Help Replacing Two Switches
#1
12-08-19, 02:16 PM
Help Replacing Two Switches
I have two light switches which I want to replace/update with smart switches. I removed the old switches and realized the before pic didn't come out so now I'm stuck. Here is what I'm left with:
1st Wire: Black/White (This wire is hot as I tested)
2nd Wire: Black/White
3rd Wire: Black/White/Red
The previous light switches controlled lights in the kitchen and were independent of each other. Also the previous light switches have black/black on one and black/red on another one. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
1st Wire: Black/White (This wire is hot as I tested)
2nd Wire: Black/White
3rd Wire: Black/White/Red
The previous light switches controlled lights in the kitchen and were independent of each other. Also the previous light switches have black/black on one and black/red on another one. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Top Answer
12-08-19, 10:29 PM
Group Moderator
It wouldn't make sense to have had a spare cable hooked up that did nothing.
I'd imagine it was for something that you had not found dead.
Based on that idea..... your wiring would have been all whites together.
Both blacks of the two wires together with two tails to go to the switches.
Red of the three wire to one switch.
Black of the three wire to the other switch.
I'd imagine it was for something that you had not found dead.
Based on that idea..... your wiring would have been all whites together.
Both blacks of the two wires together with two tails to go to the switches.
Red of the three wire to one switch.
Black of the three wire to the other switch.
#3
12-08-19, 04:04 PM
Group Moderator
I removed the old switches and realized the before pic didn't come out so now I'm stuck.
Those are not wires..... those are cables. You have multiple wires IN a cable.
1st cable...... Black/White (This wire is hot as I tested)
2nd cable..... Black/White
3rd cable...... Black/White/Red
#5
12-08-19, 04:24 PM
Thanks PJMax for the clarification on the proper wire terminology. The before pic is completely fuzzy and not even recognizable. Sorry about that. Would this be a show stopper? Thanks.
#6
12-08-19, 04:59 PM
Group Moderator
You have three cables. You've determined one is the supply cable. By the colors on the switches we can assume the three wire cable is feeding the lights. We don't know what the extra two wire cable is for.
Do you have anything else dead...... other than what the two switches control ?
Do you have anything else dead...... other than what the two switches control ?
#7
12-08-19, 09:01 PM
PJMAX and JOED I really appreciate your help with this problem. After some troubleshooting I finally got this working. It appears the second cable (black/white) is not in use and might be due to previous homeowners. On the Third Cable the black wire goes to one set of lights and the red wire goes to another set of lights. When I hooked everything up each switch turns on the correct light. with no issues. Even though everything works I just wanted to verify this setup and you don't see any issues down the line. Thanks again for all your help.
#8
12-08-19, 10:29 PM
Group Moderator
It wouldn't make sense to have had a spare cable hooked up that did nothing.
I'd imagine it was for something that you had not found dead.
Based on that idea..... your wiring would have been all whites together.
Both blacks of the two wires together with two tails to go to the switches.
Red of the three wire to one switch.
Black of the three wire to the other switch.
I'd imagine it was for something that you had not found dead.
Based on that idea..... your wiring would have been all whites together.
Both blacks of the two wires together with two tails to go to the switches.
Red of the three wire to one switch.
Black of the three wire to the other switch.
imnobobvila1,
joed
voted this post useful.
#9
12-09-19, 02:50 PM
HAHA You called it. I found an outlet not working and when I hooked it up to the hot wire it worked correctly. All is working now and and my kitchen lights work with no issues. Thanks again for all your help.
#10
12-09-19, 08:18 PM
Group Moderator
