I am trying to replace my light switch. It had an older switch and had
three screws on it. On these it had black, red, and white attached.
My new one had three screws, but one of the screws was for ground. I
didn't have any place to put the white wire.

On the top screw I put red and white and on the bottom screw I put
black.

It works, but is this correct?

Thank you.

On 13 Jan 2007 20:41:25 -0800, "jmDesktop"
wrote:

I am trying to replace my light switch. It had an older switch and had
three screws on it. On these it had black, red, and white attached.
My new one had three screws, but one of the screws was for ground. I
didn't have any place to put the white wire.

On the top screw I put red and white and on the bottom screw I put
black.

It works, but is this correct?

Thank you.


It should work just fine until you find the other mate to that switch.
I think you will find that the other switch now does nothing.

3 way switches are to control lights from 2 spots. You now have a
single pole switch. If you are ok with just using that switch then it
is fine.

"jmDesktop" wrote in message
ups.com...
I am trying to replace my light switch. It had an older switch and had
three screws on it. On these it had black, red, and white attached.
My new one had three screws, but one of the screws was for ground. I
didn't have any place to put the white wire.

On the top screw I put red and white and on the bottom screw I put
black.

It works, but is this correct?

In case this isn't a troll-

If it works, and hasn't started a fire, I bet the switch at the other end of
the hall or wherever doesn't work anymore. Depending on how it was wired,
flipping that switch will either do nothing, or pop the breaker, if you are
lucky. A three-screw switch (not counting the green ground screw, not found
on older switches), is a 3-way switch. Go back to the home center, and look
in the bin next to the one where you found this one. Buy that, and wire it
just like the old one was. While there, buy yourself one of the DIY books on
home electrical wiring, and look for the chapter on '3 way switch circuits'.
In the meantime, don't use the light, and leave that breaker switched off.

aem sends...

Yeah, until someone throws that other switch. Then he'll be wondering why
the light quit. Why not just use the proper switch?

--
Steve Barker



"Terry" wrote in message
...
On 13 Jan 2007 20:41:25 -0800, "jmDesktop"
wrote:

I am trying to replace my light switch. It had an older switch and had
three screws on it. On these it had black, red, and white attached.
My new one had three screws, but one of the screws was for ground. I
didn't have any place to put the white wire.

On the top screw I put red and white and on the bottom screw I put
black.

It works, but is this correct?

Thank you.


It should work just fine until you find the other mate to that switch.
I think you will find that the other switch now does nothing.

3 way switches are to control lights from 2 spots. You now have a
single pole switch. If you are ok with just using that switch then it
is fine.

Thanks everyone.

If I knew it was not the proper switch I would not have used it. It's
wired up and working at the moment with no fire, but now I am paranoid.


Steve Barker wrote:
Yeah, until someone throws that other switch. Then he'll be wondering why
the light quit. Why not just use the proper switch?

--
Steve Barker



"Terry" wrote in message
...
On 13 Jan 2007 20:41:25 -0800, "jmDesktop"
wrote:

I am trying to replace my light switch. It had an older switch and had
three screws on it. On these it had black, red, and white attached.
My new one had three screws, but one of the screws was for ground. I
didn't have any place to put the white wire.

On the top screw I put red and white and on the bottom screw I put
black.

It works, but is this correct?

Thank you.


It should work just fine until you find the other mate to that switch.
I think you will find that the other switch now does nothing.

3 way switches are to control lights from 2 spots. You now have a
single pole switch. If you are ok with just using that switch then it
is fine.

wrote:
"jmDesktop" wrote in message
ups.com...
I am trying to replace my light switch. It had an older switch and had
three screws on it. On these it had black, red, and white attached.
My new one had three screws, but one of the screws was for ground. I
didn't have any place to put the white wire.

On the top screw I put red and white and on the bottom screw I put
black.

It works, but is this correct?

In case this isn't a troll-

If it works, and hasn't started a fire, I bet the switch at the other end of
the hall or wherever doesn't work anymore. Depending on how it was wired,
flipping that switch will either do nothing, or pop the breaker, if you are
lucky. A three-screw switch (not counting the green ground screw, not found
on older switches), is a 3-way switch. Go back to the home center, and look
in the bin next to the one where you found this one. Buy that, and wire it
just like the old one was. While there, buy yourself one of the DIY books on
home electrical wiring, and look for the chapter on '3 way switch circuits'.
In the meantime, don't use the light, and leave that breaker switched off.

aem sends...

Thanks. It's working, but at least now I know why it didn't work right
when the other switch was flipped. I'll have to go back to HD and get
a three way switch. Why would I turn off the breaker though (seems to
conflict with the first response is why I ask)?

jmDesktop wrote:
wrote:
"jmDesktop" wrote in message
ups.com...
I am trying to replace my light switch. It had an older switch and had
three screws on it. On these it had black, red, and white attached.
My new one had three screws, but one of the screws was for ground. I
didn't have any place to put the white wire.

On the top screw I put red and white and on the bottom screw I put
black.

It works, but is this correct?

In case this isn't a troll-

If it works, and hasn't started a fire, I bet the switch at the other end of
the hall or wherever doesn't work anymore. Depending on how it was wired,
flipping that switch will either do nothing, or pop the breaker, if you are
lucky. A three-screw switch (not counting the green ground screw, not found
on older switches), is a 3-way switch. Go back to the home center, and look
in the bin next to the one where you found this one. Buy that, and wire it
just like the old one was. While there, buy yourself one of the DIY books on
home electrical wiring, and look for the chapter on '3 way switch circuits'.
In the meantime, don't use the light, and leave that breaker switched off.

aem sends...

Thanks. It's working, but at least now I know why it didn't work right
when the other switch was flipped. I'll have to go back to HD and get
a three way switch. Why would I turn off the breaker though (seems to
conflict with the first response is why I ask)?


If you were working on the light itself , and could ensure that all
switches are OFF it is safe to work because there is no current at the
work location.

On a switch one wire is always live regardless of the switch. So
touching the live wire can spoil your day.

In general , when working on any electric switch or outlet , turn OFF
the breaker and check that there is no live wire present before
touching any wires. (I prefer before removing the cover plate)

If in doubt turn off the main breaker which removes all power from the
house.

when the switch is replaced , turn the breaker ON.

Terry wrote:
On 13 Jan 2007 20:41:25 -0800, "jmDesktop"
wrote:


I am trying to replace my light switch. It had an older switch and had
three screws on it. On these it had black, red, and white attached.
My new one had three screws, but one of the screws was for ground. I
didn't have any place to put the white wire.

On the top screw I put red and white and on the bottom screw I put
black.

It works, but is this correct?

Thank you.



It should work just fine until you find the other mate to that switch.
I think you will find that the other switch now does nothing.

If by "do nothing" you mean "trip the breaker" than yes.


3 way switches are to control lights from 2 spots. You now have a
single pole switch. If you are ok with just using that switch then it
is fine.


No, it's not - when the other switch is flipped the hot will be directly
connected to neutral... see recent thread about deliberately shorting
circuits to find the controlling breaker to see why this may be a bad
idea. I'd replace the switch with a proper 3-way ASAP also find the
mate to that switch and verify proper operation.

nate
--
replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

On 13 Jan 2007 21:38:35 -0800, "jmDesktop"
wrote:


wrote:
"jmDesktop" wrote in message
ups.com...
I am trying to replace my light switch. It had an older switch and had
three screws on it. On these it had black, red, and white attached.
My new one had three screws, but one of the screws was for ground. I
didn't have any place to put the white wire.

On the top screw I put red and white and on the bottom screw I put
black.

It works, but is this correct?

In case this isn't a troll-

If it works, and hasn't started a fire, I bet the switch at the other end of
the hall or wherever doesn't work anymore. Depending on how it was wired,
flipping that switch will either do nothing, or pop the breaker, if you are
lucky. A three-screw switch (not counting the green ground screw, not found
on older switches), is a 3-way switch. Go back to the home center, and look
in the bin next to the one where you found this one. Buy that, and wire it
just like the old one was. While there, buy yourself one of the DIY books on
home electrical wiring, and look for the chapter on '3 way switch circuits'.
In the meantime, don't use the light, and leave that breaker switched off.

aem sends...

Thanks. It's working, but at least now I know why it didn't work right
when the other switch was flipped. I'll have to go back to HD and get
a three way switch. Why would I turn off the breaker though (seems to
conflict with the first response is why I ask)?

If you capped the unused wire you have no reason to fear a fire or a
shock. You just replaced a 3 way switch with a standard one. No big
deal except the other switch will not work. If you did not cap the
unused wire, you could have a short in that box if it touches a metal
box. Either way, spend the $2 for a 3 way switch and do it right.
You may end up trying the wires several different ways on the new
switch till they both work properly. Usually the red wire goes to a
redish colored (or darkened) screw. White and black to the brass
colored ones.

You dont need to turn off the breaker till you do the job. Unless you
are a licensed electrician, never work on electricity when the power
is ON.

In article .com, "jmDesktop" wrote:

If I knew it was not the proper switch I would not have used it. It's
wired up and working at the moment with no fire, but now I am paranoid

All you had to do was *look* at it to tell it's not the proper switch. Now go
take your old switch in to a hardware store and get one *exactly* like it,
then wire that one same as the old one was..

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

In article om, "jmDesktop" wrote:

Thanks. It's working, but at least now I know why it didn't work right
when the other switch was flipped. I'll have to go back to HD and get
a three way switch. Why would I turn off the breaker though (seems to
conflict with the first response is why I ask)?

You turn the breaker off so you don't electrocute yourself, or start a fire,
while you're working on the circuit -- DUH. While you're at HD for the proper
switch, do yourself a favor and pick up a book on basic residential electrical
wiring, too.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

wrote:
jmDesktop wrote:
wrote:
"jmDesktop" wrote in message
ups.com...
I am trying to replace my light switch. It had an older switch and had
three screws on it. On these it had black, red, and white attached.
My new one had three screws, but one of the screws was for ground. I
didn't have any place to put the white wire.

On the top screw I put red and white and on the bottom screw I put
black.

It works, but is this correct?

In case this isn't a troll-

If it works, and hasn't started a fire, I bet the switch at the other end of
the hall or wherever doesn't work anymore. Depending on how it was wired,
flipping that switch will either do nothing, or pop the breaker, if you are
lucky. A three-screw switch (not counting the green ground screw, not found
on older switches), is a 3-way switch. Go back to the home center, and look
in the bin next to the one where you found this one. Buy that, and wire it
just like the old one was. While there, buy yourself one of the DIY books on
home electrical wiring, and look for the chapter on '3 way switch circuits'.
In the meantime, don't use the light, and leave that breaker switched off.

aem sends...

Thanks. It's working, but at least now I know why it didn't work right
when the other switch was flipped. I'll have to go back to HD and get
a three way switch. Why would I turn off the breaker though (seems to
conflict with the first response is why I ask)?


If you were working on the light itself , and could ensure that all
switches are OFF it is safe to work because there is no current at the
work location.

On a switch one wire is always live regardless of the switch. So
touching the live wire can spoil your day.

In general , when working on any electric switch or outlet , turn OFF
the breaker and check that there is no live wire present before
touching any wires. (I prefer before removing the cover plate)

If in doubt turn off the main breaker which removes all power from the
house.

when the switch is replaced , turn the breaker ON.

One wire is always live? Even if the breaker (not main) is off?

In article . com, "jmDesktop" wrote:

On a switch one wire is always live regardless of the switch. So
touching the live wire can spoil your day.

One wire is always live? Even if the breaker (not main) is off?

No -- like he said, one wire is always live regardless of the *switch*.
Turning the breaker off will kill it.

Now go get yourself a book on basic residential electrical wiring, or call an
electrician. Working on electricity when you don't know what you're doing is
dangerous, to yourself and others.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

Doug Miller wrote:
In article om, "jmDesktop" wrote:

Thanks. It's working, but at least now I know why it didn't work right
when the other switch was flipped. I'll have to go back to HD and get
a three way switch. Why would I turn off the breaker though (seems to
conflict with the first response is why I ask)?

You turn the breaker off so you don't electrocute yourself, or start a fire,
while you're working on the circuit -- DUH. While you're at HD for the proper
switch, do yourself a favor and pick up a book on basic residential electrical
wiring, too.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

I am aware that the breaker is turned off to fix electrical switches,
outlet, lights, etc., while working on the circuit. The message in
context, unless I did not understand his response, I thought meant not
to leave the switch in the current state, which was 3 wires (red, w, b)
on a two way switch, with the breaker on. Instead, the breaker should
be turned off until I get a three way switch. This seemed to differ
from the first response I received which said that I could leave the
breaker on; thus, my question.

On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 06:55:42 -0500, Nate Nagel
wrote:

Terry wrote:
On 13 Jan 2007 20:41:25 -0800, "jmDesktop"
wrote:


I am trying to replace my light switch. It had an older switch and had
three screws on it. On these it had black, red, and white attached.
My new one had three screws, but one of the screws was for ground. I
didn't have any place to put the white wire.

On the top screw I put red and white and on the bottom screw I put
black.

It works, but is this correct?

Thank you.



It should work just fine until you find the other mate to that switch.
I think you will find that the other switch now does nothing.

If by "do nothing" you mean "trip the breaker" than yes.


3 way switches are to control lights from 2 spots. You now have a
single pole switch. If you are ok with just using that switch then it
is fine.


No, it's not - when the other switch is flipped the hot will be directly
connected to neutral... see recent thread about deliberately shorting
circuits to find the controlling breaker to see why this may be a bad
idea. I'd replace the switch with a proper 3-way ASAP also find the
mate to that switch and verify proper operation.

nate


It won't trip the breaker. He has both travelers connected to on
pole. The electrically causes one switch to be closed in either
position.
It is a bad way to wire a switch, but not a short circuit hazard.

On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 14:09:55 GMT, (Doug Miller)
wrote:

In article .com, "jmDesktop" wrote:

If I knew it was not the proper switch I would not have used it. It's
wired up and working at the moment with no fire, but now I am paranoid

All you had to do was *look* at it to tell it's not the proper switch. Now go
take your old switch in to a hardware store and get one *exactly* like it,
then wire that one same as the old one was..

By now, the op has probably forgotten how the old one was. Should
have made a sketch.

On 14 Jan 2007 06:14:12 -0800, "jmDesktop"
wrote:



If you were working on the light itself , and could ensure that all
switches are OFF it is safe to work because there is no current at the
work location.

Not even then, because someone might have put the switch in the
neutral wire, not the hot wire. I found a switch like that once.

On a switch one wire is always live regardless of the switch. So
touching the live wire can spoil your day.

In general , when working on any electric switch or outlet , turn OFF
the breaker and check that there is no live wire present before
touching any wires. (I prefer before removing the cover plate)

If in doubt turn off the main breaker which removes all power from the
house.

when the switch is replaced , turn the breaker ON.

One wire is always live? Even if the breaker (not main) is off?

In your previous question you implied no breaker was off: " Why would
I turn off the breaker though (seems to conflict with the first
response is why I ask)?" Why did you ask this if the breaker was off?

BTW, you have to be sure you know which breaker is the one for this
circuit. Some people don't want to assume that you know this. The
chart on the breaker box rarely lists every outlet and light fixture.
So people can't always go by the chart.

I'm curious as to how you check wires for hot without removing the cover
plate.

--
Steve Barker



wrote in message
ups.com...
In general , when working on any electric switch or outlet , turn OFF
the breaker and check that there is no live wire present before
touching any wires. (I prefer before removing the cover plate)

On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 10:03:39 -0500, mm
wrote:

On 14 Jan 2007 06:14:12 -0800, "jmDesktop"
wrote:



If you were working on the light itself , and could ensure that all
switches are OFF it is safe to work because there is no current at the
work location.

Not even then, because someone might have put the switch in the
neutral wire, not the hot wire. I found a switch like that once.

On a switch one wire is always live regardless of the switch. So
touching the live wire can spoil your day.

In general , when working on any electric switch or outlet , turn OFF
the breaker and check that there is no live wire present before
touching any wires. (I prefer before removing the cover plate)

If in doubt turn off the main breaker which removes all power from the
house.

when the switch is replaced , turn the breaker ON.

One wire is always live? Even if the breaker (not main) is off?

In your previous question you implied no breaker was off: " Why would
I turn off the breaker though (seems to conflict with the first
response is why I ask)?" Why did you ask this if the breaker was off?

BTW, you have to be sure you know which breaker is the one for this
circuit. Some people don't want to assume that you know this. The
chart on the breaker box rarely lists every outlet and light fixture.
So people can't always go by the chart.

Most (breaker box charts) I've seen weren't filled in at all, except
maybe for a few dedicated circuits. Some have the inadequate label of
"lights". I try to label mine correctly and completely.
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Properly read, the Bible is the most potent
force for atheism ever conceived." -- Isaac Asimov

In article . com, "jmDesktop" wrote:

Doug Miller wrote:
In article om, "jmDesktop"
wrote:

Thanks. It's working, but at least now I know why it didn't work right
when the other switch was flipped. I'll have to go back to HD and get
a three way switch. Why would I turn off the breaker though (seems to
conflict with the first response is why I ask)?

You turn the breaker off so you don't electrocute yourself, or start a fire,
while you're working on the circuit -- DUH. While you're at HD for the proper
switch, do yourself a favor and pick up a book on basic residential electrical
wiring, too.

I am aware that the breaker is turned off to fix electrical switches,
outlet, lights, etc., while working on the circuit. The message in
context, unless I did not understand his response, I thought meant not
to leave the switch in the current state, which was 3 wires (red, w, b)
on a two way switch, with the breaker on. Instead, the breaker should
be turned off until I get a three way switch.

Yeah, that too, because flipping the *other* three-way switch (which anyone
could do, at any time) will create a dead short because you mis-wired the
first one. Hopefully, the dead short will cause the breaker to trip -- that's
the way they're supposed to work, of course, but not always. It's a
potentially dangerous situation. Leave it off. Get the right switch. And don't
forget that book, either.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

In article , Terry wrote:
It won't trip the breaker. He has both travelers connected to on
pole.

You don't know that, without knowing how the original switch was wired.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

Doug Miller wrote:
In article . com, "jmDesktop" wrote:

On a switch one wire is always live regardless of the switch. So
touching the live wire can spoil your day.

One wire is always live? Even if the breaker (not main) is off?

No -- like he said, one wire is always live regardless of the *switch*.
Turning the breaker off will kill it.

Now go get yourself a book on basic residential electrical wiring, or call an
electrician. Working on electricity when you don't know what you're doing is
dangerous, to yourself and others.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

I got it working, but the wire colors were differently placed than the
book, the white one went to the common and black was one of the
'travellers," red, of course, was the other. I looked at the other
switch and it had two black and one red, so I don't know. It worked
and no fires or deaths yet.

writes:
In general , when working on any electric switch or outlet , turn OFF
the breaker and check that there is no live wire present before
touching any wires. (I prefer before removing the cover plate)

Only wimps worry about live circuits! A little shot of 120V
helps to keep your teeth clean.

jmDesktop wrote:
Doug Miller wrote:

In article . com, "jmDesktop" wrote:


On a switch one wire is always live regardless of the switch. So
touching the live wire can spoil your day.

One wire is always live? Even if the breaker (not main) is off?


No -- like he said, one wire is always live regardless of the *switch*.
Turning the breaker off will kill it.

Now go get yourself a book on basic residential electrical wiring, or call an
electrician. Working on electricity when you don't know what you're doing is
dangerous, to yourself and others.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)


I got it working, but the wire colors were differently placed than the
book, the white one went to the common and black was one of the
'travellers," red, of course, was the other. I looked at the other
switch and it had two black and one red, so I don't know. It worked
and no fires or deaths yet.


That sounds right, each switch should have two black and one red. one
black from the fusebox, one black and one red for the travelers (present
at both switches,) and one black to the light fixture.

nate

--
replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

In article , Nate Nagel wrote:

That sounds right, each switch should have two black and one red. one
black from the fusebox, one black and one red for the travelers (present
at both switches,) and one black to the light fixture.

Try again...

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.