Now that the light switch is completely removed, we’ll need to prepare for the installation of the combo switch. In this video I walk through the process of replacing a traditional toggle switch with a more modern Leviton Decora rocker arm switch. A wire that is bare, green, or yellow (or green with a yellow stripe) is the grounding wire, and the white wire is the neutral wire. Follow the directions. (assuming it is a steel box). Before disconnecting the wires from the switch, label each wire with the provided labels. Load: Based on STEP 4, label the LOAD wire that did not test positive for voltage. A 3-way switch is used on each end with one or more 4-way switches in between the two 3-way switches. Since the switch cuts the power on and off, there will be a black wire coming into the switch and a black wire leaving. So the new switch has four wires. Line: Based on STEP 4, label the LINE wire that did test positive for voltage. Unscrew the switch from the electrical box and pull it out with the wires still attached. There are three types of wires that run to most switches: black wires that go to black or brass screws, copper or green ground wires attached to green or copper screws and neutral white wires. It is important to understand how these switches are wired before attempting to troubleshoot or replace. With the power coming to the switch and then going to the lights, you will notice that there are two black wires, two white wires and two ground wires (bare wires). Twist the wire connectors back onto the two sets of wires if you removed a light kit from your ceiling fan. The hot wire is usually red, but can also be black. Disconnect the old switch by removing the screws. The other 4-wire bundle will enter the box from the top and have three colored wires (black, white, red) and a copper (bare) one. Step 1 Turn off the electrical power to the three-way dimmer switch by turning the dimmer circuit breaker to the … Wiring a three-way dimmer switch uses four wires and allows you the convenience of dimming the light from separate switches at opposite ends of a room. The whites are normally just connected together with a wire nut and the coppers are connected together with a wire nut or grounded to a metal junction box. Unscrew and remove the switch plate; then use a voltage tester to make sure that the circuit is dead. If the light switch has a ground screw on it (usually green and at the bottom of the switch), connect it now. To replace this kind of switch, follow these steps: Turn off the power to the switch at the main circuit breaker or fuse panel. Unscrew all wires. Normally when you replace a light switch, you would leave the neutral wires alone, but in this case, we’ll be connecting them to the new combo switch. They do not have an on/off position like single pole switches. 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