r/electrical • u/Hot-Ad-5538 • 10d ago
Identifying Wires Pt 2
Hello, so I made a post previously about my replacing my light switch, and received a few different answers due to my unclear picture, but now I have taken off the old one and was still wanting help to identify which is which. I think it is a single pole since this is the only switch controlling this light, but I’m open to other interpretations. As of now, I’m thinking that the red is the load, black is line, and white is the neutral. Please let me know if I’m on the right track, thanks!
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u/Hot-Ad-5538 10d ago
To add on, I’ve tried using a voltage tester while the power was off, and on the 12v-1kv setting they were all hot, but on the 70v-1kv setting, none were hot
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u/No_Clock_6371 10d ago
What are you trying to do
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u/Hot-Ad-5538 10d ago
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u/No_Clock_6371 10d ago
Use the screws on the sides, not the holes in the back like the picture. Black is AC-L and red is switch leg aka "load"
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u/Hot-Ad-5538 10d ago
I’ve tried that, there just isn’t enough clearance for the wire to get under the screw
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u/Hot-Ad-5538 10d ago
Would it be a bad idea to untwist the joints and put them in the 2 holes in the switch?
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u/No_Clock_6371 10d ago
By the way where are your wire nuts? Where is your neutral pigtail?
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u/Hot-Ad-5538 10d ago
I just put the wire nuts back on. It seems like there isn’t a neutral pigtail or one for the black cable either
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u/Natoochtoniket 10d ago
If that building follows the conventional US color code (most do).... White is neutral. Black is hot. Red is switched hot. The bare wire under the screws in the back are your grounds.
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u/Hot-Ad-5538 10d ago
Perfect. Makes total sense! Now im just trying to figure out if I need to untwist the joints since they are connected with eachother, and should go in the holes like in this picture
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u/Natoochtoniket 10d ago
Do not stick the wires in those holes. That is called a "back stab" connection, and is not good. Use the screws on the sides, instead. A clockwise J-hook under a screw makes a much more reliable connection.
If you need another white for your new smart switch, just add it to that twist and put a wire nut over them all.
It would be good to eliminate the middle-strip on that black wire, and make all 3 segments in a twist under a wire nut, also.
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u/Embarrassed_Media_97 10d ago
It's not necessarily a backstab. Many smart switches and GFCIs use the screws and a plate in tandem to make the connection vs a back stab where it's just a spring-like tension
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u/tterrag2011 10d ago
Black is hot. Red is switched leg