Hey doing it yourself is great but if you are unsure of the advice given or the methods in which to job is done dont do it. In this first example ill be wiring a one gang junction box that holds one single switch and that switch controls one single pendant light.
Diagram Based 1 Gang 2 Way Light Switch Wiring Diagram
Wiring a single gang light switch. There are two terminals in a one way light switch. Its possible that the switch you removed was one of the two that controls the non functioning light. The ground screw is for the circuit ground wire connection. The switch puts power out to one wire or the other like a valve for water that goes in two directions. Wiring a single pole light switch. A switch with three wires could be used for a hall light with a switch at each end.
There is no way we can anticipate every situation and we do our best to. This site is merely a collection of how some people do home improvements. Add up the wattage of the bulbs in all the fixtures the switch controls to make sure it falls within the switch rating listed on the package or instructions. And this switch is pretty much right smack dab in the middle of the circuit with two switches before it and a few outlets after it in the circuit. A metal light switch must be earthed as seen below. The switch leg brings power to the fixture when the switch is turned on.
Wiring a single light switch in the middle of a circuit. Buy a single pole switch if one switch controls the lights or a three way if you have two switches controlling the same lights. Typically these terminals will be marked com and l1 sometimes l1 and l2. Although technically it doesnt matter which way round you connect the wires it is best to stick to convention and connect the permanemt live from the supply to com and the switched live to the lamp. The other terminal is for a second hot wire called a switch leg that runs only between the switch and the light fixture. The l2 terminal is unused.
Standard single pole switches do not connect to neutral circuit wire. A 1 gang switch will control a single lighting circuit and with a 2 gang switch you can control two lighting circuits and so on. When the switch is on both terminals are connected together. However if you need two switches to control a single lighting circuit such as in the case of at the head and foot of stairs so you can switch the lights on and off in both places you need to understand a 2 way switch. A two way light switch can also be used in in place of a one way light switch in this instance the red wire from the feed cable is connected to the common c terminal and the red wire going to the light is connected to the l1 terminal.
Gallery of Wiring A Single Gang Light Switch
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