Confusing 3-gang box wiring
#1
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Confusing 3-gang box wiring
Hi All--
So was attempting to replace a porch light switch with a timer/switch that does not require a common. Should be simple....But when i opened things up, i found the following wiring layout.
Need help on what this layout is, as i'm only used to newer house wiring. The porch switch is the last switch on the right. And apparently, the first two switch items only work if the porch switch is in the ON position!
1. why are all the whites bundled in the back?
2. why are all the blacks chained?
3. why is there another black going into each switch?
4. why is switch 3 controlling the other two switches?
confused.....thx in advance
Attachment 96109
So was attempting to replace a porch light switch with a timer/switch that does not require a common. Should be simple....But when i opened things up, i found the following wiring layout.
Need help on what this layout is, as i'm only used to newer house wiring. The porch switch is the last switch on the right. And apparently, the first two switch items only work if the porch switch is in the ON position!
1. why are all the whites bundled in the back?
2. why are all the blacks chained?
3. why is there another black going into each switch?
4. why is switch 3 controlling the other two switches?
confused.....thx in advance
Attachment 96109
Last edited by PJmax; 08-14-18 at 03:50 PM. Reason: removed picture
#2
The whites are the neutrals and.are not needed on the switches.
The one switch controls the others because someone has an incorrect splice.
One of the blacks.on the switch is the switched hot going to the lights.
The.chained black feeds each switch.
The one switch controls the others because someone has an incorrect splice.
One of the blacks.on the switch is the switched hot going to the lights.
The.chained black feeds each switch.
#3
Removed incorrect reply. Picture posted later is easier to see.
Last edited by PJmax; 08-14-18 at 03:51 PM.
#4
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thx all--
attaching another picture ( closeup of the back ) and a better closeup of the wiring.
what is the other black feeding into all of these switches if they are sharing a hot? ( the 2nd black )
and not sure i see the black tape on any of the white wires. they all appear to be black wires on the switches ( and the bundle of white neutrals ).
so not totally getting how this works when each is supposed to have a hot, common and ground.
thx again and thx for your patience!
attaching another picture ( closeup of the back ) and a better closeup of the wiring.
what is the other black feeding into all of these switches if they are sharing a hot? ( the 2nd black )
and not sure i see the black tape on any of the white wires. they all appear to be black wires on the switches ( and the bundle of white neutrals ).
so not totally getting how this works when each is supposed to have a hot, common and ground.
thx again and thx for your patience!
#5
Sorry about that. It really looked like a white wire taped black.
Ok...... you have four cables there. You have one incoming live/hot cable. Then you have three outgoing switched lines. All neutrals are tied together as they just pass thru there.
You need to identify which of those 4 incoming cables is the hot one.
If the right hand switch controls all the lights then cable D would be live. You'd then need to double check what each other black goes to. You could connect them one at a time with the hot.
The black wire that is hot needs three tails...... one for each switch.
Those green ground wires were supposed to have been brought into the box, combined together and three tails added to go to each switch and a tail to the box. I doubt you can get the green wires into the box now.
Ok...... you have four cables there. You have one incoming live/hot cable. Then you have three outgoing switched lines. All neutrals are tied together as they just pass thru there.
You need to identify which of those 4 incoming cables is the hot one.
If the right hand switch controls all the lights then cable D would be live. You'd then need to double check what each other black goes to. You could connect them one at a time with the hot.
The black wire that is hot needs three tails...... one for each switch.
Those green ground wires were supposed to have been brought into the box, combined together and three tails added to go to each switch and a tail to the box. I doubt you can get the green wires into the box now.
#6
Your switches do not have hot, common and ground. You have a hot feed, a switched hot and a ground.
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thx again all--
ok, i think i'm finally getting it.
ok, i think i'm finally getting it.
- so i'll confirm the hot wire and then pigtail that to each switch instead of the current setup
- make sure each switch has their own switched hot (that should make each switch independently controlled instead of being controlled by the 3rd switch)
#8
Hi, the neutrals are all spliced through and go to each fixture, each should have its own black feed not a switched black, other side of switch should go to the controlled fixture.
Geo
Geo
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and if i want to wire in that porch light timer that i started this all with?
which says requires no neutral wire ( black/white/red/green )-- wire up the hot and switched hot, but then i have no ground and i still have the white wire, which sounds like a neutral wire anyway?
thx
which says requires no neutral wire ( black/white/red/green )-- wire up the hot and switched hot, but then i have no ground and i still have the white wire, which sounds like a neutral wire anyway?
thx
#12
So connect the white to the bundle of whites in the box and connect the ground to a ground screw threaded into the back of the box, there should be a tapped 10/32 hole for a screw, there are 2 holes to the right of cable B, the smaller one should be a 10/32.
Geo
Geo
#13
Those instructions are for a group of models. Your model number would be helpful.
If there is a white wire on the timer..... it requires a neutral.
If there is a white wire on the timer..... it requires a neutral.
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ah, good catch. here's the manual for the timer i have -- 59020WD
ok, less wires! so black to hot, red to switched hot and then ground to a screw in the box ( thx geo )?
thx again
ok, less wires! so black to hot, red to switched hot and then ground to a screw in the box ( thx geo )?
thx again