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Stuart Baordman Posted on Feb 06, 2020
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I want to remove an old switch and replace it with a T5225 Combination switch. BUT, I only have 3 wires going into the box. Plus the white wire is the live wire as I determined with my wire tester

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CJ Rock

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  • Electrical S... Master 4,428 Answers
  • Posted on Feb 06, 2020
CJ Rock
Electrical S... Master
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Assuming North America...

Likely the existing switch is a 3 way. The switch has 3 connections?

Yes, and the existing switch is not labeled on/off?

Yes, then what you have in the box are a feed wire (white) and two travelers (red and black) that go to at least one more switch that controls the same lighting fixture(s).

So given your description there is no neutral wire and you will not be able to have a receptacle in the same box without running a new cable.

5 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Jul 07, 2008

SOURCE: hampton bay ceiling fan

we have a hampton bay fan burning smell coming in didnot run

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Anonymous

  • 75 Answers
  • Posted on Dec 21, 2008

SOURCE: Dimmer Switch Installation issue

ALL you really need to worry about is the white and black wire that you hooked up before. The green ground screw is not needed. If you have a bare wire completely bare all the way, you can hook it to the green, but it is not required to work.
The other 2 screws are for the switch. It does not matter which wire goes where, as the switch just puts them together, and takes them apart.

Anonymous

  • 63 Answers
  • Posted on Apr 05, 2009

SOURCE: Wiring to a 3 single pole combination switch

run 14-2 wire to power switches, then run one 14-3 wire and one 14-2 up to fixture..you will have an extra neutral but its okay... just tie all nuetrals together....this gives you the needed 3 hot wires!

Anonymous

  • 1865 Answers
  • Posted on Sep 02, 2009

SOURCE: wiring a leviton 5625-W switch receptacle combination

You cannot replace the switch with a switch/receptacle combo because there is no neutral wire. The black and white that you see are both used as hot wires. One is the Line and the other is the Load.

You have to install another 2 wire cable or replace the existing with a 3-wire cable. A 3-wire cable has a black, red, and white, plus the bare ground wire

A

Anonymous

  • Posted on Sep 26, 2010

SOURCE: GE digital timer. Instructions say to: 1)

Find the Hot wire:
Your switch has 2 wires. One of these wires is Hot, and one goes to load. Disconnect wires from switch. Turn on power. Do not stand on wet surface. Test each wire to bare copper wire. When tester lights up, that is Hot wire. The other wire goes to load.

Connect wires:
Hot wire goes to Black timer wire
Wire to load goes to Red timer wire
White wire connects to white wires that are twisted together
Bare copper wire connects to Green wire from timer

How to connect white wire to white wires that are twisted together.
a) Strip white timer wire so you have 1-1/2 " of bare wire. Stranded wire will wrap around other wires easily.
b) Remove wire nut. DO NOT UNTWIST wires.
c) Hold all whites together so bare copper lines up. Wrap stranded copper around the twisted wire.
d) Replace wire nut, or use larger wire nut. Twist real tight. Do not use tape. You can solder the connection.
e) When done, pull on white time wire to make sure it is held tight. Push whites back into box.

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0helpful
4answers

Want to replace my standard light switch with a switch combination Outlet with constant power to the outlet the wiring is old school only two wires are visible in the Box

It cannot be done. You will have to pull another wire from the box that the switch wire goes to. If there are only two wires in the box then the whole building is probably not run with the nuetral wire and it is therefore going to be more effort than it is worth.
0helpful
1answer

How do u change a house hold light switch on a wall

Turn off power.
Unscrew cover plate.
Unscrew both screws holding switch into wall box.
Pull switch outward to stretch wires.
Take photos so you can reconstruct wiring if necessary.
Note color of each screw.
Green is for ground wire.
There are many different kinds of switches.
Single pole switch has two wires plus ground, and both screws will be same brass color, plus green ground screw.
3-way switch has 3 wires plus ground, and one screw will be different color than other two screws, plus green ground screw.
Remove wires from switch.
If wires are attached into holes on back of switch, notice there is small slot next to each hole.
Insert small screwdriver or metal nail file into slot while pulling on wire. This takes 3 hands, and then wire will come out of hole.
Replace each wire onto new switch, matching the old switch, tighten screws very tight, and then put switch back into box.
When pushing wires back into box, you want to keep the wires folded behind the switch as much as possible.
Wires are not harmed when scrunched back into box.
Put switch cover over switch so no possible spark can exit box.
Turn power ON, and try the switch.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-wire-switches.html

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

0helpful
1answer

Replacing a switch outlet combination with a switch GFCI outlet combination and there is only one cable in the box (14/3)

If it worked before, it should be a wire to wire replacement. You are replacing a regular switch/outlet with another switch/outlet which just happens to be a GFI outlet.
Wire the old switch wires to the new switch and the old outlet wires to the new outlet.
Cut the breaker/s off first !!
1helpful
1answer

I have a standard light switch that controls one overhead light - fine. Now I want to replace it with a Leviton T5225 which I think is the right weapon for the job -- one unit that has a light switch and...

It sounds like you have power in your light, power is fed down on the white wire and the black wire is switched and connects back up to the light. You do not have a "neutral" in the box, so you cannot run an outlet with the wire that is currently available.
0helpful
1answer

Describe your how to install a ipp15-1l Problem

1) First of all you need to determine what device you are replacing. Single-pole or 3-way.
Add a comment any time

Remember you can also take advantage of fixya phone service, where expert speaks to you over the phone while you are installing device. This service is not free.

2) If you are replacing single-pole switch, that is where one switch controls the Load (light fan motor)
Here are instructions for installing ipp15-11 Motion switch for single-pole replacement.
Old switch has 2 insulated wires plus bare ground wire.
Ipp15 bare copper ground wire will connect to bare copper ground wire.

Separate switch wires for testing.
Use ordinary two prong tester, tape tester leads to wood sticks to keep hands away from power.
Turn power ON.
Test each wire to bare ground wire.
Tester lights up on Hot wire. This wire will connect to ipp15 screw marked BL black.
The other wire that came off switch will connect to ipp15 screw marked RD red
Hot wire is identified.
Located in back of box are white wires that are twisted together and covered with wire nut. Remove this nut.
Now test Hot wire to all other wires in box, excluding bare ground wire.
Tester lights up on neutral wires. ipp15 screw marked WH white connects to neutral wires.
If your box does not have neutral wire, then connect ipp15 WH white to bare ground wires.

4) If you are replacing 3-way switch, that is where 2 different switches control the same Load (light fan motor.
3-way switch has 3 insulated wires and a bare ground wire.
Note screw colors on old 3-way switch. Dark screw is the Load wire. The 2 brass screws are the travelers.
From the ipp15 instructions, it appears you will need Viza Coordinating Switch Remote plus a sensor device to accomplish the 3-way installation.
If you have both of these devices and want free written instructions, then add a comment and I will verbalize contents from the manual.
Also you can pay a fixya expert to talk over the phone.

5) Leviton also offers technical assistance at 1-800-824-3055
6helpful
2answers

I'm trying to install this Woods 59008 automatic fan timer in the bathroom. My old on/off switch only has three wires....and I that a light switch next to that. The woods 59008 has a red, black, white...

Sure George.

These in-wall timers have extra wire to operate the electronics located inside timer.
You said your old switch has 3 wires.
The new timer can only replace on-off switch that has 2 brass screws and a green screw.
If old switch has 2 brass screws and a dark screw, that is a 3-way switch.
Typically a 3-way switch is found at both ends of hallway.
The Woods 95008 countdown timer is not made to replace 3-way:
http://waterheatertimer.org/Woods-timers-and-manuals.html#59000

Here's what to do:
1) Switch has 2 wires (plus bare ground wire). Take switch wires and connect them to timer-black-wire and timer-red-wire. Choose either one for now.
2) In back of electric box are white wires twisted together and covered with wire nut. Connect timer-white to these wires. This wire will power timer electronics.
3) If electric box does not have white wires described above, then connect timer-white to bare ground, along with timer-green wire.
4) Turn on electricity, and push override button located below the OFF button. If lights come on, timer is wired correctly. If lights do not come on, then reverse timer-red and timer-black wires.

Add a comment if your need more assistance.
1helpful
1answer

New switch GE model 15265 ... to light up 2 lightbulbs outside. Old switch all cables are black. Those who light up the tester are the hot=Red/black?? Those which do not light up are white?? Green I know...

Manual for GE 15265
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/GE-15265-manual.pdf
15A timer works fine on two bulbs, up to 1440 total watts.

If old switch has 2 screws plus green ground screw, then timer is right.
If old switch has 3 screws plus green ground screw, 15265 doesn't replace 3-way switch.

Timer-green wire connects to bare ground wire

Old switch has 2 screws with wires on each.
One wire is Hot-from breaker and this connects to timer-black wire.
One wire Goes-to-lights and this connects to timer-red wire.
If you get these two wires reversed, timer will not work, so reverse them.
It will not blow circuit if the timer-red and timer-black wires are reversed.

Timer-White wire is the confusing wire for everybody:
Timer-white wire runs clock motor located inside timer.
In back of electric box are neutral white wires that are twisted together and covered with wire nut.
Connect timer-white to these neutral wires.
If box does not have neutral white wires, connect timer-white to bare ground wire.

geno_3245_61.jpg
3helpful
1answer

Wiring a leviton 5625-W switch receptacle combination

You cannot replace the switch with a switch/receptacle combo because there is no neutral wire. The black and white that you see are both used as hot wires. One is the Line and the other is the Load.

You have to install another 2 wire cable or replace the existing with a 3-wire cable. A 3-wire cable has a black, red, and white, plus the bare ground wire
0helpful
1answer

Leviton 8299 combination

first you must know which wires are hot from the breaker box and witch ones go to the device you are switching--lets call it a light bulb. The hot wires coming from the breaker should go where it says "LINE" black one on the "HOT" side and white one on the "White" side. One of the black wires hanging out of the switch should go on the "LOAD" "HOT" side of the switch, then attach the other hanging black wire to the black wire going to the light with a wire nut. Your white wire going to the light must go on the "LOAD" "WHITE" side or it just won't work.
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