You should connect the new switch exactly as the old switch was connected. The “extra wires” likely feed the rest of the branch.

Why is there an extra wire on my light switch?

And, spoiler-alert, they were all intended to be always-hot or “line”. Since they’re meant to be together and are the same thing… Connect them all together. So you’d join the 2 black wires from the wall (i.e. not yellow) with the 2 black wires or pigtails to the new switches. That did it!

What do you do with the extra hot wire?





The live wire may have been installed for a future closet light. Safe Keeping for Spare Electrical Wires and Cables You may also reroute the wire into another electrical box and just cap off the wires. The other alternative is to trace the wire back to its origin and totally remove it.

Can I cap unused wires?

But unless you intend to remove drywall up to the electrical service panel, this usually isn’t possible. The next-best approach is to terminate the electrical wires with wire caps (wire nuts). All terminated electrical wires are trimmed, capped, and safely enclosed in an accessible surface-flush electrical box.

How much extra wire do you leave in a box?

six inches

When electrical cables route from box to box, you must leave at least six inches of free conductor wiring in the junction box for connection purposes. In article 300.14, this technique is explained.

Why do I have 2 black wires on my light switch?





STEP 3: Identify the terminal and ground wires.



Observe the layout of the wires. You should see two black wires, each connecting to a different screw on the side of the switch. These are called terminal screws. You will also see two white (neutral) wires that connect to one another in the box.

Why is there 2 black wires on light switch?

Black means hot, white signifies neutral, and green indicates ground. However, if you need to rewire a light switch or a plug socket, you may occasionally come across two black wires. It’s essential that you determine which black wire is hot before proceeding.

Why do I have 2 hot wires?

The reason for multiple hot/neutral wires for one outlet is that the outlets are daisy-chained together. This means hot/neutral is only coming from one of the wires and it is being sent to the other wire.

What is a secondary hot wire?

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.

Can you put 2 hot wires together?



Nothing. Two hots of same circuit – nothing should happen.

Do electrical wires need to be stapled?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: If we go into the code. Into article 334 where it talks about non-metallic sheath cable. It actually says under securing and supporting non-metallic sheath cable shall be supported and secured by

What is a fish tape used for?

Fish tape is a tool used by electricians primarily for pulling electrical or other wires through conduits. It’s also used for pulling NM wire through walls, ceilings, floors, and other enclosed spaces. The fish tape itself is a long, stiff, flat steel wire.

How much slack should be left in a breaker panel?



Six inches is the standard when pulling cable in order to ensure enough slack to enable proper connections.

How long should the wires be in an electrical box?

More importantly, they can be dangerous. Wires should stick out at least three inches from the electrical box. If you have wires that are too short, you can buy wire connectors that will extend the wires. These are available at home improvement and hardware stores.

What is the white wire called?

neutral

The white wire is the “neutral” wire, it takes any unused electricity and current and sends it back to the breaker panel.

How do you secure wires in a junction box?



Secure the Cables



If necessary, trim the wires as needed and strip 3/4 inch of insulation from the end of each wire, using wire strippers. Secure the cables by tightening the screws on the clamps, being careful not to overtighten and damage the cables.

How do you cover exposed wires?

Electrical tape is the simplest method of making electric wires safe. You also use tape on capped live electric wires as an extra precaution. Tapes can be used on loose live wires that do not fit the cap. You can simply use tape over the live wire to fit into the cap.

How many 12 2 wires can you put in a outlet box?

Plastic Box Fill Capacities



Single Gang Boxes: A total capacity of 18 cubic inches allows for nine #14 gauge wires, eight #12 gauge wires, or seven #10 gauge wires.

How many wires can you pigtail together?

The only appropriate way to wire a receptacle in a box with three cables is to use pigtails to connect the receptacles. ​Never connect more than one wire under a single screw terminal.

Is pigtail wiring safe?



Pigtailing aluminum wiring is safe as long as proper terminals and connections are made – without damaging the wire – and with materials approved by the Canadian Electrical Code. Aluminum wiring pigtails approved by the Electrical Safety Authority are the most common solution for making aluminum wiring safe.

Can you wire 5 wires together?

The answer is yes as long as you use the right size wire nut for the size of the wires that you are splicing.