Why is there an extra wire on my light switch?
Since the two switches will both control the light, they need extra “traveler” wires connecting the switches to one another. Read on to find out how to keep the wires straight, how to figure out where they connect to the new switches, and how to wire switches.
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 you double up wires on a light switch?
No, it is not safe. That screw terminal is made to take just one wire. Since it doesn’t use the switch as it’s intended (by its UL listing) it’s a code violation. It will make a poor connection, which can heat up and potentially cause a fire.
How do you change a light switch with two wires?
Quote from Youtube video: This green screw is holding down the ground wire which is that exposed copper wire. With that loosened I unhook it and remove.
Why does my light fixture have 3 wires?
The simple explanation is that a 2-wire system does not include a Neutral wire at the light switch, the 3-wire system does include the Neutral at the switch.
Why does single pole switch have 3 wires?
The 2 wire source feeds to an adjacent switch for a different light which then feeds this switch with 2 wires. The switch in question is a single pole. From it, there is 3 wire cable that leads to a light which then connects to other lights controlled by their own switches.
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.
Why are there 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 happens if you connect 2 hot wires?
Two hots of same circuit – nothing should happen.
Why does light switch have 2 black wires?
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.
Which wire is hot if both are black?
Here’s a rundown of electrical wires: The black wire is the “hot” wire, it carries the electricity from the breaker panel into the switch or light source. The white wire is the “neutral” wire, it takes any unused electricity and current and sends it back to the breaker panel.
What happens if a light switch doesn’t have a neutral wire?
The neutral wire allows the completion of the circuit and the switch to have power even when it’s turned to the off position when you want the lights off. Without this neutral wire in place, the circuit is broken any time the switch is now in the off position. It remains has power when the switch is in the On Mode.
Can you install a light switch without a neutral wire?
Yes, you can install a smart switch without a neutral wire. There are some smart light switches and dimmers that do not require a neutral wire. These are great for DIY installers looking for an effective smart lighting solution. For example, Lutron Caseta devices do not use a neutral wire.
Will a light switch work without a neutral wire?
The non-demolition option is to use any of the best smart light bulbs or use smart switches that work without a neutral wire. A few years ago, there weren’t many companies addressing the wiring discrepancies of older homes.
Is neutral wire necessary?
The presence of a neutral wire is not required (many computers do not have a neutral wire connection). Grounding problems only exist in computer installations when two separate pieces of grounded equipment are interconnected through data communication lines.
Can you add a neutral wire to a light switch?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: The reason that the Lutron caseta light switches don't have a neutral wire requirement is because they essentially dim the lighting switch to super super super tiny tiny amount of electricity.
Can I use ground instead of neutral?
a ground and a neutral are both wires. unless they’re tied together with other circuits, and not a ‘home run’ back to the panel, there is no difference between the two where they both end up on the same bus bar in the box.
Why are there two neutral wires?
There are two black and two white wires in an outlet box because the outlet is in the middle of a series circuit, accepting power from another source and sending it on. Two cables are hot wires, bringing the power in and carrying it onward to the next. Two cables are neutral and do the same.
Can you put 2 neutral wires together?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So what you want to do is you want to twist them just enough. So that they can be joined. Together so let's just go ahead and twist them together just.
Can you tie neutral and ground together?
No, the neutral and ground should never be wired together. This is wrong, and potentially dangerous. When you plug in something in the outlet, the neutral will be live, as it closes the circuit. If the ground is wired to the neutral, the ground of the applicance will also be live.
