Replacing a light switch
I am trying to replace a light switch and have removed the old switch
and am having troubles deciding where the 4 wires go on the back of the new switch.I have 2 red & 2 black The back of the switch has 4 holes. One at the top has a plastic cross over it & I suppose that means I don't use it To the right it says common to the left it says loop & the last on on the bottom in the middle is unmarked. The existing wires seem to want to go as follows; 2 black are together & want to be on the left (loop) I think. I guess the 2 reds are the switch wires.Am I correct in thinking 1 goes to common & the other to the unmarked bottom Thanks Brian |
Replacing a light switch
Brian wrote:
I am trying to replace a light switch and have removed the old switch and am having troubles deciding where the 4 wires go on the back of the new switch.I have 2 red & 2 black The back of the switch has 4 holes. One at the top has a plastic cross over it & I suppose that means I don't use it To the right it says common to the left it says loop & the last on on the bottom in the middle is unmarked. The existing wires seem to want to go as follows; 2 black are together & want to be on the left (loop) I think. I guess the 2 reds are the switch wires.Am I correct in thinking 1 goes to common & the other to the unmarked bottom Thanks Brian Is this a 4-way light switch? (that is, is it one of more than two switches that control the same light?) I'm guessing yes, from your description. It also sounds like you've purchased a 3-way as a replacement; that won't work. nate -- replace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel |
Replacing a light switch
Nate Nagel wrote: Brian wrote: I am trying to replace a light switch and have removed the old switch and am having troubles deciding where the 4 wires go on the back of the new switch.I have 2 red & 2 black The back of the switch has 4 holes. One at the top has a plastic cross over it & I suppose that means I don't use it To the right it says common to the left it says loop & the last on on the bottom in the middle is unmarked. The existing wires seem to want to go as follows; 2 black are together & want to be on the left (loop) I think. I guess the 2 reds are the switch wires.Am I correct in thinking 1 goes to common & the other to the unmarked bottom Thanks Brian Is this a 4-way light switch? (that is, is it one of more than two switches that control the same light?) I'm guessing yes, from your description. It also sounds like you've purchased a 3-way as a replacement; that won't work. nate -- replace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel Thanks for the responses to my query. It is only a single switch (only runs 1 light. The switch I purchased is a common architrave type switch by Clipsal |
Replacing a light switch
Brian wrote: Nate Nagel wrote: Brian wrote: I am trying to replace a light switch and have removed the old switch and am having troubles deciding where the 4 wires go on the back of the new switch.I have 2 red & 2 black The back of the switch has 4 holes. One at the top has a plastic cross over it & I suppose that means I don't use it To the right it says common to the left it says loop & the last on on the bottom in the middle is unmarked. The existing wires seem to want to go as follows; 2 black are together & want to be on the left (loop) I think. I guess the 2 reds are the switch wires.Am I correct in thinking 1 goes to common & the other to the unmarked bottom Thanks Brian Is this a 4-way light switch? (that is, is it one of more than two switches that control the same light?) I'm guessing yes, from your description. It also sounds like you've purchased a 3-way as a replacement; that won't work. nate -- replace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel Thanks for the responses to my query. It is only a single switch (only runs 1 light. The switch I purchased is a common architrave type switch by Clipsal You have too many wires for a normal single light switch and the wire colors are odd. Note: this is in Australia .... |
Replacing a light switch
Brian wrote:
I am trying to replace a light switch and have removed the old switch and am having troubles deciding where the 4 wires go on the back of the new switch.I have 2 red & 2 black The back of the switch has 4 holes. One at the top has a plastic cross over it & I suppose that means I don't use it To the right it says common to the left it says loop & the last on on the bottom in the middle is unmarked. The existing wires seem to want to go as follows; 2 black are together & want to be on the left (loop) I think. I guess the 2 reds are the switch wires.Am I correct in thinking 1 goes to common & the other to the unmarked bottom Thanks Brian Put them back the way they were on the original switch. If you didn't keep notes, you are unqualified to do the work and should hire an electrician. And no, that's not harsh. -- The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to minimize spam. Our true address is of the form . |
Replacing a light switch
CJT wrote: Brian wrote: I am trying to replace a light switch and have removed the old switch and am having troubles deciding where the 4 wires go on the back of the new switch.I have 2 red & 2 black The back of the switch has 4 holes. One at the top has a plastic cross over it & I suppose that means I don't use it To the right it says common to the left it says loop & the last on on the bottom in the middle is unmarked. The existing wires seem to want to go as follows; 2 black are together & want to be on the left (loop) I think. I guess the 2 reds are the switch wires.Am I correct in thinking 1 goes to common & the other to the unmarked bottom Thanks Brian Put them back the way they were on the original switch. If you didn't keep notes, you are unqualified to do the work and should hire an electrician. And no, that's not harsh. -- The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to minimize spam. Our true address is of the form . Thanks I did actually note their original location but they came apart in the transfer. It can't be that complicated active & neutral in active & neutral out through a switch keep the 2 neutral together & the 2 reds thru the switch to break the circuit.I'll go with that. It was only the back of the new switch that stumped me.I'll work it out .. I just went & bought another archetrave switch to check to poles on the back & yes they have 4 places for the wires |
Replacing a light switch
On 14 Jan 2007 17:33:48 -0800, "Brian"
wrote: I am trying to replace a light switch and have removed the old switch and am having troubles deciding where the 4 wires go on the back of the new switch.I have 2 red & 2 black The back of the switch has 4 holes. One at the top has a plastic cross over it & I suppose that means I don't use it To the right it says common to the left it says loop & the last on on the bottom in the middle is unmarked. The existing wires seem to want to go as follows; 2 black are together & want to be on the left (loop) I think. I guess the 2 reds are the switch wires.Am I correct in thinking 1 goes to common & the other to the unmarked bottom Were the 2 reds or maybe the 2 blacks connected to the same screw when before you took out the old switch? Make a sketch of the old switch wiring right now, when you still might remember what it looked like. Ignore my first question and make the sketch like you remember it. Thanks Brian |
Replacing a light switch
mm wrote: On 14 Jan 2007 17:33:48 -0800, "Brian" wrote: I am trying to replace a light switch and have removed the old switch and am having troubles deciding where the 4 wires go on the back of the new switch.I have 2 red & 2 black The back of the switch has 4 holes. One at the top has a plastic cross over it & I suppose that means I don't use it To the right it says common to the left it says loop & the last on on the bottom in the middle is unmarked. The existing wires seem to want to go as follows; 2 black are together & want to be on the left (loop) I think. I guess the 2 reds are the switch wires.Am I correct in thinking 1 goes to common & the other to the unmarked bottom Were the 2 reds or maybe the 2 blacks connected to the same screw when before you took out the old switch? Make a sketch of the old switch wiring right now, when you still might remember what it looked like. Ignore my first question and make the sketch like you remember it. Thanks Brian Thanks for your help I have fixed it myself 2 blacks to loop 1 red to common 1 red to other on bottom & surprise surprise it works.I just got a bit scared & confused when they came apart.It was only a matter of working my way thru it .the extra hole confused the issue. Thanks for your time. Alls well that ends well |
Replacing a light switch
|
Replacing a light switch
On 14 Jan 2007 18:37:43 -0800, "Brian"
wrote: CJT wrote: Brian wrote: I am trying to replace a light switch and have removed the old switch and am having troubles deciding where the 4 wires go on the back of the new switch.I have 2 red & 2 black The back of the switch has 4 holes. One at the top has a plastic cross over it & I suppose that means I don't use it To the right it says common to the left it says loop & the last on on the bottom in the middle is unmarked. The existing wires seem to want to go as follows; 2 black are together & want to be on the left (loop) I think. I guess the 2 reds are the switch wires.Am I correct in thinking 1 goes to common & the other to the unmarked bottom Thanks Brian Put them back the way they were on the original switch. If you didn't keep notes, you are unqualified to do the work and should hire an electrician. And no, that's not harsh. -- The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to minimize spam. Our true address is of the form . Thanks I did actually note their original location but they came apart in the transfer. Then your notes were inadequate. They should have included the individual wires and which were together. But since you've thanked every one youre problably not reading anymore. It can't be that complicated active & neutral in active & neutral out through a switch keep the 2 neutral together & the 2 reds thru the switch to break the circuit.I'll go with that. It was only the back of the new switch that stumped me.I'll work it out . I just went & bought another archetrave switch to check to poles on the back & yes they have 4 places for the wires |
Replacing a light switch
Brian wrote:
CJT wrote: Brian wrote: I am trying to replace a light switch and have removed the old switch and am having troubles deciding where the 4 wires go on the back of the new switch.I have 2 red & 2 black The back of the switch has 4 holes. One at the top has a plastic cross over it & I suppose that means I don't use it To the right it says common to the left it says loop & the last on on the bottom in the middle is unmarked. The existing wires seem to want to go as follows; 2 black are together & want to be on the left (loop) I think. I guess the 2 reds are the switch wires.Am I correct in thinking 1 goes to common & the other to the unmarked bottom Thanks Brian Put them back the way they were on the original switch. If you didn't keep notes, you are unqualified to do the work and should hire an electrician. And no, that's not harsh. -- The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to minimize spam. Our true address is of the form . Thanks I did actually note their original location but they came apart in the transfer. It can't be that complicated active & neutral in active & neutral out through a switch keep the 2 neutral together & the 2 reds thru the switch to break the circuit.I'll go with that. It was only the back of the new switch that stumped me.I'll work it out . I just went & bought another archetrave switch to check to poles on the back & yes they have 4 places for the wires Where do you live and is this a 240V system? nate (just got a thought...) -- replace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel |
Replacing a light switch
In article , mm wrote:
On 14 Jan 2007 18:20:49 -0800, wrote: Note: this is in Australia .... Now I get it. It would have helped to have known that! I don't normally display headers in usenet. You didn't need to -- his email address is @yahoo.com.au -- Regards, Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com) It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again. |
Replacing a light switch
http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/homew...ures/index.htm
Brian wrote: I am trying to replace a light switch and have removed the old switch and am having troubles deciding where the 4 wires go on the back of the new switch.I have 2 red & 2 black The back of the switch has 4 holes. One at the top has a plastic cross over it & I suppose that means I don't use it To the right it says common to the left it says loop & the last on on the bottom in the middle is unmarked. The existing wires seem to want to go as follows; 2 black are together & want to be on the left (loop) I think. I guess the 2 reds are the switch wires.Am I correct in thinking 1 goes to common & the other to the unmarked bottom Thanks Brian |
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 06:53 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004 - 2014 DIYbanter