These are ground wires.Īll three wires will connect in a single wire nut, and the shortest one will connect to a green screw on the light switch.ġ. You should also see three green or bare copper wires.The connection should be covered with a wire nut. You will also see two white (neutral) wires that connect to one another in the box.You should see two black wires, each connecting to a different screw on the side of the switch.RELATED: Solved! How High to Install a Light Switch STEP 3: Identify the terminal and ground wires. Carefully pull out the old switch but leave the wires connected for now. Once you are positive that power has been cut to this particular switch, unscrew the switch plate (most are secured with two small flathead screws), then unscrew the old switch from the wall (here, flat-head and Phillips-head screws are equally common). Sometimes breakers are mislabeled, so double-check before moving on to the next step. To be on the safe side, test the switch to make sure it no longer turns the light on. That means going to the breaker box and switching off the breaker that controls the switch you intend to replace. Skipping this part or doing it incorrectly could be fatal.īefore you do anything else, ensure that no power is running along the circuit that you’ll be working on. It is vital to complete this first step correctly. Tired of your almond-colored toggle light switches, and want to update them with more modern screwless wall plates and rocker switches? This is a simple job for a DIYer, given that you work carefully and follow basic safety protocols. The following basic light switch wiring how-to outlines the steps to wiring a light switch, both for single-pole switches and 3-way switches. You just have to disconnect the wires from the existing switch and connect them-in the same manner-to the new switch. The good news is that you don’t need to know advanced circuitry in order to replace a light switch. Still others act as safety mechanisms to reduce the risk of electrical shock. Within the cables are wires designated to do different jobs: Some supply electricity to the switches while others carry the electricity back to the service panel.
All circuits start at the service panel and carry electricity through cables to switches and outlets and then back to the service panel. This panel is comprised of individual breakers that divert electricity to various circuits. In a residential setting, electrical power comes into the home and is distributed via a service panel. No specialized tools are required, and the steps are the same whether you are replacing a damaged switch or upgrading to a dimmer. Once you’ve learned how, it may take no more than 10 minutes to wire a light switch. If you’ve never before worked with wiring, consider hiring an electrician and asking her if you can watch her work so you can learn how to hook up a light switch the correct way. Although it’s easy to wire a light switch, you need a basic understanding of how electricity works in the home in order to do the job safely.
0 kommentar(er)
