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How to connect a Double Pole Switch?

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How to connect a Double Pole Switch? Homer 10-09-2007
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Posted by Homer on October 9, 2007, 10:16 am
I am changing my light switches around the house from old fashion
rusty ones to new ones.
Yesterday I took off one of those switches and I realized that is a
Double-Pole Switch and what is does is basically turning two lights in
my hallway on and off. I went to home depot to get a new switch but
they didn't have it so I decided to put the old one back but I can't
remember how those wires were connected.
I have two pairs of wires (black and white). On one pair (Pair A) my
tester shows they are both Hot (both black and white wires).
When I check it with Voltmeter, only Black one shows Hot (it's 110v).
The other one (white) doesn't show anything.
The other pair (Pair B) doesn't show anything.

Also there is another Switch for switching the same light as the end
of hallway (Three-way Switch). I believe the other pair of wires (Pair
B) is connected to Three-Way switch.

If I connect a light ball to Hot Wire from Pair A and one from the
Pair B, light ball goes On. If I switch the three-way switch and do
the same thing with another wire from Pair B, light ball goes On too.
Something like this?:

H
o o-------------o
\o-----N
o o-------------o
A B


If I check voltage of Hot wire from Pair A with another Hot from
another switch box I will get 220v. I have no idea why I should have
two phases inside my house (they should be all 110v).



Please help me fugure this out.

Thanks,


Homer


Posted by Bill on October 9, 2007, 10:29 am
How many switches are for this same light?

There is a "double pole switch" and then there is a "four way switch"

These are different.

If there are 3 or more switches for the same thing, then probably a four way
switch. Below is a diagram.

4 way...
http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/switchoutlet/4way/

Double pole...
(See A DOUBLE KNIFE SWITCH)
http://www.robomo.com/electronics/electronics/electronics106.html




"Homer" wrote in message
>I am changing my light switches around the house from old fashion
> rusty ones to new ones.
> Yesterday I took off one of those switches and I realized that is a
> Double-Pole Switch and what is does is basically turning two lights in
> my hallway on and off. I went to home depot to get a new switch but
> they didn't have it so I decided to put the old one back but I can't
> remember how those wires were connected.
> I have two pairs of wires (black and white). On one pair (Pair A) my
> tester shows they are both Hot (both black and white wires).
> When I check it with Voltmeter, only Black one shows Hot (it's 110v).
> The other one (white) doesn't show anything.
> The other pair (Pair B) doesn't show anything.
>
> Also there is another Switch for switching the same light as the end
> of hallway (Three-way Switch). I believe the other pair of wires (Pair
> B) is connected to Three-Way switch.
>
> If I connect a light ball to Hot Wire from Pair A and one from the
> Pair B, light ball goes On. If I switch the three-way switch and do
> the same thing with another wire from Pair B, light ball goes On too.
> Something like this?:
>
> H
> o o-------------o
> \o-----N
> o o-------------o
> A B
>
>
> If I check voltage of Hot wire from Pair A with another Hot from
> another switch box I will get 220v. I have no idea why I should have
> two phases inside my house (they should be all 110v).
>
>
>
> Please help me fugure this out.
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> Homer
>



Posted by Bill on October 9, 2007, 10:29 am
How many switches are for this same light?

There is a "double pole switch" and then there is a "four way switch"

These are different.

If there are 3 or more switches for the same thing, then probably a four way
switch. Below is a diagram.

4 way...
http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/switchoutlet/4way/

Double pole...
(See A DOUBLE KNIFE SWITCH)
http://www.robomo.com/electronics/electronics/electronics106.html




"Homer" wrote in message
>I am changing my light switches around the house from old fashion
> rusty ones to new ones.
> Yesterday I took off one of those switches and I realized that is a
> Double-Pole Switch and what is does is basically turning two lights in
> my hallway on and off. I went to home depot to get a new switch but
> they didn't have it so I decided to put the old one back but I can't
> remember how those wires were connected.
> I have two pairs of wires (black and white). On one pair (Pair A) my
> tester shows they are both Hot (both black and white wires).
> When I check it with Voltmeter, only Black one shows Hot (it's 110v).
> The other one (white) doesn't show anything.
> The other pair (Pair B) doesn't show anything.
>
> Also there is another Switch for switching the same light as the end
> of hallway (Three-way Switch). I believe the other pair of wires (Pair
> B) is connected to Three-Way switch.
>
> If I connect a light ball to Hot Wire from Pair A and one from the
> Pair B, light ball goes On. If I switch the three-way switch and do
> the same thing with another wire from Pair B, light ball goes On too.
> Something like this?:
>
> H
> o o-------------o
> \o-----N
> o o-------------o
> A B
>
>
> If I check voltage of Hot wire from Pair A with another Hot from
> another switch box I will get 220v. I have no idea why I should have
> two phases inside my house (they should be all 110v).
>
>
>
> Please help me fugure this out.
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> Homer
>



Posted by Homer on October 9, 2007, 10:54 am
> How many switches are for this same light?
>
> There is a "double pole switch" and then there is a "four way switch"
>
> These are different.
>
> If there are 3 or more switches for the same thing, then probably a four way
> switch. Below is a diagram.
>
> 4 way...http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/switchoutlet/4way/
>
> Double pole...
> (See A DOUBLE KNIFE
SWITCH)http://www.robomo.com/electronics/electronics/electronics106.html
>
>
>
> "Homer" wrote in message
> >I am changing my light switches around the house from old fashion
> > rusty ones to new ones.
> > Yesterday I took off one of those switches and I realized that is a
> > Double-Pole Switch and what is does is basically turning two lights in
> > my hallway on and off. I went to home depot to get a new switch but
> > they didn't have it so I decided to put the old one back but I can't
> > remember how those wires were connected.
> > I have two pairs of wires (black and white). On one pair (Pair A) my
> > tester shows they are both Hot (both black and white wires).
> > When I check it with Voltmeter, only Black one shows Hot (it's 110v).
> > The other one (white) doesn't show anything.
> > The other pair (Pair B) doesn't show anything.
>
> > Also there is another Switch for switching the same light as the end
> > of hallway (Three-way Switch). I believe the other pair of wires (Pair
> > B) is connected to Three-Way switch.
>
> > If I connect a light ball to Hot Wire from Pair A and one from the
> > Pair B, light ball goes On. If I switch the three-way switch and do
> > the same thing with another wire from Pair B, light ball goes On too.
> > Something like this?:
>
> > H
> > o o-------------o
> > \o-----N
> > o o-------------o
> > A B
>
> > If I check voltage of Hot wire from Pair A with another Hot from
> > another switch box I will get 220v. I have no idea why I should have
> > two phases inside my house (they should be all 110v).
>
> > Please help me fugure this out.
>
> > Thanks,
>
> > Homer- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Two Switches.

This switch is Double-Pole. On its back it says Two Input and Two
Output (It's two single switches in one box).


Posted by Doug Miller on October 9, 2007, 11:05 am

>Two Switches.
>
>This switch is Double-Pole. On its back it says Two Input and Two
>Output (It's two single switches in one box).

So there are actualy two separate switch levers? How many screw terminals
total?

Can you post a photo of the switch somewhere?

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

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