How to Wire a Standard Single Pole Light Switch. First, I strip the yellow sheathing from the conductors…. I started with these four wires coming into the box. All Rights Reserved. With this configuration, the wire from the power source comes into the junction box where the light is installed, and then a “switch leg” goes from the light to the light switch. But I could very well change my mind tomorrow. The 14-3 cable has three insulated conductors: white, black and red (plus a bare ground wire). But even if you do, this information in this post still might not pertain to your switch because there are two ways to wire single-pole switches and lights. With a few choice electrical tools and these instructions, you can change or install a single-pole switch in a short period of time. Leviton Light Switch Wiring Diagram Single Pole– wiring diagram is a simplified agreeable pictorial representation of an electrical circuit.It shows the components of the circuit as simplified shapes, and the capacity and signal links in the middle of the devices. So just keeping the same concepts in mind, this is what we need to do: That’s the basic concept, so let me show you step-by-step just how I did that. It has only one pole, which is another way of saying it has a single pair of connection terminals. And with that, I have everything I need to connect the light switch — a black (hot) wire feeding power to the switch, a black (hot) wire sending power to the light fixture, and a ground wire. If one of the wires has power even with the light switch turned off, then you DO have a switch leg, and this post does not pertain to your wiring. Some of the basics don’t seem that tough and it makes me feel much better seeing that you are doing it. Learn how easy it is to wire a single-pole switch. Getting all the wires pushed back in the box is sometimes a bear. I’m so glad that you are tackling this electrical stuff. Use the appropriate electrical tools for the job. Read More. 5) If it is a single pole switch you should have 3 wires connected to it, the feed, the switch leg and the ground. Let me break it down very simply: Now I’ll show you how to wire two light switches in the same box (i.e., a two-gang box). Wow! In building wiring, multiway switching is the interconnection of two or more electrical switches to control an electrical load from more than one location. Excluding the ground screws on all of these switches, a single pole has 2 terminals, a 2 pole has 4, a 3-way has 3 and a 4-way has 4. The white (neutral) wire from the power source and the white (neutral) wire that goes to the light fixture get connected to each other. A very nice spot on and informative write-up. I put the one bringing power into the light switch on the bottom, and the one sending power to the light fixture on the top. In the off position, it breaks the continuous flow of electricity in that loop or circuit, causing the light to turn off. 7) Install the new switch back into the box. Just curious what the bigger picture will be once the studio is complete. Connect the wires to the new 3-way switches with ground screws using one of the two wiring diagrams (Fig. What are the shipping options for Rocker Light Switches? There's also a ground wire to protect against electrical faults. To connect the conductors to the light switch, I stripped the ends the specified amount according to the strip gauge on the back of the light switch, and then used my pliers to create a hook in the ends. A standard single pole light switch will simply require you to attach the black (load) wire into it, and then the black wire leaving the switch and to your lights. In a home you’re likely to come across four possible types of light switches; a single pole, a 2-pole, a 3-way, and a 4-way. Or if you have any other configuration other than one switch turning a light off and on, then nothing here pertains to your situation. And with that, the light switch is ready to be screwed onto the junction box. And again, these switches are located in the middle of a circuit. Single pole switches are your standard light switches. And then I have another black, white and ground wire that go from this box to the light fixture on the ceiling. What I am encouraging is for homeowners to be educated and knowledgeable. It is also possible to install or fit a variation … In essence, wiring a single pole and double pole switch are similar. The black (hot) wires are what get connected to the light switch. Then you need to feed power to the switch which will turn the light fixture on and off. LOL! And then attach one ground wire to each of the light switches. In fact, I realize that many (probably most) of you won’t actually use this information yourselves. And this switch is pretty much right smack dab in the middle of the circuit, with two switches before it, and a few outlets after it in the circuit.