How to Wire a Light Switch
- Safety First. Always turn the power off at the breaker before starting any electrical project. ...
- Remove the Old Switch. Your switch is attached to the electrical box using two screws. Loosen the screws and pull the switch away from the wall.
- Detach the Wires. Three wires will be attached to your switch: a hot (black) wire, a neutral (white) wire and a ground (copper) wire.
- Wire the New Switch. Each wire should have a half inch of wire exposed and bent into a U shape that will fit snugly around the screws on the switch.
- Attach and Cover. Use the two screws provided on your new switch to attach it to the electrical box (Image 1). Make sure your switch is installed relatively level.
- Test Your New Switch. Turn your power back on at the breaker and marvel at your electrical expertise. ...
What are the basics of electrical wiring?
It boils down to three basic components:
- Service Entry. This refers to the point in your home where your electrical service goes from the main grid into your home. ...
- Panel Board. Your panel board is your control center when it comes to electrical wiring. ...
- Branch Circuits. This refers to the isolated areas of areas of your home where your panel board directs electrical currents. ...
How you would wire an electrical circuit?
Understanding the Wires
- Install an electrical box The location of the electrical box depends on local regulations but it is generally located 44” above the floor in line with ‘Americans with ...
- Make Screw Terminal Connections Use screw terminals to connect circuit wires to a receptacle or switch. ...
- Wiring “Middle-of-the-Run” Outlet Receptacles
How do you wire an outlet and a switch?
Switch-Controlled Outlet Power Leg at Switch Box
- Mount a single gang receptacle box and a single gang switch box at the desired locations. ...
- Pull a 12/3 or 14/3 cable with ground from the switch-controlled receptacle box to the switch box. Route the wire through one of the entry holes.
- Strip all the outer sheaths at each box with the sheath stripper. ...
How do you hook up a 3 way switch?
How to Wire a 3 Way Switch
- Black - This is a HOT wire, meaning that power is running through this wire. ...
- White - This is a neutral wire paired with the black. ...
- Red - This is a switch wire or traveller wire, used to carry current inside the switch.
- Green or Bare - This is a ground wire that grounds the entire current.
What wires are used to connect a switch?
Three wires will be attached to your switch: a hot (black) wire, a neutral (white) wire and a ground (copper) wire. The black and white wires are attached using brass screws (Image 1); when the power is on, these will both be “hot.”. The copper wire is attached using a green screw; if you have an older home, you may not have a copper wire.
How many wires are in a switch?
Three wires will be attached to your switch: a hot (black) wire, a neutral (white) wire and a ground (copper) wire. The black and white wires are attached using brass screws. Detach the three wires using a screwdriver and discard your old switch.
How to make a U shape on a switch?
Each wire should have a half inch of wire exposed and bent into a U shape that will fit snugly around the screws on the switch. Your electrician’s pliers have a nifty feature made specifically for this purpose. On the edge of the pliers, you’ll find a small hole. Insert the wire into the hole and bend it around the lip of the pliers (Image 1). This should create the perfect U shape (Image 2).
How to make sure no power goes to wires?
Always turn the power off at the breaker before starting any electrical project. Once you’ve turned your power off, remove the switch cover and use a current detector to make sure there’s no power going to any of the wires in the electrical box.
When will the white light switch be installed?
December 31, 2019. Newly Installed White Light Switch. Electricity is a mystery to many people, but some electrical projects — like wiring a switch — are so simple that anyone can do them. With a few simple steps and the right knowledge, there’s no need to hire an electrician. Photo by: Jalynn Baker.
Do you need an electrician to wire a light switch?
With a few easy steps and the right knowledge, there’s no need to hire an electrician.
What tools do you need to wire a switch?
Here are four must-have tools if you plan to wire many switches and outlets: Voltage tester. You can pick one up for a few bucks and use it to test for hot wires or to find a neutral. Just touch the probes between a hot and a neutral, or between two hot wires. The tester will light up if the wires are “hot.”.
How to fix short wires?
If you run into short wires, there’s an easy fix. Simply add 6-in. extensions onto the existing wires. The photo shows a type of wire connector that’s easier to install in tight spots. You’ll find these in hardware stores and home centers.
How long should wires be cut?
Wires that are cut too short make wire connections difficult and—since you’re more likely to make poor connections—dangerous. Leave the wires long enough to protrude at least 3 in. from the box.
Why are there two pairs of screws on each side of an outlet?
There are two reasons for this. First, connecting the wires leading to downstream outlets with wire connectors creates a more secure connection.
Why is it dangerous to connect a black wire to a neutral?
Connecting the black hot wire to the neutral terminal of an outlet creates the potential for a lethal shock. The trouble is that you may not realize the mistake until someone gets shocked, because lights and most other plug-in devices will still work; they just won’t work safely.
What is a single pole switch?
Single-pole or three-way. Buy a 'single-pole' switch if one switch controls the lights or a 'three-way' if you have two switches controlling the same lights.
Why are electrical boxes flush to the wall?
Electrical boxes must be flush to the wall surface if the wall surface is a combustible material. Boxes recessed behind combustible materials like wood present a fire hazard because the wood is left exposed to potential heat and sparks.
How many wires are needed to wire a switch?
The black wire is going to be connected to the black screw on the switch. The main wire that will go from one switch to the other should have 4 wires total (black, white, ground and red). Review the diagram below for basic three-way wiring instructions.
What is the red wire on a light switch?
Red Wire – This wire is used for 3 or 4 way switches and will connect the switches together so they can each control your lights.
What is a three way switch?
Three-way switches will have traveler screws or connection points. These will be wired from one switch to the other so that the lights will turn on or off regardless as to which switch you use. The white wires in this situation are just connected together and never touch the switches.
What wire goes straight to the light?
The white or neutral wire bypasses the switch and goes straight to your lights. This wire is needed to complete the circuit. The ground wire (sometimes in a green jacket) should be connected to your switch and to your lights. When you are finished, it is a good idea to wrap the switch with electrical tape to cover the connections.
How to strip insulation from wire?
It will either be 12 or 14 gauge wire. Then, use your wire strippers and strip away about 5/8 of an inch of the insulation from the wire. The wire strippers should have a spot marked for each gauge wire. Next, bend the wire into a pig tail loop so that you can easily attach ...
Why wrap a switch with electrical tape?
When you are finished, it is a good idea to wrap the switch with electrical tape to cover the connections. This prevents the chances of an arc in the event that something comes loose in the electrical box.
Why is it important to read the directions on a light switch?
It is important to also read the directions that come with your particular light switch because there may be something different about the one you purchased or a change in technology that would require a different light switch installation. Before you do anything, you will need to cut the power to the light switch.
How to keep wires separate on a switch?
Keep the wires separate; the wire from the top terminal should be positioned differently from the wire from the bottom terminal. Strip insulation away on each wire to expose 3/8 inch (0.9525 cm) of wire. Attach the wires in the box to the appropriate terminal, top or bottom, on the new switch.
How to remove a switch from a box?
Unscrew the top and bottom of the switch in place, and remove it gently from the box.
What to do if voltage detector does not light?
If the voltage detector does not light, the electricity is off, and you can proceed. Unscrew the top and bottom of the switch in place, and remove it gently from the box. Measure the height, width, and depth of the electrical box in place to determine if your new light switch will fit.
What to do if your wires are silvery gray?
Call an electrician to do the work if the wires are aluminum, silvery gray instead of shiny copper. Aluminum wiring requires trained professional handling.
What to do when you turn off a circuit breaker?
Once you turn off circuit breaker, place a piece of electrical tape across the circuit breaker switch as a warning to others in the household who might turn on the switch.
How to check if a circuit breaker is off?
Touch a non-contact voltage detector near each of the 2 screw terminals. If the voltage detector lights, electricity is still on, and you are at risk, so return to the circuit breaker to determine if it is off and/or if it is the correct circuit breaker.
What is a single pole light switch?
Common applications include ceiling or hallway light switches, a cellar or attic light, a ceiling fan or chandelier, or an outdoor patio light. A single-pole wall switch usually has a lever or toggle that completes the circuit when it is flipped up to turn a light, device, or appliance on.
What is the red wire on a two way switch?
Attach the ground wire to the metal box. The two-way switch either has the same wires except for one exception: red. This red wire is the second switch which is also negative polarity; the same as the black wire in the box.
What color wires are in a metal box?
The wires you will find inside the box are black (positive), white (negative), and either a bare copper, green, yellow, or green with yellow stripe (ground). Attach the ground wire to the metal box.
Why use a grounding strap?
Also remember to use the grounding strap to further protect yourself. The grounding strap, as well as the grounding wire, allows a current to travel to another direction which will short out the electrical system, causing the power to stop. This can save your life.
Can you use a two way switch?
Wire caps. A two-way electrical switch can have multiple uses in a home environment. For example, you can use this device to install a dimmer slider that operates not just the light, but also a ceiling fan. Installing a two-way electrical switch is not a difficult job to do yourself.
Where do you need two black wires to go from a switch to a black wire?
When wiring switches, this type of cable may be used as a switch leg—where you need two black wires to go from the switch to black wires located at the light or at an intermediate electrical box.
What is the easiest switch to wire?
Easiest to wire is a single light that occurs at the end of a circuit. When an un-switched circuit continues from a switched light, this is how to wire it. A dimmer switch is wired the same way as a single-pole switch.
What wires bypass a switch?
Again…the circuit’s white wires bypass the switch UNLESS…a white wire has been converted to do the job of a black wire. Many homes are wired with 3-wire non-metallic cable (such as the brand Romex®) that consists of one black wire, one white wire, and one bare or green grounding wire.
What is a dimmer switch?
Dimmer switch interrupts the black wire that goes to the light fixture. The type of switch that will operate hallway lights from either end of the hallway is called a three-way switch; it has an extra terminal.
What is a single pole light switch?
The simplest and most common light switch is actually referred to by hardware dealers and electricians as a “single-pole light switch.” With a single-pole light switch, flipping the toggle or paddle up completes the circuit, turning lights or appliances on, and flipping it down breaks the circuit, turning lights or receptacles off.
What happens when you turn off a switch?
When you turn the switch off, it interrupts the electricity that flows through the black wire from the power source to the fixture. For this reason, the two main terminals are connected to black wires.
Introduction
Use
- The standard best practice for connecting circuit wires to a switch or receptacle is to use the screw terminals, which are typically located on the sides of the device body. To make a safe, secure connection using screw terminals: Most electricians will use this second configuration where the box has ample room to fit the wire connectors.
Construction
- When an outlet receptacle is located in the middle of a circuit runwith other receptacles \"upstream\" and additional receptacles \"downstream\"there are two ways to wire the receptacle.
Functions
- To maintain proper polarity when wiring a receptacle, connect the black hot wire to one of the hot bronze-colored terminals. Connect the white neutral wire to one of the neutral silver-colored terminals.
Security
- High-quality devices have screws that can be tightened down after inserting the wire for a stab-in connection. These devices provide a secure connection and are acceptable to use. Cheap devices often don't have these screws, and the connection relies entirely on the spring tension inside the hole. For this reason, this type of connection is not recommended.
Variations
- If a device has no screws for clamping the stab-in connections, use the standard side screw terminals instead of the stab-in connections.
Components
- GFCI (ground-fault circuit-interrupter) receptacles have two sets of terminals: one is marked LINE, and one is marked LOAD: