2 way switch.
#1
2 way switch.
I just bought a new house and many of the switches are reversed. Ie. Push down to turn on. I took off the wall plates and stamped on the switch it self are "This Side Up" statements.
Can I just simply turn the switch upside down, or should I move the wires. I have red, black and white wires. In the one set of switches that is right (down for off on both switches) one of them has the red and white reversed.
ANy ideas?
Can I just simply turn the switch upside down, or should I move the wires. I have red, black and white wires. In the one set of switches that is right (down for off on both switches) one of them has the red and white reversed.
ANy ideas?
#2
Member
If there are three wires connected to the switch then this is a three way setup. The direction for on/off is controlled by the other switch. If you flip the switch over the next time someone flips the other switch, the first one be upside down again.
#3
First, verify if these are three-way switches. On a 3-way switch, the switch lever is blank. On a single-pole switch, the lever says "on" and "off" on it. The rest of this post assumes that the switches are 3-way.
If the light is on when both switches are down, and that bothers you (it wouldn't bother everybody), then you have two options: (1) Flip one of the two switches over (not both of them), or (2) Reverse the two wires on the two screws that are not black colored (on just one of the two switches). Be sure to shut off the circuit breaker and test the wires with a voltage detector before beginning.
Even after you make the change, you will occasionally have to flip one switch up to turn the light off or down to turn it on. That's just the way 3-way switches work.
If the light is on when both switches are down, and that bothers you (it wouldn't bother everybody), then you have two options: (1) Flip one of the two switches over (not both of them), or (2) Reverse the two wires on the two screws that are not black colored (on just one of the two switches). Be sure to shut off the circuit breaker and test the wires with a voltage detector before beginning.
Even after you make the change, you will occasionally have to flip one switch up to turn the light off or down to turn it on. That's just the way 3-way switches work.
Last edited by John Nelson; 10-19-05 at 06:37 PM.
#4
Thanks. That is exactly what I needed to know. They are three-way switches (not sure why two-way seemed like the term to use) I just prefer that when both switches are down the lights are off, i'm a details kindof guy. I think this weekend I take a crack at moving the wires.
Originally Posted by John Nelson
First, verify if these are three-way switches. On a 3-way switch, the switch lever is blank. On a single-pole switch, the lever says "on" and "off" on it. The rest of this post assumes that the switches are 3-way.
If the light is on when both switches are down, and that bothers you (it wouldn't bother everybody), then you have two options: (1) Flip one of the two switches over (not both of them), or (2) Reverse the two wires on the two screws that are not black colored (on just one of the two switches). Be sure to shut off the circuit breaker and test the wires with a voltage detector before beginning.
Even after you make the change, you will occasionally have to flip one switch up to turn the light off or down to turn it on. That's just the way 3-way switches work.
If the light is on when both switches are down, and that bothers you (it wouldn't bother everybody), then you have two options: (1) Flip one of the two switches over (not both of them), or (2) Reverse the two wires on the two screws that are not black colored (on just one of the two switches). Be sure to shut off the circuit breaker and test the wires with a voltage detector before beginning.
Even after you make the change, you will occasionally have to flip one switch up to turn the light off or down to turn it on. That's just the way 3-way switches work.
#7
The part of the switch that states "This side up" is used for other types of switches the manufacturer makes.Just turn them around...but make sure the circuit is off before proceeding.