Questions tagged [switch]
For questions about switches, i.e. electrical devices used to manually open and close an electric circuit on a routine basis.
1,724
questions
1
vote
2answers
31 views
How do I replace this very old dimmer switch with a standard switch
There appear to be a lot of furry wires, 1 black, 1 white wire, and no ground. How do I go about wiring this up to a standard switch? And which remaining wires should I cap together?
0
votes
2answers
108 views
Can door contact switch turn on a light when open and send signal to fan when closed?
I have a small pantry in a new house which has been designed with insulated walls and doors, etc. with the idea being that it is kept at a different temperature to the rest of the house to store food. ...
3
votes
7answers
6k views
How do I keep the lights on permanently?
Current Situation
My upstairs hallway gets rather dark as it has no windows. It is also at the top of a set of stairs, which too has no light source.
To ameliorate this, I have recently installed LED ...
0
votes
2answers
44 views
Replacing a switch from switched outlet with duplex receptacle
I have a switched outlet underneath my sink, probably from a garbage disposal. It's in a 2 gang box with two receptacles, one switched, one not. There is a switch on the wall by the sink to operate ...
0
votes
3answers
89 views
Why does my bath fan timer will only work if the light is off?
The switch and the timer are together in a two gang box. There is power to both however the fan timer will only work when the light is off.
1
vote
1answer
53 views
Outlet with 2 white and 1 red connected, 2 unconnected black wires
I am replacing some outlets and switches in my home as most of them are old and discolored. When I pulled this one out it had 2 white and 1 red wire connected, and 2 black wires in the box which were ...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
Why do I have three 12-2 cables coming into my closet ceiling light switch?
I was putting in some rope lights in my closet so I put in a outlet and tied it to my switch. The switch box has three 12-2 cables coming in.
One black is hot. They had 1 black on the lower screw and ...
0
votes
3answers
101 views
Can an exterior 240v cable be used for two different applications via a switch?
I have a dedicated 240V line run to my backyard to power an electric shed heater (240V). I plan on putting an above ground pool in the summer, and would like to get an electric heater for the pool. ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Replacing existing light switch - what the...?
Located in the US, I have done some basic rewiring of fixtures and have replaced a few switches in this house. But I am stumped as to what is going on in this box. No idea how to proceed and ...
6
votes
4answers
2k views
Is my plan for wiring lights and outlets correct?
Could someone take a look at this wiring plan and let me know if this looks ok? I've done basic wiring in the past, but never had occasion to use 12/3 wiring before. Something about having two hot ...
0
votes
0answers
24 views
What is the correct way to wire 2 three way switches with a single pole switch when the power line is entering in the middle of the circuit? [duplicate]
I originally asked this over on electronics.stackexchange.com, but they don't seem to have the skills to figure out the correct way to wire this situation. Someone suggested I post it here instead.
...
1
vote
1answer
101 views
Why is my entire townhome flickering? Circuit box is replaced. Whole house has copper wiring
My whole house flickers. It is a townhome. Here are some things to cross off the list:
I just replaced the circuit box which was old and faulty. It is brand new, not refurbished.
The house is wired ...
2
votes
1answer
51 views
Confusing behaviour from gas fireplace
I recently moved into a house with a gas fireplace. The fireplace did not turn on when I flipped the wall switch, so I started poking around to try to figure out what’s going on. I have absolutely no ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
Electric stove burner starts and stays on high on lowest setting. Infinite switch passes ohmmeter tests
BACKGROUND: I have a GE glass-top radiative stove (model jp3030tj2ww) that has 1 burner that starts on high on the lowest setting and gets stuck there and a 2nd burner that only does this sometimes ...
2
votes
2answers
630 views
Bizarre behavior after replacing a three-way switch
I’ve encounter very bizarre behavior when replacing a very old three-way switch in my mother’s old house, and I’m trying to understand just what might be going on.
One light is controlled by two three-...
4
votes
1answer
331 views
Can I connect two neutral wires from a Single pole switch and a 3 way switch to a set of neutral wires as shown in the picture?
I am replacing these two switches with smart switches (Brand:Kasa). One of the smart switch is Single pole another is a 3-way switch. Both switches will need their neutral wires to be connected. My ...
-1
votes
1answer
36 views
Installing New Wall Light Switch with 2 Black and 1 Red Wire to Single Pole
Trying to install new switch to turn on a ceiling light.
There are 2 black, 1 red, and ground (bare copper) wire.
How do I wire this to a single pole switch? Or do I need double/3-way switch?
The ...
-1
votes
1answer
43 views
Getting voltage on both travellers on a 3-way switch
I recently moved into my current home. I tried to replace a lot of the switches to smart switches, and most of them worked except one. After switching that one (one of the two 3 way switches) to a ...
-1
votes
1answer
33 views
3 Way Switch Issues
I am swapping out one of my 3-way switches with a smart switch. I am able to get each switch to turn the lights on independently, but neither switch can control the light while the other switch is on. ...
1
vote
1answer
69 views
Issues with CAT3 Cabling
Having some issues with the CAT3 cable in my home. A few weeks ago, I added a 4 to 1 coax converter to the access panel in my office area as that is where the main coax cable entered my apartment.
I ...
-1
votes
0answers
69 views
I am trying to add a smart switch to a 2 gang box. I can't figure out how the neutral wires get connected
I am trying to add 2 smart switches to 2 2-gang boxes. one switch in each box controls the same light (2 pole) so I have to leave that one as is (dumb). I have all the wires attached correctly but I ...
2
votes
0answers
83 views
Why do I have 80v from my black wire to the ground and 30v from the neutral wire to ground on my single pole switch^
I just bought a house and looking to fix things up. I encountered a single pole light switch in a metallic box with three NM white cables coming in (2 wires and a ground).
With the switch on the "...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
How should I troubleshoot a furnace with a possible control board issue?
I have 3 units of furnace in my house (brand: Lennox model: c33-36A-2-6), each cover a floor of my 3-story-house (basement included).
The unit covering the 1st floor stopped working a couple days ago, ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
Need a wiring diagram for separate switches to a ceiling fan/light
Anyone have a wiring diagram for converting a single switch that controls a ceiling fan/light kit into 2 separate switches that control each separately? Power is at the switch and is in the middle of ...
0
votes
0answers
74 views
Crack open a Belgian lightswitch
there!
I'm trying to open this lightswitch, I tried to put a screwdriver beneath the plastic outer frame and lift it, without success. There's a small notch below the switch itself, but I don't ...
0
votes
0answers
25 views
Installing a new dimmer switch with screw terminals in place of old rotary dimmer
I have an existing rotary dimmer in my dining room. It is the only light switch in that room and as far as I know only controls that light that is in that room. I want to install lutron maestro dimmer ...
0
votes
1answer
55 views
Light switch with no ground wire attached
I am trying to install a new switch but the ground wire was never attached to the old switch and this is what I have, any suggestions?
0
votes
1answer
89 views
Non-contact voltage detector beeps on certain areas of the switch despite being Off
I just replaced a pair of single-pole switches in a metal two-gang box and when I went over it with a non-contact voltage tester, they alarmed despite being off.
I have a Fluke 1AC II Non-Contact ...
0
votes
1answer
121 views
Using a double throw switch to split 240v circuit to two appliances. Does neutral need to be switched?
I'm looking to add a switch to an existing 240v circuit to switch power between two appliances. Do I need a 2 pole switch and just have the neutral attached to both appliances or do I need a 3 pole ...
0
votes
2answers
63 views
Voltage in traveler wires 3 way switch
If I measure the voltage between the two traveler wires in my 3 way switch, I see 8 to 12 volts.
Is it normal to have that much voltage on travelers?
0
votes
0answers
52 views
Switch has a hot wire activated by another switch
I have a box with two switches. One of the switches goes to a ceiling light. The second switch we have never been able to determine. Today I decided to try to figure out where that second switch ...
1
vote
1answer
61 views
How important to replace Furnace pressure switch with the one from the same manufacturer?
We have 2004 Furnace American Standard and Nest thermostat.When I turn heat on the Nest it starts the furnace but no heat comes from the vents. We called one local company and tech person came, spent ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
left rear control knob on our GE Range JBP30CB1CC gets very hot after 10-15 minutes when that burner is turned on
left rear control knob on our GE Range JBP30CB1CC gets very hot after 10-15 minutes when that burner is turned on. I'm assuming the surface element switch for that burner needs replacing.
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Adding switch to thermostat to control remote fan
A room at the end of my HVAC forced air is cold due to lack of air flow. I’d like to add a booster fan to help with airspeed and I’d like it to turn on/off based on the thermostat switch turning the ...
1
vote
1answer
46 views
Why is my 30/50 well presure switch not kicking on until 22psi?
We had a new well pump bladder tank and pressure switch installed in July to August. The water pressure switch is kicking on at about 22psi instead of 28psi, the off is still 50psi. Emptied the tank ...
1
vote
2answers
60 views
Can two light sources be on a dimmer within the same 3-panel switch?
Our GC's electrician recently installed a new 3-panel switch in our California bathroom to control two light sources and a dehumidifier/fan. I had wanted both light sources to be on the dimmer, but ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
Wiring an outlet off a switch?
I'm trying to wire an outlet off a switch. I want it to stay constant power. How do I do that? I've tried every which way I can think of! Any way I wire it I have low power going to the outlet, the ...
2
votes
1answer
129 views
Where can I find a triple three-way switch for a single-gang box?
I recently bought a house built in the 60s and am updating all the switches to be uniform and rocker type. I have a single gang box with a triple switch where all are 3 way. Does this even exist ...
1
vote
0answers
35 views
Wiring 3 way switch (es) in a box
I have some lights that are not turning on and I'm assuming it's controlled by the box that I'm looking in.
In the box there is 4 cables coming in. I took all the wires out, other than neutrals(white) ...
0
votes
3answers
31 views
Why do my bath fan's heat and light not work even after replacing the unit and the switch?
The heat and light in our older Nutone Heat/light/vent suddenly stopped working (vent still works).
We replaced it with the identical model, but the heat and light still didn't work.
So we replaced ...
0
votes
2answers
45 views
why does my motion detector turns on during startup
i am trying to use a motion detector to turn on a light and small alarm using a smart switch to power it so i can program and use phone to operate problem is when it switches on at night it starts by ...
1
vote
1answer
64 views
Why does an remote indoor switch control a outdoor power outlet
I moved in a house and found it very odd that an outdoor outlet is controlled by an indoor switch that is quite far from it. There are two switches in the picture, one controls lights on the deck, the ...
0
votes
1answer
61 views
Identifying Open Neutral on Switched Outlet
I put up some Christmas lights outside a few days ago and everything seemed to work fine for the first 2 nights. On the 3rd day, the lights came on for a bit, then went out and I couldn't get them ...
1
vote
3answers
62 views
Convert outdoor spotlight from switch control to constant power?
I currently have a motion sensor floodlight in the backyard but it only gets power when I flip the switch which is indoor. I am swapping out the floodlight for a camera + floodlight combo and I don't ...
0
votes
0answers
25 views
TH232 thermostat appears to reset every time I press any button
I have my underfloor heating set on a program timer, but wanted to change this for the winter. However, any time I press ANY button, the screen lights up as it should, but then goes blank and resets, ...
0
votes
2answers
74 views
Ground Wires Not Connected to Anything in Light Switch Box
I'm trying to install a dimmer in place of a light switch in our bathroom. In opening the 3-gang light box, I see that none of the switches has a ground attached to it. The light box is plastic and ...
0
votes
2answers
139 views
Turning on light no matter which switch is on
I have 3 lights in my house which are controlled by 3 individual or single pole switches. Now I want to add another 4th light which should be controlled by these 3 switches meaning if at least one out ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
How do I connect a bathroom fan to existing switches?
I have 6 wires. One white one black and one ground from each bundle of 3. I need to power a vent fan that requires 1 ground 1 white and 1 black. The grounds are easy as they get pigtailed together. My ...
0
votes
2answers
51 views
Need help understanding which occupancy switches can supply an outlet powering equipment that draws 15 amps
So, I rent an apartment and I am allowed to use the basement for woodworking. Problem is, the outlet that I use to power my tools (table saw and planar) is supplied by an occupancy sensor switch that ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Outlet drop from 3 way Switch that doesn't have incoming power
I have a light in my kitchen with three-way switches. Power comes into the first switch and leaves with a red traveler wire. Black white and red wires come into the second three-way switch. I want to ...
