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On a light switch where does the white wire go and where does the black wire go?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
(Note: this is US information. Other countries may use other color codes; consult an electrician in your local area.) Standard color coding for single-phase electrical wiring is that the neutral wire is white and the "hot" wire is some other color, usually but not always black. If the switch has instructions or a wiring diagram, follow that. If not, normally the white wire should be connected to the lighter (silver colored) terminals on the switch and the "hot" wire should be connected to the darker (brass colored) terminals. Some switches interrupt both electrical paths, and in those the terminal screws may be the same color and it doesn't matter which wire goes to which set of terminals (just don't cross them). If there are green terminal screws, those are for the green grounding wire.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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How do you wire a Floodlight with motion sensor that has one black one red one white and one bare wire but also one black and one white which are each wrapped in a fiber material?
The best advice I can give you is to reference the wiring diagram that came with the flood light fixture. There's no sure way for me to know what the wires are, so if I gave you an answer, it may or may not be correct. Typically, though, the wires are as follows: Green or bare - ground White - neutral Black - hot Red - switched hot The 'fiber' coated wires are probably high-temperature fixture wires. These go to the actual lamp. The others operate the motion sensor. You'd have to connect your bare to the other ground wire(s) in the junction box, or the box itself if it is metal and there are no ground wires. Connect both your white wires (normal and fiber coated) to the white wire in the junction box with a wire nut. Next, connect the red motion sensor wire to the black fiber coated wire with a wire nut. Last, connect the black motion sensor (non-fiber) wire to the black (guessing?) wire in your junction box. Remember that you must leave the switch controlling the light in the 'on' position to allow the motion sensor to operate properly.
What is the function of switch in the circuit?
A switch simply opens a circuit, stopping the flow of electricity. For example: a simple circuit would be two wires from a battery, one of which goes to a switch, and the other goes to a light bulb. A third wire goes from the other side of the switch to the other conductor of the light bulb. With the switch closed the circuit is complete and the light goes on. Open the switch and the circuit is broken and the light goes off.
Why does the light turn on as soon as you flip the lightswitch?
The light is connected in a electrical circuit. The electricity will only pass through the circuit if the circuit is closed. A switch can open and close this circuit by simply not making contact with the next wire so the electricity can not be passed on. When you turn on the switch, the circuit gets closed again and the electricity will run through, so to the light. Because electricity has the speed of light (+-300 000 km/h) it will seems like the electricity reaches the light immediately. Plus the neutral travels through the filement of the bulb and down the switch wire giving an instant closed circuit when switch is closed
What is the filament of a light bulb?
It's the small coil of very fine tungsten wire that glows white hot.
How does electricity flow through a light bulb?
The atoms inside the wire of the lightbulb all have electrons which are pushed from atom to atom when the light is turned on, this is the current. When the electrons are pushed around the circuit they generate lots of heat because the wire in the bulb is so thin, this makes the wire glow white hot which creates the light.
How do you wire a light and switch with the 2 wire old romex?
with a standard 1 pole light switch (one switch operating the light) it is black wire to black wire and white to white (non grounded)
Have 3 lights Power to light 1 Need to connect light 2 then light 3 then down to single pole switch How do you wire?
You would wire the switch to the first light. Code says to break the black or power side of the circuit. Connect the white to the light. Take the black down to the switch on the black wire and back to the light on the white. This is a line of wire from the light to the switch. From the first light, take the white and the return white from the switch to the second with another run of wire. This will be regular black white with ground. White to white and at the first light the return line from the switch is white but hook to the black to the second light. Second light to third just continues the two wires. Black to black, white to white. I think this is clear enough to follow. If not, ask again.
Light switch has 4 wire colors red and white and green and black which is the hot wire?
You have a 3 way switch. Your black wire is the hot wire. Your green wire is the ground wire. Your red and white wires go to the light and other switch. You should have gotten a wiring diagram with your switch.
How do you connect multiple lights to one switch starting at the light?
You put switch in series with the black supply wire and the black wire to the first light. Then connect black wire of first light to black wire of second light, black wire of second light to third light and so forth. Do the same with the white wires and ground wires.
When at a 2 pole light switch and the wire colors shown are black white and green which is the hot wire and which is the common?
the black wire is the hot wire
Can you change an electrical outlet into a switch for a light?
Sure. For a light you need a fixture to hold the light and the light itself. The light needs to be connected to a voltage supply which you can get from the outlet. In the outlet box you will have a black, white and bare ground wire. Essentially you connect the white and bare wires directly to the light and switch the black wire (hot) through a switch.
New ceiling fixture goes on as soon as power is back even though switch is off?
You switched the power and switch wires. There should be two sets of wires in the ceiling box. 2 black, 2 white, 2 bare. Two groups of three. The white wire going to the light is the incoming wire. The black one in that group is the power coming in. Take that black wire and connect it to the other black wire. The second black wire goes to the switch. The power comes back to the light on the white wire of that set. Connect that white wire to the black wire in the fixture. The switch should work now. That is if everyone wired the house the way it is supposed to be.
How do you wire an additional light to another light with a switch?
In the wall switch box you should have a white and black pair from your source of power (120 volts). The other pair of black and white wires from the wall box should be going to the light fixture junction box. With the power off, connect the two white wires together with a wire nut. Connect the two bare copper ground wires together making sure that at least one of the ground wires goes under the green screw in the switch junction box. Turn the switch to the off position, no little indicator bump showing on the switch toggle lever. Now take the black incoming hot wire and put it under the top screw on the switch. Hot wires always go to the top of switches. Now put the black wire that is going to the light fixture under the bottom screw. Tighten both. Install the switch into the wall box with the switch handle in the down position. All switches when installed must be off in the down position. Install the switch plate cover.
Why would a light switch have two black wires for power and two whites caped off?
Black represents Hot and White common. For the light to operate it needs a white and black wires. The switch box has two cables with a white and black wire plus a ground. One wire is from the supply and the other to the light. Connecting the whites just provides common directly to the light. The blacks go into and out of switch because it is the hot side that is being switched.
How do you install a dimmer to a light installed with W wire B wire and ground W running into the switch box if the switch box has power from B wire W wire and ground?
If you have one wire into your switch box for your light. this is called a switch leg, the dimmer should be wired across the black and white wire wires.
How do you wire one light two switches?
This is what is known as three way switching in the trade. See related link below for wiring diagram. believe it's like this(this circuit would work but it may be done differently by licensed electricians - I'm an engineering student, not an electricianL------------o ------- o-------------L.-o-------------------------Light-------------------------o-.N------------o / ------- \ o-------------Na single pole double throw switch at each end of the light terminals, either the light is connected to two different rails and will shine, or connected to two rails of the same potential and wont shine
How do you hook up one light to one switch in a basement lighting system that has all 10 lights connected to one switch?
If you have good access to the wiring this is relatively easy to do. Each of the 10 lights is connected to another in parallel in a "daisy chain" fashion. Light 1 is connected to the switch, light 2 is connected to light 1, light 3 is connected to light 2 and so forth. Let's say it is light 5 that you wish to switch separately. You can first install the new switch by either adding a new box or modifying old switch box. There are two gang switches that will fit the form factor of a single switch. TURN OFF THE POWER TO SWITCH BOX. Using the same supply input at original switch, add a new black wire to the wire nut for input to original switch and connect this to the input of new switch. Then run a new wire to light 5 and connect black wire to the output of new switch. Connect all the white wires together in switch box and separately connect all bare wires together in switch box. Now at light 5 undo the black and white wire coming from the fixture, and reconnect the wire nuts so that there is a direct connection between light 4 and light 6. Do the same for the ground if present (bare wire). You now have the fixture wires hanging free. Now connect the black wire from new switch to the fixture black wire and white to white and you are done.
