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Posted by on September 20, 2006, 1:03 am
Hi,
Could someone decribe or direct me to a site where I can read about how
to connect the following. Apologies for not using appropriate terms.
I have a "new work" set up. A three gang plastic electical box in a
remodeled bathroom. I want to install three switches that will control:
1. One switch for two sconces.
2. One switch for the fan
3. One switch for the ceiling light.
The electrical box now contains 4 sets of wires that goes to each of
the above devices plus a cable that delivers power.
I've got three switches that kinda look like this:
http://www.azponline.com/amazonstore/iws?request=8&asin=B0003S1MCO&merchantId=1392&browse_id=57706&parent_id=
No idea how to proceed.
Many thanks in advance!
Aaron Fude
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Posted by David Nebenzahl on September 20, 2006, 1:40 am
aaronfude@gmail.com spake thus:
> Could someone decribe or direct me to a site where I can read about how
> to connect the following. Apologies for not using appropriate terms.
>
> I have a "new work" set up. A three gang plastic electical box in a
> remodeled bathroom. I want to install three switches that will control:
>
> 1. One switch for two sconces.
> 2. One switch for the fan
> 3. One switch for the ceiling light.
>
> The electrical box now contains 4 sets of wires that goes to each of
> the above devices plus a cable that delivers power.
>
> I've got three switches that kinda look like this:
>
>
http://www.azponline.com/amazonstore/iws?request=8&asin=B0003S1MCO&merchantId=1392&browse_id=57706&parent_id=
>
> No idea how to proceed.
>
> Many thanks in advance!
First of all, congrats for supplying all the necessary info. Makes
answering this one a piece of cake.
1. Do the grounds: cut 3 short (~6") "pigtails" from the same gauge bare
solid copper wire as the cable used (12 or 14 gauge), one for each
switch. Connect one to each ground screw (the green one attached to the
frame of the switch). Now connect *all the bare ground wires* from all
cables, plus the pigtails, together. There are now probably too many
wires to do this, so cut one more pigtail as a jumper, divide the ground
wires into two bundles, and connect the, with the jumper connecting the
two bundles. You're now grounded!
2. For the 2 switches that each control just one device (fan & ceiling
light), connect the black wire (from the cable to the device) to one
screw on the switch (doesn't matter which one).
3. For the switch that controls the two sconces, you'll need a jumper as
above, but this time, it must be a piece of wire, the same gauge as the
cable used, but with black insulation. Cut a piece about 6" long, strip
the ends, connect one end to the switch (either screw), and connect the
other end to the two black wires from the cables going to the sconces.
4. Cut 3 more black jumpers as above, 6" long. Strip both ends. Connect
one end to the other terminal of each switch.
5. Connect all remaining unconnected black wires in the box together.
6. Connect all white wires in the box together.
You should be good to go.
Tips:
If the electrician hasn't already done so, you need to strip the jacket
off the cables (I'm assuming you have Romex here), and cut the internal
paper insulation off. For this, the best tool is a "cable ripper", a
cheap-looking sheet metal tool with a "tooth" that strips the cable
without cutting into the wire insulation, available at any
home-improvement place. Strip the jacket back as far as you can reach
into the box.
Neatness counts. Try not to make any sharp bends which might kink the
wires. It helps to coil the wires neatly, then press them into the box.
Remember to leave enough room for the switches to fit in.
I like to use the red wire nuts with the little molded-on handles, to
get a good tight squeeze on the wires.
--
Napoleon won the battle of Waterloo. The German Wehrmacht won World War
II. The United States won in Vietnam, and the Soviets in Afghanistan.
The Zealots won against the Romans, and Ehud Olmert won the Second
Lebanon War.
- Uri Avnery, Israeli peace activist
(http://counterpunch.org/avnery09022006.html)
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Posted by on September 20, 2006, 2:13 am
Hi,
Thanks for such a great response!
A couple follow up questions on my part:
1. Rather than connect the wires to the screws, my switches also have
those little holes where you can stick the wires in securely. Can I use
those.
2. When you say, for instance, connect all white wires together, what
exactly does "connect" mean. (I'm a total novice, a picture would be
nice!)
Once again, thanks a lot!
Aaron Fude
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Posted by David Nebenzahl on September 20, 2006, 3:32 am
aaronfude@gmail.com spake thus:
> Thanks for such a great response!
>
> A couple follow up questions on my part:
> 1. Rather than connect the wires to the screws, my switches also have
> those little holes where you can stick the wires in securely. Can I use
> those.
You can; I don't like to. Those are made for "production electricians"
who get paid, apparently, by the switch/fixture/box. Makes things go
faster, but also makes taking the wires out if needed later a lot
harder. See below for connection details.
> 2. When you say, for instance, connect all white wires together, what
> exactly does "connect" mean. (I'm a total novice, a picture would be
> nice!)
Yeah, pictures would be nice; you can probably find those on some
home-improvement web sites out there.
Anyhow, about making connections: what's meant by this is making a good
*electrical* connection, so all the juice that's needed will flow
through all the wires. A good electrical connection also happens to mean
a good *mechanical* connection: the idea is to have as much metal
touching as possible.
*Making wire-nut connections:
Most of the connections here are made by means of wire nuts, which you
can buy at any hardware or home-improvement place. They're molded
plastic cones that come in different colors, corresponding to different
sizes. Inside is a metal (usually aluminum) ferrule that grabs and binds
the wires.
To make the connection:
1. Strip the wire if it's insulated:
Best tool for this is a wire stripper made for the purpose, though you
can also use an ordinary pair of wire cutters if you're careful. You
want to remove about 1/4"-3/8" of insulation, being careful not to nick
the wire which can make it break. The stripper will have several rows of
"teeth", each corresponding to a different gauge (thickness) of wire;
just pick the correct set, put the wire in the teeth, squeeze down, and
the insulation will be cut but not the wire (on a good day, anyhow).
2. When all wires are stripped, gather all the wires you want to connect
in a bundle. You want to get them pretty well lined up, so they're all
more or less even with each other. This may take a bit of bending,
twisting and cajoling. When they're lined up, put the bundle into the
wire nut and twist the wire nut tight onto the bundle. You want a nice,
tight connection (but don't overdo it). Test each wire to make sure you
can't pull it out; sometimes there'll be a loose wire, in which case
twist the wire nut off and re-do it.
To connect wires to switches (and other devices with screw terminals):
Strip a little more of the insulation than above, close to 1/2". Using a
needle-nose pliers, make a nice little half-loop at the end of the bare
wire, just the right size to slip *under* the screw around its shank.
Put the loop under the screw and tighten the screw.
Tools--you'll need:
* Wire cutter (diagonal cutter, or "dikes")
* Wire stripper
* Cable ripper
* Utility knife (to cut away jacket & insulation)
* Screwdriver
Does that clear things up?
--
Napoleon won the battle of Waterloo. The German Wehrmacht won World War
II. The United States won in Vietnam, and the Soviets in Afghanistan.
The Zealots won against the Romans, and Ehud Olmert won the Second
Lebanon War.
- Uri Avnery, Israeli peace activist
(http://counterpunch.org/avnery09022006.html)
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Posted by David Nebenzahl on September 20, 2006, 3:51 am
I spake thus:
> Tools--you'll need:
> * Wire cutter (diagonal cutter, or "dikes")
> * Wire stripper
> * Cable ripper
> * Utility knife (to cut away jacket & insulation)
> * Screwdriver
Forgot
* Long-nose pliers
You might want to pick up a circuit tester while you're at it, in case
(god forbid) something goes wrong; this is just a little neon test light
with two probes you can connect to something to see if it's "hot".
(STANDARD ADMONITION: Never never never work on any circuit while it's
hot! Make sure the breaker is turned off first. But you already knew
that, didn't you?)
Also, regarding wire strippers: I like the fancy kind that cuts the
insulation *and* strips it off in one squeeze (with the simpler kind,
you have to squeeze to cut the insulation, then pull it off). They're a
little expensive; however, I bought a Chinese pair ($3.49) from a local
cheap-tool place, and they work plenty well.
--
Napoleon won the battle of Waterloo. The German Wehrmacht won World War
II. The United States won in Vietnam, and the Soviets in Afghanistan.
The Zealots won against the Romans, and Ehud Olmert won the Second
Lebanon War.
- Uri Avnery, Israeli peace activist
(http://counterpunch.org/avnery09022006.html)
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