Questions tagged [switch]
For questions about switches, i.e. electrical devices used to manually open and close an electric circuit on a routine basis.
1,643
questions
3
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2answers
97 views
Ideas for rigging a light switch to a double bifold door?
This has me stumped. There are lots of light switches actuated by closet doors. But I have a closet with a double bifold door (two bifolds that close towards the middle).
I can't think of, or find, ...
1
vote
0answers
50 views
How to determine if tethered sump pump float switch is triggering at the right height?
Yikes! It rained a ton yesterday and my basement flooded. Water soaking the floor. When I looked into the sump pump, it had lots of water in it. I pulled up on the float and it all emptied. As we ...
1
vote
1answer
111 views
I cut a wire too short, where there needs to be 6 inches of wire coming into the box. What can I do to fix it to be up to electrical code?
I didn't have extra wire to connect a bundle of neutrals to a switch, so I cut some off of an existing neutral wire that had some extra wire. I then found out about the electrical code that requires 6 ...
1
vote
2answers
60 views
Why does my 3-way, switch looped light not work properly?
I'm trying to understand why a switch loop in my house was wired in this manner and if I need to correct it. I'm assuming it is incorrect because I cannot turn the light off and on from both switches. ...
2
votes
2answers
159 views
I'm trying to install a smart switch into a two-gang box. There are three neutral wires tied together, do I just add a fourth one from the switch?
I have a two-gang box where one of the switches is a single-pole switch, and the other one is a 3-way switch. I'm trying to replace the single-pole switch with a smart dimmer, the instructions don't ...
0
votes
1answer
121 views
weird one: how do i modify a light switch wiring so it stays on regardless on if it's flipped up or down?
I know it's weird. But I want the light ON regardless if the switch is flipped up or down. How can I do this? which wires do I cross? Thank You
0
votes
1answer
37 views
My Light switch and outlets in a different location and light switches no longer work after replacing a dimmer switch?
I replaced a dimmer switch bc it was buzzing at the switch. I got the new dimmer switch to work but I no longer have power to my outlets and other light switches in the same circuit.
Some background ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
What is the purpose of this switch to the left of the filter?
What is the purpose of this switch to the left in the picture? Thank you!
[1]: https://i.stack.imgur.com/PhnVO.jpg
0
votes
3answers
67 views
Rewire fully switched outlet to half-hot
I've read this question and its answers and my situation is the same: there are only 3 wires in the outlet box: switched hot, neutral, and ground; but I need another wire for always-hot. The switch ...
0
votes
0answers
27 views
Testing 3-way switch which was converted to 2-way by wiring in basic switch
I have a smart light switch (Lutron Caseta model PD-6ANS) which was installed on a 3-way circuit with the other end supposedly wired so that it functions as a single non-3-way switch (this is because ...
1
vote
1answer
102 views
Why is my light switch wired like this?
I am in the UK (240v system).
I have a two gang light switch in my new house. Each switch controls a separate light, and it is the only switch which controls each light (one way switches). I want to ...
1
vote
0answers
28 views
Modify ceiling fan reverse switch to be on/off switch instead?
I have a typical ceiling fan in my room. It has a 3 speed chain, a lights on/off chain, and a switch to reverse direction of rotation. Is there a way to modify the wiring of the reverse switch such ...
0
votes
0answers
60 views
Two Neutral Wires on Light Switch
I want to install an in-wall lighting timer for my front outdoor lights, replacing an existing light switch. I turned off the breaker to the switch I wish to replace and I've determined which black ...
1
vote
1answer
135 views
Strange wiring found in old bathroom
I'm swapping out some old switches in my bathroom and have run into something I've never seen before. The middle light switch here has both a black and red wire connected to the load terminal.
...
0
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0answers
26 views
Bathroom Switch Wiring
I need some help with confirming the wiring in my bathroom so I can replace some of the switches. It's a double rocker with three main wires coming from the back of the box. It looks like they grouped ...
1
vote
1answer
73 views
New outlets installed with wires for switch control, but tabs left intact
Before moving into our house recently I had inquired about a pair of switches in the living room that seemingly did nothing. The seller said that they were for a couple of the outlets in the living ...
1
vote
1answer
41 views
Why am I getting strange voltage readings on a light circuit?
Sorry for not having pictures or drawings. If the description is not clear let me know and I will add some.
Upstairs bathroom has a light fixture on the wall above the sink and an exhaust fan in the ...
1
vote
1answer
57 views
How do I override the motion detection so that light will stay off?
I installed the motion sensor lights in my boys bedrooms because they never turn off the lights. However, I quickly realized that the motion detection isn't ideal after bed time when I go to check on ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
How to connect fan control switch?
I bought a fan control switch to control my exhaust fan. In my socket, there's 3 live, 3 neutral and 3 ground wires.
However, the fan control switch circuit diagram only shows the location to connect ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
Change regular switch to dimmer (US)
My current regular switch has a black wire coming in to the switch and also going out on top and a purple wire coming in at the bottom. There are two white wires spliced in the box but not connecting ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
Dimmer not working? [closed]
With a wall dimmer switch, is it possible for the on/off switch to operate but not the
dimmer? Trying to isolate dimmer problem, between dimmer/switch or wiring?
Thanks for any help!
1
vote
1answer
70 views
Why are the switches connected and each one has two black wires going to one terminal?
I’m trying to replace a standard switch with a motion sensor switch. The box has a switch for the light and a switch for the fan. For some reason they are each connected by a black wire. There are ...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
Wiring mystery, two wire switch to 3 wire plug
I have a light that is plugged into a double gang wall recepticle. One plug is controlled by a light switch. When I went to move the receptacle I noticed that the wired plug had a red wire going to ...
0
votes
0answers
60 views
Can I put return hot wire from the switch in different color (red for example)
I am trying to install a new light spot in my basement with its own switch. So I understand the whole thing with black-white-copper wire color, so I only need to make another junction box, pull white ...
0
votes
3answers
151 views
Light in basement with no switch?
In my basement there is a light socket that is always on. We have checked every switch and there does not seem to be a switch attached. I followed the electrical line and it’s only connected to a two ...
0
votes
2answers
100 views
How to make the top and bottom receptacles of a single outlet controlled by different switches
I am attempting to wire a single duplex receptacle to be controlled by two separate switches.
I want the top receptacle to be controlled by one switch and the bottom receptacle to be controlled by a ...
2
votes
1answer
39 views
Wiring a Google Home capable light switch
I just bought a TP-Link Kasa light switch (the HS200 single pole to be exact). It has two black wires, a white, and a green. The switch I want to replace has only black and red. Inside the box, I ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
Connecting a low voltage transformer using a external switch?
Currently I have 4 small low voltage transformers connected to 4 circuits of low voltage yard lights. They are under my deck, and I turn then on and off using switches above the deck.
I want to ...
1
vote
2answers
53 views
How do I troubleshoot my Septic Tank Alert and replace the float switch?
While tracing some errant electrical current, I ended up in the big concrete riser above the septic tank. The electrical is in there, rather than outside on a pedestal as is normal now. There, I ...
0
votes
2answers
94 views
Why doesn't my dimmer switch work after a short?
I was installing an LED dimmer switch in what was previously a working light switch. Got it on ok and it worked fine for an hour, and then, dumbly, I later decided to put the faceplate screws into the ...
1
vote
1answer
78 views
Single pole on/off switch with 3 wires
I have a metal junction box in the kitchen of my 1968 home. This jbox contains 2 lights switches that I want to replace.
One switch is a 3 way that is for the overhead light/fan that can also be ...
1
vote
1answer
48 views
How high to set sump pump switch
So, we live in an area that is pretty wet. Sump pump runs all the time and frequently. Interestingly, heavy rain does not seem to change the amount of flow. It is pretty steady.
What I noticed ...
1
vote
1answer
90 views
"Wrong" wiring for three-way switch
I tried installing a smart dimmer switch and add-on into a two-way switch configuration, but after a few hours of messing around I think that the circuit isn't wired properly for a smart switch. Right ...
1
vote
1answer
46 views
Need help wiring new dimmer switch
I have a broken switch in my bathroom that needs to be replaced. It is the switch on the left which turns the bathroom light on/off. The switch on the right toggles a fan/light combo on or off in the ...
0
votes
3answers
77 views
Wiring a timer for a fan with No neutral wire
Ok. I can’t figure it out. I’m on my third timer switch, this one not requiring a neutral. When I hook it up to the fan stays on and none of the timer buttons are operable. Please see the below ...
2
votes
1answer
61 views
Wiring Lightswitch Wires to Always On
We have an older house and for some reason one of the light switches in the house cut all power to our living room and garage. We have had this switch taped off to prevent this from happening but now ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
Am I going to be installing this motion-sensor light switch correctly in a 2-gang box?
I'm currently planning on installing a motion-sensing switch for the lights in the bathroom.
The current light switch shares a box with the switch for the ventilator fan (which I don't plan on ...
0
votes
0answers
19 views
How to add lights to an existing pendant light fixture?
I’m making string lights to add to a pendant light. I want the lights I’m adding to be wired to the same wires / switch as the pendant light. Can this be done & if so, how?
Also, the string ...
1
vote
1answer
110 views
Can turning power on/off at a mains switch damage LED lights?
Would it damage LED lights does anyone know? So for example I have 4 sets of LED light bars plugged into a 4-way extender. Each light set has its own switch. But there is also a switch at the mains ...
1
vote
1answer
57 views
New ceiling fan, now wall switches are reversed
I installed a new ceiling fan yesterday. I hooked up white to white, black to black and red (from ceiling) to blue (from ceiling fan)
Now the switches on the wall are reversed. The light switch now ...
15
votes
1answer
1k views
3 position light switch beeps and flashes when down
I’ve come across something I’ve never seen before and can’t find anything on the internet about. My house has a light switch by the front door that powers my exterior lights. The switch has 3 ...
0
votes
0answers
16 views
Need Help with Kitchen Light Switch
I have 3 different black hot wires in my kitchen light switch. I've tried varying different combinations on a single pole and no matter which combination the kitchen switch either turns on the stair ...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
Find Out The Use of Switches In My Home
I have a number of light switches in my home that seem to do nothing. I have no idea what they were intended do. When I flip them on/off there is no sound, no indication of activity... nothing.
Is ...
-1
votes
1answer
57 views
Switch change from two to one
I have two switches in my kitchen one operates the cabinet lights and the other operates the ceiling light. I want to make the cabinet light direct so thatt i only have the switch to operate the ...
0
votes
0answers
46 views
Wires going to wall switch have no voltage but the outlet the switch controls has power
In my Son's room, there is a switch on the wall that used to control one of the outlets across the room but stopped working long ago. I'm now finally getting around to trying to fix it. Ran a voltage ...
1
vote
2answers
38 views
How to Diagnose and Repair Issue with KitchenAid Dishwasher Start Button Switch?
I have a KitchenAid KUDI01FLWH5 dishwasher with a control board part 8530995 Rev A. It has been installed and running fine for many years, except for having to replace the door balance link cables a ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views
Is this fan control switch appropriate for this ceiling fan?
United States, California, house is built in the 90s.
I have a ceiling fan that says model number CF101H-60, 1.2A 120W.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-Bay-Industrial-60-in-Indoor-Outdoor-White-...
2
votes
2answers
84 views
How do I properly wire an outlet to this brand new switch I put in
I recently replaced a 1-gang switch box with a 2-gang box and added a brand new switch. The 2nd switch currently has nothing hooked up to it, as I need to cut out a new outlet.
The first switch/...
0
votes
0answers
16 views
3 Way Timer Light Switch Leviton LTB30
I have a 3-way timer switch that I want to install in the house to control the lights outside and I can’t figure out how to wire it, maybe I need a no neutral switch, or a jumper. I currently have an ...
0
votes
1answer
66 views
Do I have the right supply list to start my under cabinet LED project?
Thanks for all the recent help on here. I am gathering supplies for an under cabinet RBGW LED project (US).
So far I have:
RBGW 12v LED Strip Lights
100-240v to 12v Transformer
Wireless Controller
...