Actually, the switch screws are the same color, and my reply should have said,
"it only has a
brass, or silver screw ". However, the hot goes to either screw, and the switch
leg to the other. There's no way to get around having the switches black wire
go back to the lamps brass screw, or black wire though unless you was to color
it, but why do that when you have a black wire to begin with? Especially when
they allow running the hot for the switch as a white. The only reason I'd see
to tape it for color would be that someone hooked it up wrong to start with,
but still you could take both loose, and wire it correctly in the lamps
junction box as both switch wires go there anyhow. That is unless you have two
sets or cables into the same switch box where you'd be breaking the black of
both cables and the white running straight through like a two way switch for a
hall lamp using two switches for one lamp. Here though you use 14-3 or 12-3,
and the hots are the black and red, then white is continuous.
Best,
Will
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
On 11/15/05 at 10:36 PM Gary Schafer wrote:
>There are no color coded terminals on switches.
>
>73
>Gary K4FMX
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: amps-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:amps-bounces@contesting.com] On
>> Behalf Of Will Matney
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 10:13 PM
>> To: amps@contesting.com
>> Subject: Re: [Amps] Question about safety ground connection
>>
>> Doug,
>>
>> Using a SPST switch like we use to control a ceiling lamp, it only has a
>> brass, and silver screw. So, the black from the switch, on the switches
>> brass screw, has to mate with the brass screw or black wire from the
>lamp.
>> The lamps silver screw, or white wire has to connect to the main white
>> return going back to the breaker box. This leaves you with a white to the
>> switch, and a black hot from the breaker. Those two off colors tie
>> together to make the circuit. That's the only Instance that I know they
>> allow mixing colors so you don't have to buy 14-3, or 12-3 wire and use a
>> red as hot. You can mark that white with tape, but any electrician who
>> looks into a lamps junction box knows the black and white tied together
>is
>> the main hot. Anywhere else though it's illegal to do this as you would
>> think the white was neutral. It's not required to mark with tape, or a
>> paint pen, but it's a good thing to do if someone doesn't know this is
>> done all the time.
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Will
>>
>> *********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
>>
>> On 11/15/05 at 10:03 PM Doug Renwick wrote:
>>
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >From: amps-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:amps-bounces@contesting.com]On
>> >Behalf Of Will Matney
>> >I have always wired my 2-way switches to switch the hot (black) wire
>> >and never to switch the white wire.
>> >
>> >Doug
>> >
>> >Gary,
>> >
>> >No, because the black from the switch has to mate with the brass or dark
>> >screw (or black wire) on the light fixture or fan, that's what the NEC
>> >says.
>> >Then the main white return has to go to the silver screw, or white wire.
>> >You
>> >only have those two screws (or wires), plus a green on some for ground.
>> >That
>> >only leaves the white going to the switch to be used as a hot, and tied
>> to
>> >the black in the fixtures junction box which comes from the breaker, or
>> the
>> >fuse. If you put the black as hot to the switch, and then run the white
>> >back
>> >to a brass screw, or black wire, the inspector will catch it if he looks
>> >and
>> >fail it. In other words, that would put you having two whites on the
>> >fixture. I learned that years ago in school under house wiring, and
>after
>> I
>> >got out and did commercial work. Sure you can do it the other way, but
>it
>> >wont pass inspection, or wont here in Ohio.
>> >
>> >Best,
>> >
>> >Will
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >_______________________________________________
>> >Amps mailing list
>> >Amps@contesting.com
>> >http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Amps mailing list
>> Amps@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
_______________________________________________
Amps mailing list
Amps@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
|