine. But now the bedroom (wired to a regular switch) light is on all the time and the switch ...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
Adding a light switch inside another circuit
I have three recessed lights connected in series inside of a new bathroom but would like to add a 4th above the shower stall for some extra lighting. Is it ok to run from the currently last light on ...
1
vote
1answer
28 views
Ceiling fan wiring (2x light switch, 1x fan switch)
I'm installing a ceiling fan in our kitchen and we need to have 1x switch for the fan (preset fan control switch) and 2x switches for the light (1x 3-pole dimmer switch, 1x 3-pole switch). I was ...
2
votes
1answer
82 views
Jumper wire on a light switch box and I'm not sure what else
While painting the living room the light switch cover was off. None of the switches are using the green ground screw. There is a jumper wire between switches, on the hot side. All the green wires are ...
-1
votes
1answer
48 views
Determine which wire connect to which terminal [closed]
I would really appreciate some advice please.
I am trying to replace a light switch in my bedroom. It controls two lights in my bedroom which switch on simultaneously. I have bought a new light switch ...
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0answers
54 views
How do I remove switches from this 4-way setup to make it 1-pole?
We have an old Intermatic timer for our front lights that appears to be wired to two three-way switches. Both of the extra switches are within 10 feet of the primary switch and are much more trouble ...
7
votes
4answers
2k views
Can 12 gauge wire be inserted into 14 gauge switch connector sockets?
Is it safe for a 12 gauge wire to be inserted into the 14 gauge slot on a light switch? I moved recently and was changing some light switches and noticed that several of the lights are wired this way.
...
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2answers
48 views
Changing a switched outlet to half-hot and found pigtails
I’m trying to change a switched outlet to a half-hot outlet. The receptacle itself had one black wire and two white wires (plus ground), and then I saw a pigtail with two black and one white wire.
I ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
Wire tracer issues
When we remodeled our basement, we wanted to move a switch that controls 4 lights. Here is what I think happened: The electrician spliced in a single piece of romex, so that the black wire runs to the ...
1
vote
1answer
51 views
I can't get this Smart Dimmer to work
GE Zigbee Smart Dimmer
I can't get it to turn on
I have tried 2 different ones and neither will turn on
The only way we can get them to turn on is by putting both wires in the same hole, but then it ...
1
vote
2answers
66 views
Why a SPDT momentary instead of a SPST momentary?
I have an HRV (heat recovery ventilator) which has a bathroom booster switch input. The HRV supplier specified a SPDT momentary switch for the bathroom booster switch. 18/2 shielded wiring is ...
0
votes
1answer
51 views
Will this 3 way switch wiring plan work?
I am in a situation that is Hot - Switch - Fixture - Fixture - Switch. The Hot is supplied with 14/2, and the remainder romex is 14/3. Both switches will be 3way. I found this drawinng on the ...
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30 views
Pull power from an exhaust fan switch for heated bidet outlet
I installed a new wall outlet by pulling power from an existing exhaust fan switch via the load wire. Every time the bidet is used the light starts flickering.
Would swapping the line wire with load ...
0
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1answer
25 views
LNLN Motion Sensor - Replacing Switch, Help with RED wire
I purchased a motion sensor to operate the lights in my garage. The Motion sensor has four terminals labeled LNLN. When I remove the switch, I have a Black wire, white wire, bare wire, and a RED wire ...
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vote
2answers
78 views
Re-wiring an old Slater 3 way switch with new Leviton
I have an old Slater 20a switch with 3 screws (no ground). The wires to it are one black, one red, and one white (which was spliced to an orange wire at the end for some reason).
It is a 3 way switch ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Need helping finding a limit switch for motorized raise/lower led light bar
I have a rotary bar that raises and lowers lights about 45 degrees in each direction. Right now I have a timed relay that stops the bar, unfortunately, the time can easily be thrown out of sync. I ...
0
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0answers
27 views
Are compressor pressure switches adjustable or repairable?
I have a craftsman air compressor. It's about 20 years old, but for many years now, if I let it run on it's own, it will always blow the pressure relief valve. I don't need a lot of volume, so I ...
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0answers
50 views
Needing help on this, adding another switch to existing switch for fan and light to turn on separate with a bit of a curveball!
Spent all day trying to figure this out without any luck! I am trying to add an additional switch to an existing one with the end goal of being able to turn on the fan from one switch and the light ...
1
vote
1answer
40 views
Jennair JES9900BAS20 keeps blowing infinite switches on right front “custom control” element
Original infinite switch (p/n W10185286) failed so I replaced with a new switch. Worked for a day or so then nothing. Replaced with a second switch. Worked at initial test, then neither element would ...
2
votes
1answer
56 views
Lighted Switch Wiring
I have installed a lighted single pole switch. The light on the paddle does not come on and the hot lead and the switch leg both show hot when the switch is in the on or off position. When I remove ...
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0answers
32 views
adding line to same power source causes light switch to stay on
New enclosee porch.
I'm installing 2 single pole light switches and an outlet using 12-2.
first light switch powers 1 fixtures (den lights)
second light switch powers 2 fixtures (exterior wall ...
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vote
0answers
51 views
Why does only 1 bulb stays on?
I have a 4 bulb ceiling light which was working perfectly until recently...
When the power is off, the 4th bulb flickers... I removed the 4th bulb, and the 3rd bulb flickers!
So I removed the fuse ...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
Electrical Outlet/Switch Cover Vanity Plate Screw Issues
I am taking the time to update all of my outlets and switches in my home since they are 14+ years old or older and most of them are the METALLIC and NOT NYLON and have the vanity/cover plate entirely ...
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2answers
70 views
Using white/neutral for light switches
I’m not an electrician, but I sure have added LOTS of lights and switches in my home. I’m almost done remodeling my basement and have just noticed that I have been splicing into the white/neutral wire ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views
Why’s my new outlet tripping the switch in the panel?
So I bought new outlets to replace the old ones in my house and everything was going fine until I reached the kitchen. The panel switch for this particular plug is split between two (a/b) (if that ...
