What are the terminals on a light switch?

A one way light switch has two terminals which is a common marked as COM or C. The common is for the live wire that supplies the input voltage to the switch. The other terminal is marked as L1 and is the output to the light fixture.

Does it matter which wire goes where on a light switch?





In the case of a single-pole switch, these wires are interchangeable—it doesn’t make any difference which wire is attached to which screw terminal. Inside the switch is a metal pathway that closes when the switch is in the ON position and opens to interrupt the flow of power when the switch is turned OFF.

What wires go together on a light switch?

Two different types of wire cables are used in a 3-way switch. A standard 14:2 cable that contains a white wire, a black wire, and a ground wire, carries power from the breaker to the switch box. A 14:3 cable with a black, white, red, and ground wire connects the first switch to the second switch and also to the light.

What wire goes to L1 and L2?

The yellow wire goes into the common terminal, red goes into the L1 terminal and blue goes into the L2 terminal. The grey wire goes in the common terminal, the brown wire goes in the L1 terminal and the black wire goes in the L2 terminal.

What Colour wire goes to L and N?

US AC power circuit wiring color codes

Function label Color, common
Protective ground PG bare, green, or green-yellow
Neutral N white
Line, single phase L black or red (2nd hot)
Line, 3-phase L1 black

What happens if you wire a light switch wrong?





But here’s the catch: If you connect the circuit wires to the wrong terminals on an outlet, the outlet will still work, but the polarity will be backward. When this happens, a lamp, for example, will have its bulb socket sleeve energized rather than the little tab inside the socket.

Does it matter where black and white wire goes on light switch?

A standard single pole light switch will simply require you to attach the black (load) wire into it, and then the black wire leaving the switch and to your lights. The switch serves to cut the power from reaching the light switch. The white or neutral wire bypasses the switch and goes straight to your lights.

Does positive and negative matter on a light switch?

The circuit works the same no matter where you put the switch. Part of the electrical code (for house wiring) says that the switch should always go between the hot conductor and the load. This is for safety.

Where do the red and black wires go on a light switch?

It doesn’t matter which traveler wire (red or black) connects to which traveler terminal as long as it’s the same in both switch boxes. For example, if the red traveler wire is on the top traveler terminal in the first box, it should also be on the top traveler terminal in the second box.

What does com and L1 mean on a light switch?



The faceplate of a single, one-way switch has two terminals: “L1” is the terminal to which the neutral core wire is attached – the blue wire (traditionally black, before the change). “COM” or “Common” is the terminal to which the live core wire is attached – this is the brown wire (formerly red).

What is L1 and L2 on a switch?

Again, some makes of switch may have alternative markings such as L1 L2 and L3. This type of switch is used where two switches control one light, such as at the top and bottom of a stairway. It can also be used as a one way switch, by using the COM and L1 terminals only.

How do you wire a L1 and L2 light switch?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: And an l2 at the bottom by pressing the switch you simply transfer the current from the common to either the l1 or when you press the switch it takes it over to the l2.

What is L and N in switch?



There are two different name, L (Live) and N (Neutral) on the AC input terminal. Please refer to Fig. 1 for the wiring of the AC input.

How do I wire a light switch?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: With your loops created pick up a light switch. And bring one of the loops to a contact point hook it around a screw in a clockwise manner. Once you're hooked in grab your Phillips screwdriver.

What is the color code for wiring?

The color code for AC power wiring is similar to the code used in the United States: Phase 1 – Red. Phase 2 – Black. Phase 3 – Blue.

How do you know which wire is hot on a light switch?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Your black probe to ground. And put your red onto the hot. And so there you can see 120 volts.

Which Colour wire is live?



Plug wiring colours

Wire Colour
Live Brown
Neutral Blue
Earth Yellow and Green


Where does red wire go light switch?

Attach the white wire from the light fixture, which is now the hot wire, to the nut at the top right of the switch. Attach the red wire from the light fixture to the nut at the top left of the switch. Connect the bare copper wire to the green nut at the bottom left of the switch.

Do black and red wires go together?

These wires are typically used for switch wiring as well as the interconnection between smoke detectors hard-wired into the power system. You can link two red wires together, or you can link a red wire to a black wire. Since red wires conduct current, they are considered hot.

What do I do with the red wire when installing a light?



Red wires are usually used as secondary hot wires. Red wires are also hot and should be clearly marked to avoid the dangers of electrocution. Red wires are commonly used when installing ceiling fans, where the light switch maybe.