The single pole switch is an easy and simple install. If you feel as if you know how to install a single pole, but are still having troubles, it can be due to a variety of reasons, which we will explain.
This text will include links that will give further insight into specific situations that may come about while on a home improvement electrical project, involving the single pole switch.
Firstly, the single pole switch opens and closes. That’s major when it comes to understanding what it does with electricity. When you toggle it up or down, you open or close the circuit. A switch box is fed by power, and it will also have a light leg. The light leg is the wire that goes directly to the light fixture, which indeed does come directly from the switch. It is (the switch) the wire that is being switched!
An existing switch box can have many wires in it. Normally, if it is a single gang box, or if it is a switch location with only one switch, that box will have one or two wires in it. It most certainly may have 2 more wires too. That should also be expected. Generally, you will see at least two wire nuts in the box. One wire nut would normally be a splice for the neutral conductor, and the other would be the hot, or the power, also spliced under a wire nut. The copper or aluminum ground is normally present as well.
This is where many D.I.Y. electricians begin to run into challenges.
Let me explain.
Most D.I.Y. electricians are familiar with the single pole switch. They know that the switch has 3 screws for terminating wires. One is green, and the other 2 are brass. The green is for the ground and the two brass are for, either power, or the light leg. When we use the term power, here; we mean the line, or the hot, derived from a 120-volt circuit. That may sound confusing, but that is correct in a technical manner. It will help you in the long run.
So, if you don’t understand, you will when you see the video that goes with this post. It is on You Tube. (Feel free to reach out on our channel, Green Street Electric). Don’t take off just yet however!
A little more yet, on single pole switches.
These screws on the switch will each get the appropriate wire terminated to it. Again, the ground goes to the green screw. Curl it, and then terminate. Then take the hot and tie it to either brass screw. If you want to be particular about it, which would be a great practice, you will terminate the hot to the bottom brass screw, and the light leg to the top brass screw. It doesn’t really matter which brass screw gets the hot or leg. The reason for that is because the switch opens and closes when toggled. We love saying that!
If you have just one wire, with a black and white conductor, you are looking at a drop switch. If you want to know more on drop switches, then click on it drop switches.
If you have bunch of wires in a box, but don’t know what to do, or if you have lost the wires that originally were terminated to an existing switch, then follow here.
Wiring the switch in real time!
If you are looking to wire a switch right at this moment, and have the proper tools, then no problem! Let’s go!
If you want to know more about basic tools that you will need to be able to handle most residential projects, the click here.
Furthermore, you’re at the switch, only after turning the power off at the panel box. You take the switch plate off, and then you loosen the top and bottom screws to the switch. These screws will literally back out of the box. At this point you will be able to grab the switch, but when you do, you treat it like it’s hot! One hand, and two fingers. Just pull the switch out, and the wiring that is terminated to it will stretch itself out. Now that you have done this, you can simply begin to loosen those screws.
Remember how they were attached, and remember which wire was which. If you should get the two conductors that went to the switch confused, it’s ok. Again, the switch opens and closes, so they can go back on either way. Never, however, attach the bare ground to the brass screws of any device, never!
For now, that is all, perhaps we will take another look at the single pole switch installation. Comments and questions are welcome.
Ladies and gentlemen, electrical applications and installations are completely logical, and based upon the knowledge that we have and share, recognized as electrical theory, and the National Electrical Code.