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Tie all the white wires together under a wire nut and push them back in the box. Tie the black incoming power wire and outgoing power wire, if there is one, together under a wire nut with a black wire pigtail. Connect this pigtail to one screw on each light switch. Connect the black wire going up to the lights to the appropriate switch you wish to use to control that light.
To wire two light switches in one box, you will need to first bring power to the box through a cable. Then, connect the black wires from both switches to the hot wire, the white wires together, and the ground wires together. Finally, connect the black wires from the switches to the light fixtures and the white wires to the neutral line. Make sure to follow all safety precautions and turn off power before beginning any electrical work.
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How do you add another porch light to an existing switch?
To add another porch light to an existing switch, you can run a new electrical wire from the existing light fixture to the new porch light location. Connect the new wire to the new light fixture, ensuring all connections are secure and following proper electrical wiring guidelines. Test the new porch light to ensure it operates correctly from the existing switch.
Is there a danger if you mix up ground wire and common wire when wiring a light switch?
Mixing up the ground wire and common wire when wiring a light switch is dangerous. The ground wire provides a path for electrical current to safely flow to the ground if there is a fault, while the common wire carries the current to the light fixture. Reversing these wires can result in electrical shock, short circuits, and potential fire hazards. It is important to always follow wiring instructions carefully to ensure safety.
Why would a light switch have two black wires for power and two whites caped off?
Having two black wires connected to a light switch indicates that it is a switch loop, where one black wire brings power to the switch and the other black wire carries power to the connected light fixture. The two white wires capped off are neutral wires from the power source and the light fixture, which are typically not connected to the switch.
How do you fix a light switch after two live wires touch?
There has to be more to this question for a good answer. For the most part a light switch has two contacts, with a wire at each one. One live wire and another going to the light itself. There is also a neutral wire return (from the light to the electrical panel). There is only one live wire in any electrical circuit. [Please, don't flame me with examples of multiple electrical sources in circuitry. We're talking about home lighting.] If somehow you shorted the live wire from the switch to the electrical box (ground) or to another wire in the box, it was only momentary and you can just proceed with replacing the switch. It's a good idea to turn off the power first.
How do you wire a series of recessed lights to a single switch when the power goes to the lights first?
To wire a series of recessed lights to a single switch when power goes to the lights first, connect the black wire from the power source to the black wire of the first light, then connect a jumper wire from the white wire of the first light to the white wire of the next light, and so on for each additional light in the series. Finally, connect all of the grounds together and connect the switch to the black wire of the first light.
What type of prewire for a ceiling fan light?
The pre wire for a ceiling fan light should be made with a three wire cable. This cable will have a red, black, and white wire as main conductors. This cable will also have a bare ground wire. This wire should be strung between a two gang switch box to the fixture junction box. This pre wire allows the supply to be either fed to the two gang box. From the two gang switch junction box, one side will be used for the light in the fixture and the other side of the switch junction box, itwill be used for the fan portionin the fixture.
How do you add another porch light to an existing switch?
To add another porch light to an existing switch, you can run a new electrical wire from the existing light fixture to the new porch light location. Connect the new wire to the new light fixture, ensuring all connections are secure and following proper electrical wiring guidelines. Test the new porch light to ensure it operates correctly from the existing switch.
How do you hook up a switch leg?
Describe what kind of switch leg you want and I'll send you a diagram. Do you want 3-way (light and two switches)? If so, is the power at the one of the switches or at the light? Do you want a single switch? If so is the power at the switch or at the light? Do you want 4-way (or more)? Light and 3 or more switches? Again, is the power at the light or one of the switches. Drop me an e-mail at a_d_kirkwood@excite.com describing what you want, and I'll send you a diagram. THE ARE TWO WAYS TO HOOK UP A ELECTRIC SWITCH LEG. 1. RUN THE SOURCE OR HOT WIRES TO THE WALL SWITCH BOX. RUN TWO WIRE WITH GROUND TO LIGHT FIXTURE; CUT, STRIP, TWIST WHITE WIRES TOGETHER AND PLACE IN REAR OF BOX; TWIST AND PIGTAIL BARE GROUND WIRES TO HOOK TO THE GREEN GROUND SCREW ON SWITCH. THIS LEAVES TWO BLACK WIRES, ONE HOT AND ONE SWITCH LEG TO LIGHT. PUT WIRES ON S/P SWITCH. 2. HOT WIRES FEED THROUGH CEILING BOX. RUN 2 WIRE WITH GROUND DOWN TO WALL SWITHCH BOX. STRIP AND TWIST TOGETHER THE TWO WHITE WIRES FEEDING THROUGH THE CEILING BOX, BUT NOT THE WHITE WIRE GOING DOWN TO THE WALL BOX. TIE THE HOT SOURCE BLACK WIRE TO THE WHITE WIRE FEEDING DOWN TO THE WALL BOX.(PUT BLACK TAPE ON THE WHITE WIRE TO SHOW THAT IT IS HOT). IF THERE IS ANOTHER HOT WIRE FEEDING ON THROUGH THE CEILING BOX TO ANOTHER BOX, TIE BOTH BLACK WIRES TO THE WHITE WIRE GOING DOWN TO THE SWITCH. HANG YOUR LIGHT USING THE WHITE WIRES TO WHITE ON THE FIXTURE AND THE BLACK WIRE OF THE TWO WIRE GOING DOWN TO THE WALL SWITCH. IN THE SWITCH BOX JUST PUT THE WIRES ON THE SWITCH. (PUT BLACK TAPE ON THE WHITE WIRE IN SWITCH BOX TO SHOW IT IS HOT)
How do you hook up one light to one switch in a basement lighting system that has all 10 lights connected to one switch?
If you have good access to the wiring this is relatively easy to do. Each of the 10 lights is connected to another in parallel in a "daisy chain" fashion. Light 1 is connected to the switch, light 2 is connected to light 1, light 3 is connected to light 2 and so forth. Let's say it is light 5 that you wish to switch separately. You can first install the new switch by either adding a new box or modifying old switch box. There are two gang switches that will fit the form factor of a single switch. TURN OFF THE POWER TO SWITCH BOX. Using the same supply input at original switch, add a new black wire to the wire nut for input to original switch and connect this to the input of new switch. Then run a new wire to light 5 and connect black wire to the output of new switch. Connect all the white wires together in switch box and separately connect all bare wires together in switch box. Now at light 5 undo the black and white wire coming from the fixture, and reconnect the wire nuts so that there is a direct connection between light 4 and light 6. Do the same for the ground if present (bare wire). You now have the fixture wires hanging free. Now connect the black wire from new switch to the fixture black wire and white to white and you are done.
Is there a danger if you mix up ground wire and common wire when wiring a light switch?
Mixing up the ground wire and common wire when wiring a light switch is dangerous. The ground wire provides a path for electrical current to safely flow to the ground if there is a fault, while the common wire carries the current to the light fixture. Reversing these wires can result in electrical shock, short circuits, and potential fire hazards. It is important to always follow wiring instructions carefully to ensure safety.
Why would a light switch have two black wires for power and two whites caped off?
Having two black wires connected to a light switch indicates that it is a switch loop, where one black wire brings power to the switch and the other black wire carries power to the connected light fixture. The two white wires capped off are neutral wires from the power source and the light fixture, which are typically not connected to the switch.
How do you fix a light switch after two live wires touch?
There has to be more to this question for a good answer. For the most part a light switch has two contacts, with a wire at each one. One live wire and another going to the light itself. There is also a neutral wire return (from the light to the electrical panel). There is only one live wire in any electrical circuit. [Please, don't flame me with examples of multiple electrical sources in circuitry. We're talking about home lighting.] If somehow you shorted the live wire from the switch to the electrical box (ground) or to another wire in the box, it was only momentary and you can just proceed with replacing the switch. It's a good idea to turn off the power first.
How do you wire a light with a switch to another light with a switch in a different room?
Run the power line to a light box in each room, then drop a switch leg from each light box. The power line should daisy-chain to each box, with a "tap" off for the lights of each room. If you do not have experience with lighting or switch logic, it would be much more safe for you to contract with a qualified electrician.
How do you wire a series of recessed lights to a single switch when the power goes to the lights first?
To wire a series of recessed lights to a single switch when power goes to the lights first, connect the black wire from the power source to the black wire of the first light, then connect a jumper wire from the white wire of the first light to the white wire of the next light, and so on for each additional light in the series. Finally, connect all of the grounds together and connect the switch to the black wire of the first light.
How do you connect a ceiling fan with white green black and blue wires one the ceiling fan?
This sounds like a ceiling fan that also has a light attached to it. The black and white wires are used for the incoming supply voltage. The green is the ground wire. The blue wire is most likely the wire that goes to the lamp portion of the ceiling fan. The black and blue wires are separated from each other in the fixture so that the fan motor and the light can be independently switched. In these types of installations a three wire cable is strung from the fan switch box to the fixture box.For independent switching, the junction box should be a two gang box. From the power source in the switch box, the white wires all connect together. The incoming black connects to the top of the two switches in the two gang box. Bottom of the first switch to the black in the three wire cable, Bottom of the second switch to the red wire of the three wire cable.At the fixture junction box, incoming white wire to the fan white wire. Incoming black wire to the fan black wire and incoming red wire to the fan blue wire. If wired this way the light and fan motor can be individually switched on and off.If there is only one switch box, at the fan junction point connect the black and blue wires together to the incoming black wire. White to white wires together and green wire to the ceiling junction boxes ground terminal. In this configuration the switch will turn on both the fan and light at the same time.
If you have a switch wired red and black and a fan that calls for black and white where does the red wire go?
The red wire in this case would typically be connected to the black wire from the fan. This is because the red wire is used as the hot wire for the switch and needs to be connected to the black wire of the fan for proper operation.
How do you rewire a wall switch to control both ceiling fan and light. The switch currently furns the fan on and off but the light has to be controlled with a pull chain?
To control both the ceiling fan and light from the wall switch, you will need to replace the existing single switch with a double switch. One switch will control the fan, while the other switch will control the light. You will need to ensure that the wiring in the wall box is set up to accommodate the two separate circuits for the fan and light. It's recommended to consult a licensed electrician for this type of rewiring to ensure it's done correctly and safely.
