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
votes
1answer
37 views
Is my 4-way switch replacement job safe and up to code?
I recently replaced a 4-way light switch setup with a smart dimmer setup (GE Enbrighten 14294 and GE Add-On 12723) and wanted to check wanted to check that everything I did was safe and up to code (...
0
votes
2answers
38 views
Rewire switched bathroom receptacle to always be hot
I currently have a light switch in my bathroom that controls the light and also the only outlet. Can I remove the bypass the switch so the outlet stays hot or do I need to run a new line for the ...
1
vote
1answer
16 views
14/4 cable use in switches for vent fan and light combination
This post is similar (but different) to one I posted previously, and I got great answers at that time. This is a different bathroom:
I currently have an overhead bathroom light with a single pole ...
0
votes
2answers
45 views
Is there a dimmer light switch with secondary constant 120V output?
I have a vent fan and an overhead light in my bathroom. They are currently tied to one standard light switch. When that light switch is in the "on" position, the vent fan and light are both powered on....
2
votes
3answers
625 views
Can I operate a well pump with no pressure tank by using the breaker as a switch?
Working on my cabin. Have a drilled well about 100 feet away (maybe a bit more, uphill). 1 inch black PVC well pipe comes into dirt crawl space, pier construction, under cabin. I brought it ...
1
vote
0answers
78 views
Name that mystery switch!
I've seen other similar questions (How to trace mystery switches), but I have some more details:
This is in a master bedroom
There is a 2 gang box right near the inside of the door - one switch (...
3
votes
1answer
121 views
Safe to combine GFCI switch with non-GFCI switch?
I have two switches by the front door. One controls the exterior door light. The other controls a light on a pole by the driveway. I want to replace the two switches with a single timer switch that ...
1
vote
2answers
54 views
Wiring in switch which turns on half outlet with no neutral
I have a weird situation with the wiring in a switch box. I am adding a ceiling fan to the room and would like to replace the existing switch which powers an outlet with a double switch. One that ...
-2
votes
0answers
20 views
2 way switches controlling 1 outlet [on hold]
I have a dust collector in my shop and I want to run 6 @ 2 way switches to operate 1 @ 20 volt outlet... The outlet would be there to plug in the dust collector, just 110 volt, I then want to run ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
Switch with 2 black, 2 white, 2 ground and 1 red wire connected to ceiling light and a receptacle?
I am living in a condo and the owner has asked me to replace a switch from a dimmer to single pole to operate a ceiling fan. Upon inspection the ceiling fan has one 14/2 cable coming in with a black ...
1
vote
1answer
76 views
Is my plan to add a neutral wire to a switch box ok?
I'd like to add a neutral wire to an old switch box so that I can install a smart switch that needs a neutral wire.
I have a mud room and porch that each have a light fixture. The lights are ...
1
vote
0answers
41 views
Bad Portable AC Unit Plug Circuit
Model: LG LP1414GXR
The unit was running fine but it appears the plug circuitry overheated and went bad. Is it okay to replace the existing plug by cutting it off at the end and replacing it with a ...
0
votes
2answers
37 views
Can I replace a fan timer with one having duration options beyond one hour?
We have a dial that only goes up to an hour to control our fan so we are continuously getting up and turning it for another hour. Can this be replaced with a longer timer dial, like 12 hours?
0
votes
1answer
36 views
Unable to properly wire timer to old light switch with one “white?” Wire on top and one looped black wire
Top wire is painted white. bottom wire is looped. Timer has screws for line, load, neutral and ground. What goes where?
I am getting power but only half the light output with one part of black loop ...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
Outlets no longer controlled by switch
When we moved in we replaced all outlets with Tamper Resistant ones.
We had an outlet on the left side of room that was half controlled by a switch. We wanted both outlets controlled so we left the ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
Stranded aluminum on outdoor light switch
I currently have a light switch with stranded aluminum wire wrapped around the screws with electrical tape over over the screws and wire ends. It controls all 3 of my outdoor lights.
I want to ...
0
votes
0answers
39 views
Odd wiring at switch. Please help
I plan to run a ceiling fan/light to this switch which is already connected to an outlet. Can you explain this wiring and if it is safe? I don't understand how or why there is a black wire sitting ...
1
vote
2answers
31 views
remove single pole switch that control outlet
I have a light switch (single pole) in my dining room that controls an outlet. I want to separate the switch from the outlet while still providing power to the outlet. The switch I would like to use ...
1
vote
3answers
68 views
Can 14/3 wire, with all three conductors hot, be the only cable in a switch box?
I currently have a bathroom light and a single pole switch at the door. The power for the light first comes into the ceiling box directly above the light. The hot is tapped in right there by using the ...
-2
votes
2answers
65 views
Why do I have 5 cables (/3) feeding 2 light switches?
I went to change out a light switch expecting an easy job but I found a mess of spaghetti looking and I don’t know where to start. I’ve attached pictures and am willing to answer all questions.
The ...
1
vote
1answer
72 views
Light switch arcing. Is this a fire hazard?
H, I am new here. I have a few questions about some electrical stuff. I live in a late 80s mobile home (87-89). It is a 2 bed one bath. The light switch in the bathroom is pretty worn out and gets a ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
Replacing and old switch
I am in the process of replacing a regular switch that controls the light in my bedroom with a motion sensor switch and I am a bit baffled by the way it looks. As you can see in these pictures, it ...
2
votes
2answers
72 views
Replacing attic light switch with Leviton combo
I want to replace and old Leviton attic light switch with a Leviton combo switch/outlet. The junction box has two Romex cables in and one out to the current light.
The two in have each a black wire ...
1
vote
3answers
69 views
How can I allow guests to manually control lamps under wifi control?
I have a few lamps in the house that are now wifi control enabled. I use google home to control them. So far, I have been using wifi plugs - but the issue is that some guests who are not comfortable ...
0
votes
2answers
59 views
Installing one way light switch
I accidentally bought a one-way switch for a receptacle that is wired for a three-way switch. I found that the only way it works so far is:
Connect the two black wires from the wall to the black wire ...
0
votes
1answer
55 views
Circuit is broken when switch is screwed into box, but not outside of box
1954 House with original (cloth over rubber) wiring on the main floor. Replacing fan and light with simple overhead light fixture and toggle switch with a dimmer switch. Box has an incoming conduit ...
0
votes
2answers
42 views
Why does my illuminated light switch glow more dimly with an LED bulb installed in the fixture?
Electrician just installed an illuminated light switch for a single bulb wall fixture. It barely illuminates. All other illuminated switches in house glow brightly. There is a single LED bulb in the ...
5
votes
3answers
3k views
What is this strange coiled wire and should everything be redone?
Problem 1
So I'm going through my house, replacing the switches and came across this switch that controls a fan in my bathroom. It looks like this may have been something the previous owner did, and ...
1
vote
1answer
26 views
Wiring up new light fitting
I am trying to fit a new light fitting. The connections on this fitting equates to a 4 pin plastic junction box with live, earth, and neutral in that order with the 4th blank.
I removed the old ...
1
vote
1answer
33 views
Smart switch wiring
I’m swapping out a single light switch for a smart switch. The wiring from the gang is a single cable with red, black, ground, white. The neutral wire was unused in the original switch. The smart ...
1
vote
1answer
45 views
Trying to install Leviton smart switches replacing two older switches
Am I installing this correctly?
I'm trying to install two new Leviton smart switches. Had two neutrals tied off, so pig tailed them. Does first switch need be replaced as well? It's a Lutron dimmer. ...
0
votes
1answer
20 views
Light switch to switch/outlet combo
I have an older house and want to change a light switch to a switch/outlet combo. The current switch has two wires only in the box. The new combo has a ground (green), and two lines on one side. The ...
0
votes
1answer
13 views
Wemo Light Switch + Niko Dimmer Switch combined
In order for my smart lights to be on permanently, I need the light switch circuit to be "permanently on", while the light switch instead controls my Hue lights. While I know this is accomplishable by ...
0
votes
1answer
74 views
Convert Three Way to Single Smart Switch
I have two switches set up as a 3-way and I'd like to take out one and install a smart switch for the other. I know I need a neutral, and I thought things would be good when I looked inside, but it ...
1
vote
1answer
42 views
Trying to hook up dimmer/fan switch but have an extra wire?
I am trying to replace a switch that had a 4 position light knob and a 4 position fan knob. The old one had three wires coming out of it and the new one has 4. Below is a picture of my wall and the ...
2
votes
1answer
127 views
Help with replacing 3 way switch with a smart 3 way switch
I'm trying to replace existing 3 way switches with 3 way smart switches to control the lights of my light/fan combo. The current set up is a dimmer in 1 location and a toggle switch on the other side ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
14-2 and 14-3 into one box
In my basement wiring diagram - in Box #1 -- I have a 14-2 cable from the panel and a 14-3 cable terminating a 3 way switch (6 & 7) from the same circuit.
Is this ok, normal, against code, ...
0
votes
0answers
10 views
Apartment outlets troubleshooting # 3
I have solved the power outage to the circuit powering 3 different rooms but only partially. 2/3 outlets power on and 1/2 of the light switches work. In the bedroom. The working outlet is the only ‘ ...
0
votes
0answers
38 views
Changing a Switch in one room but lights in other rooms go out
So there are 2 sets of wires coming in on the right (black, white ground) and 1 set of wires going out to the left (black, black), which seem to connect to the next room.
When I change the switch, I ...
2
votes
1answer
116 views
Bathroom Switch (Light/Fan) 3 Black Wires? GFCI?
I'm replacing my bathroom switches (2) with a timer (for the fan) and a motion sensing switch (for the light) (lutron brand, not sure if that matters) and I ran into a very weird configuration:
So ...
1
vote
3answers
125 views
Motion sensor with bypass switch?
I wish to have a motion sensor on the lights in my garage, but I also want to have an override switch that works normally, and does not require a specific pattern to toggle the override in the sensor.
...
1
vote
1answer
56 views
Combine Lights on one switch and remove smoke detector from switch
Experts,
I've got a weird wiring situation in my kitchen (just bought the house).
"A" (a dimmer) in the picture controls both a light (let's call it light "X") and (wait for it) the smoke detector!
...
0
votes
2answers
68 views
How can I provide neutral wires for my smart switches?
I'm trying to install smart switches, which obviously need a neutral wire. I'm pretty sure I am lucky enough that I have it, but, want to make sure and also find out how to use it. I've attached a ...
0
votes
0answers
34 views
Is there an LED-compatible dimmer switch that can work in series with a second dimmer?
I just installed 3 LED shop lights in my workshop (ok they're actually meant as bathroom lights, but the price was right).
They are wired in parallel, with a master switch in front of everything (in ...
0
votes
0answers
29 views
One side of combination switch turns off power in a room
I have an exhaust fan, light fixture and wall outlet connected to a combination switch. The top switch turns on the lights and it works and the outlet is always on, but the bottom switch supposed to ...
1
vote
2answers
376 views
Why neutral wire connected to load wire?
I opened switch box in the basement that has two switches: one for basement and other 3way switch for stairs. I wonder why white wire thet usually neutral connected to black wire that goes to another ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
Switch Controls Outlet, Not Ceiling Light
When we bought our house, the switch to the ceiling fan did not work, unless pushed to the side, or pushed in before being used. It seemed to be a simple enough task to replace the switch. However, ...
1
vote
2answers
98 views
Installing smart switches, instructions don't match my wiring?
I'm trying to replace a couple switches with smart switches and the instructions provided with the switch I have (TP-Link HS200) don't match my wiring set up 100%. I'm thinking (hoping) I have the ...
0
votes
0answers
28 views
switch box red wire connected to white?
i'm installing smart switches, and found the neutral in another area so i assumed it'd be in all the switch boxes. Well not these two. It's a 3 way switch, and in the back of it there are white wires ...
1
vote
1answer
64 views
3-way switch wired with jumper between load and traveller
Background -- I've been replacing all the switches in my house with casetta smart switches. On 3-ways, I've been abandoning one of the switches and replacing with the lutron remote controls. The ...
