Re-Post for Wall Switch

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Harry - 27 Jul 2005 16:55 GMT

This is a re-post. I hope it makes more sense.
Hello,
Can someone tell me where on the Internet ican get
pictures of wall switches. Iam trying to replace a switch in
my bathroom that seems to control, at least as far as i
know, two things: the ceiling exhaust fan and the ceiling,
light switch. The ceiling, light switch was originally wired
for a timer switch for the heat-lamp bulb. I had the timer
switch and heat bulb removed so that i could install a
regular light switch for the Titanium-Dioxide, coated bulb,
because of the mold in the bathroom (Florida etc.), and this
switch sits alone under the double switch above it which
control the medicine cabinet lights and sockets on the left
side of the double switch, and the ceiling fan on the right
side, or at least that is what i thought until i went to install
the new switch.

The broken switch iam trying to replace seems to have two
white wires and one black wire and probably no
groundwire. After installing the new switch, i found out it
not only, in some strange manner, controls the ceiling fan,
plus at the same time the *switch* which controls the
ceiling, light socket where is now the Titanium Dioxide,
light, bulb. In other words the double switch has one side
controlling the ceiling fan and another light switch in no
way visually connected, as they are about 1 and 1/2 inches
apart and not in the same electrical box - the ceiling, light
switch is under the double switch.

When i installed the new switch, it worked the ceiling fan
fine, however the ceiling light wouldnot work on the new
switch. The new switch is just a plain (to the best of my
knowledge)wall. switch.

I think i may have this all wrong: There are two switches in
one electrical box, and one switch 1 ½ below it hopefully
in a single electrical box. It is the switch on the right side,
in the double electrical box that broke (it wouldnot hold the
on position unless i shoved something in there to stop it
from turning itself off).

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NapalmHeart - 27 Jul 2005 18:34 GMT

> This is a re-post. I hope it makes more sense.
> Hello,
> Can someone tell me where on the Internet ican get
> pictures of wall switches.

Google Image search.

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Bob Morrison - 27 Jul 2005 19:58 GMT

In a previous post NapalmHeart says...

> > This is a re-post. I hope it makes more sense.
> > Hello,
> > Can someone tell me where on the Internet ican get
> > pictures of wall switches.

Are you looking for switch cover plates or the switches themselves?

Try http://www.levitonhelpdesk.com/catalog/

Signature

Bob Morrison, PE, SE
R L Morrison Engineering Co
Structural & Civil Engineering
Poulsbo WA

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PipeDown - 28 Jul 2005 00:11 GMT

> This is a re-post. I hope it makes more sense.
> Hello,
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
> on position unless i shoved something in there to stop it
> from turning itself off).

A little confused but here is some advice.

The switches are probably not 3-way unless there is another switch across
the room for the same fixture. This said, you probably want a standard
double switch in which both switches are single pole. Or did I get confused
and you want two standard single pole switches in a double gang junction
box.

White wires (neutral) should not be the wire that gets switched. All the
white wires should be conneced together in most setups. The exception is
when a white wire is reidentified as a hot wire by placing a black mark or
electrical tape on the end (I don't like to do this because it can be
confusing to people who assume all white wires are neutral).

The most direct way to puzzle this out is to remove the face plate for the
light and fan and look at the wires and see if you can draw out the entire
circuit. Sometimes I have to turn off the power and use an ohmmeter or
signal tracer to be sure what goes where.

More than likely, one hot wire will go to both switches on one side and
another hot wire (switched) will come out the other side of the switch and
lead to the light and a third to the fan. Remember these switched hot wires
may not be black depending on what routing and if 2 or 3 wire cable were
used. (Ideally red is the switched wire but not always wired that way)

The ground (no insulation) is not elecrrically active and should be
connected to the ground screw on the switch body if it is even present
(older homes often have no ground wire).

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Homeowner Forum / Construction / July 2005

Re-Post for Wall Switch