In a smart switch 3 way configuration a smaller charge is looped through the add on switch. They may use other colors for switch wiring such as yellow or tan. When you re wiring decorative light switches such as chrome or stainless steel etc you ll find that the switch will also have an l2 terminal which means it s a two way switch. Remember black and red wires are always hot meaning they are source wires that carry power from the electric service panel to a destination such as an outlet or a light. In existing 3 way wiring this wire toggles hot between two switches. Well 99 of the time one of the black wires belongs to the switch cable that controls that light. This makes the job of identifying the switch cable easy. The cable has a black wire which connects directly to the circuit and a red wire which connects to the switch. White wires augmented with red or black tape or markings are used as hot. The black wire for the switch should have a little bit of red tape around it or a little red sleeve on it.
This is because two way switches can also be used on one way circuits. Never work on a light switch with the power on. None are hot unless the other light switch is turned on in which one of the reds is hot. The hot wire from the breaker usually black neutral. Or it could be the red wire is the wire going to the fixture and the black wires are the live wires. The ground wire also connects to the switch but the white wire gets spliced to the circuit neutral wire and bypasses the switch. Manufacturers don t make decorative one way switches. Remember black and red wires are always hot meaning they are source wires that carry power from the electric service panel to a destination such as an outlet or a light. When you re wiring decorative light switches such as chrome or stainless steel etc you ll find that the switch will also have an l2 terminal which means it s a two way switch. However a black wire can never be used as a neutral or ground wire or for any purpose other than to carry a live electrical load.
I have a 3 way switch with 2 red wires and 2 black wires and a ground and trying to figure out which wire goes where. Remember black and red wires are always hot meaning they are source wires that carry power from the electric service panel to a destination such as an outlet or a light. None are hot unless the other light switch is turned on in which one of the reds is hot. The black wire for the switch should have a little bit of red tape around it or a little red sleeve on it. White wires augmented with red or black tape or markings are used as hot. It could be there is or once was a three way switch in play. The hot wire from the breaker usually black neutral. I tested the other wires on the hot red to see which turn the light on and that s one of the black wires. Turn off the power at the breaker or fuse box. Or it could be the red wire is the wire going to the fixture and the black wires are the live wires.
However a black wire can never be used as a neutral or ground wire or for any purpose other than to carry a live electrical load. The hot wire from the breaker usually black neutral. Turn off the power at the breaker or fuse box. It could be there is or once was a three way switch in play. They may use other colors for switch wiring such as yellow or tan. Manufacturers don t make decorative one way switches. Both wires red and black are live wires in a switch as you will see a little later. Well 99 of the time one of the black wires belongs to the switch cable that controls that light. The ground wire also connects to the switch but the white wire gets spliced to the circuit neutral wire and bypasses the switch. I have a 3 way switch with 2 red wires and 2 black wires and a ground and trying to figure out which wire goes where.
When you see a red wire in a light switch box it can mean two things. Remember black and red wires are always hot meaning they are source wires that carry power from the electric service panel to a destination such as an outlet or a light. I have a 3 way switch with 2 red wires and 2 black wires and a ground and trying to figure out which wire goes where. The return wire for circuits usually white load. Both wires red and black are live wires in a switch as you will see a little later. The ground wire also connects to the switch but the white wire gets spliced to the circuit neutral wire and bypasses the switch. But first let s get my disclaimer out of the way. This is because two way switches can also be used on one way circuits. This makes the job of identifying the switch cable easy. They may use other colors for switch wiring such as yellow or tan.
