How to Wire a Standard Light Switch | Amazing Tips for Wiring Light Switch

If you’re searching for information on how to wire up the standard light switch, you’ve come to the right spot! Do you have a light switch that is in needs to be changed? This is a simple task that nearly anyone who is a DIYer can do with a few hand tools that are electrically basic and will take around 10 minutes! As an electrician licensed, I would like to know if you feel uncomfortable or encounter difficulties when working on or working on any electrical task; please make a stop and contact an electrician in your area to help complete the project. Read on to learn six steps to connect the standard lighting switch!

What you need to know about how to wire a standard light switch

The standard light switches used in homes are usually poled 15 amp switches. They control light fixtures at a single spot which requires a hot source coming into the switch and another hot going into the fixture. When replacing a switch, you must be careful not to confuse one pole switch with a three-way switch and reverse. They are not interchangeable.

A 3-way control light from two different locations. It requires a lot of going through one of the switches, a pair of travelers, and a host route into the fixture from the third 3-way. Even though you don’t need an electrical neutral to wire an electrical switch in the first place, there is a requirement in the National Electrical Code now requires that a neutral be included present in every box, so don’t be shocked if there are white wires joined inside the box. There is more information about the code for building the single pole light switch in the International Residential Code. Click here to learn how to wire a 3 way light switch.

How to wire a standard light switch

Step 1

With a screwdriver, take off the switch’s plate, and then take off the screws that hold the switch in the first place. Take the switch off carefully to expose those screw connections. If you aren’t sure there is no power source, don’t touch them!

Step 2

Utilizing a voltage tester, ensure there isn’t any power to the wires you will be working on. Always test before touching when working with electrical equipment. The probe on the meter onto the hot wire brings electricity into the switch, and another probe connects to the ground wire. The meter should read zero volts.

Step 3

Unwire the single-pole lighting switch’s wiring. When the wires have been wrapped to the screws, use a screwdriver to loosen the screws until you can remove the wires. If the wires are stuck at an area behind the switch, make use of a small blade to insert it into the slot in the back, just beside the brass screws. This will let the wire go. The hot wires can be interchanged; therefore, there is no need to label your wires in this situation. It is also necessary to loosen the ground screw to take out the ground wire.

Step 4

Before installing your new wiring for your light switch, check your wires to find cracks within the wiring. If the wires were punctured between the switches, you’d have to remove between a quarter and 3/8 inch insulation. Pick the end of the strippers’ end, pull the wire’s ends, and then wrap it so that the wire’s ends can hook onto the screw. The black and white wires and the bare grounded wire will require hooks on the ends to wrap. It is necessary to wrap a black wire around each brass-colored screw and then tighten each one down. The bare ground wires are connected with the help of a pigtail as well as wire nuts. The pigtail will connect to the green screw and be tightly pressed down.

Step 5

Make sure you check all the connections to the switch. You must ensure that all screws have been tightened to prevent any hot areas. Hot spots can cause issues with power or cause the possibility of a fire. Make use of your electrical tape to make a wrap-around structure of the switch to cover the exposed wires and connector screws. Make sure the wires are folded into the “S” shape, and press the switch back into the box. Put the screws in place to secure the switch place. Then place the switch back onto. After installing the switch and changing the covers, restart the power and then test the switch!

Conclusion

A lack of light in your home can cause an enormous interruption to your daily routine. Fortunately, with just a couple of items at hand and just a few minutes, you can get your switch replaced and get back to work like normal. A crucial thing to remember is that electricity can be hazardous if you aren’t aware of what you’re doing. Also, ensure that your power is turned off before you begin work! If, at any time, the work is too much for you to manage, make sure you contact a local electrician to finish the job without injury!