How do you find the unknown light switch?

How to Find What a Wall Switch Operates

  1. Look around the room in which the mystery switch resides. …
  2. Replace any burnt-out bulbs you find with fresh bulbs. …
  3. Bring a table lamp with a good bulb into the room from another room.
  4. Turn the light switch to the “Off” position. …
  5. Flip on the light switch.





How can you tell the difference between a 3 way switch and a single pole switch?

The most common household switch, a single-pole, has two terminals and simply turns power on or off. A three-way switch has three terminals; a four-way has four.

What does a single pole light switch look like?

A single-pole switch has two brass-colored screw terminals that are connected to the hot, or power-source, wires. These wires are usually black in color. One brass terminal is designated for the incoming hot wire from the power source, and the other is for the outgoing hot wire to the fixture.

How do you tell the difference between a single pole and double pole switch?

A pole refers to the number of separate circuits a switch can control, a single pole switch can operate one circuit whereas a double pole switch can control two circuits. A throw refers to how many positions can be activated by a switch.

How do I identify a light switch wire?





Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: And take a tester and see which one of the black wires is a live wire. So this is our live wire this is going to be our common terminal. Now if you try both of these black wires.

Why do I have a light switch that does nothing?

Existing Outlets



You may have a switch that seems to go to nothing and an outlet that does not work, often this is because the electrical outlet is a switched outlet. Also called a half-hot or lamp outlet, one receptacle will always be ready to give power while you can control the other one with a switch.

What does a single pole switch mean?

A single pole switch is used to control the light in a small closet or bathroom. It’s called a single pole switch because there are two wires connected or separated by the switch mechanism. There’s also a ground wire to protect against electrical faults.