light wont turn off
#1
12-03-11, 04:47 PM
light wont turn off
Just installed a new light switch for my bathroom light and it won't turn off (besides the breaker switch). It is a on/off switch with a 3 prong outlet. There is a red, black and yellow wire in the wall. The old switch worked but you needed to wiggle the switch for it to stay on. The new one turns on when i flip the breaker but stays on whether the switch is turned on or off. The new switch has on the left side a gold screw on top and a silver on bottom, and the right side has 2 black screws with a green on the bottom. The old switch has on the left side a a gold screw on the bottom and 2 silver, and the right has 2 black
#2
12-03-11, 04:55 PM
The new switch has on the left side a gold screw on top and a silver on bottom, and the right side has 2 black screws with a green on the bottom. The old switch has on the left side a a gold screw on the bottom and 2 silver, and the right has 2 black.
#3
12-03-11, 06:33 PM
Is this a combo switch and receptacle? Is the light controlled by switches in two locations? Is there a pilot light? Are you sure you don't have a bundle of white white wires in the back of the box.
#4
12-04-11, 08:24 AM
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Are you sure the wire is yellow and not white, or faded/discolored white?
On the new switch, the silver screw is for the neutral wire, the gold screw is for the load wire, possibly the red, the black screws are for the constant power, possibly the black wire. The black screws should have a jumper tab between them, leave it intact.
If you determine the yellow wire is actually white (the neutral), attach it to the silver screw, attach the red to the gold, and the black to the black, and try it. If the receptacle portion turns on & off with the switch, reverse the red and black wires.
(Ray, from the description, it does sound like a switch/recept combo. Good question though, it’s better to double check)
On the new switch, the silver screw is for the neutral wire, the gold screw is for the load wire, possibly the red, the black screws are for the constant power, possibly the black wire. The black screws should have a jumper tab between them, leave it intact.
If you determine the yellow wire is actually white (the neutral), attach it to the silver screw, attach the red to the gold, and the black to the black, and try it. If the receptacle portion turns on & off with the switch, reverse the red and black wires.
(Ray, from the description, it does sound like a switch/recept combo. Good question though, it’s better to double check)
#5
12-04-11, 10:10 AM
Originally Posted by SD515
(Ray, from the description, it does sound like a switch/recept combo. Good question though, it’s better to double check)
#6
12-04-11, 10:23 AM
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In general, black screws are to indicate a ‘common’ terminal. In the case of a sw/recpt combo, the black screw allows power to be fed to the switch (or fed from) and to the receptacles ‘hot’ side, via the jumper tab, thus being common to the upper half and the lower half.
