Electrical switch wiring issue. How do I wire this?
Question:I'm replacing a working switch for an above-sink light with a switch that lights up (so you can find it easier in the dark). When I took off the original switch I found three black wires and one ground wire. I failed to note where they came from.
The switch only controls one light, but apparently the power for another set of lights (with another switch that has no control over the above-sink light) comes through this outlet.
The way I wired it before seemed to work at first. The new switch lit up, and turned on the above-sink light. However, without the new switch on, the switch for the other lights didn't function.
It's just a standard switch, two screw connectors on one side and grounded screw on the other. On/Off, nothing funky.
Where/how to I ensure that the other switch works independent of the new switch?
Answers:
You have one black wire on the wrong side of the switch.
Simple solution but, damn near impossible to explain without pictures.
you will need a voltage tester
you stated 3 black wires in switch box you will have to id each one
1 hot (incomeing)
2 load out to other ??
3 switch leg to light fixture
the hot and the load out should connect under one wire nut than the remaing black wire is the switch leg hope that helps
Find the hot wire. attach hot and 1 black wire to top post. attach 2nd wire to bottom post.
Identify which black wire goes to the fixture the switch is to operate. Splice a 6" pigtail into the remaining two black wires. Put the switchleg and the pigtail on the switch. Ground the switch.
You have 3 black and a neutral (White). Get an electrical tester and touch the switch box with one lead and check each black wire. Only one black wire will register as hot. 3 hot lines are working off the switch with the same neurtral. Put all three black wires on the bronze screw on your new switch and put the white wire on the silver screw on the switch. If you have trouble email me gooch8@juno.com.
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