Q&A for How to Wire a Double Switch

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What are the white wires?

Ricardo Mitchell
Electrician & Construction Professional, CN Coterie
Ricardo Mitchell is the CEO of CN Coterie, a fully licensed and insured Lead EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Certified construction company located in Manhattan, New York. CN Coterie specializes in full home renovation, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, cabinetry, furniture restoration, OATH/ECB (Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings/Environmental Control Board) violations removal, and DOB (Department of Buildings) violations removal. Ricardo has over 10 years of electrical and construction experience and his partners have over 30 years of relevant experience.

Ricardo Mitchell

Electrician & Construction Professional, CN Coterie

Expert Answer

If your wires were installed by a professional, the white wires are almost always going to be neutral. All of those neutrals get spliced together.

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Question

Why do I have to have both switches in the on position for the outside light to work?

Community Answer

This issue can occur if a traveller is mixed up with the line feed; or if only a 2-wire was pulled between the two switches; or where the feed comes to the light first, and the two switches aren't linked correctly. Because this level of troubleshooting requires a live circuit to determine what's what, call a qualified electrician to do this repair.

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Question

What wires need to be moved to turn on a light with one switch and a fan with another?

Community Answer

You will need an additional wire up to the fan.

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Question

I removed a wall switch that had three wires (white, black, and ground). I have installed another light with a shacked switch, but I cannot get the new light to work. What can I do?

Community Answer

It's possible that the switch you removed was one of the two that controls the non-functioning light. A switch with three wires could be used for a hall light with a switch at each end. The switch puts power out to one wire or the other, like a valve for water that goes in two directions.

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Question

How do I wire a double switch if there is only 1 black wire, 1 white wire, and a ground coming from my fan and light?

Community Answer

Connect the one black wire to the bottom dark screw of the other already wire configured switch. Essentially, 2 black wires are attached to the bottom dark screw of one switch. It is one black wire from the power source (hot wire) and a black wire from the neighboring switch.

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