I'm just going to cover the two most common used light switch types for residential use. Those are a single pole and a 3-way switch.
The single pole switch is the most common where it is one switch controlling one or more light fixtures.
A 3-way switch is where you can control one or more lights with two switches (common scenario at the top and bottom of stairs).
Where the word supply is used in the guides below, refers to the main wire supplying the electric to the switch.
To prepare The wires to be connected to the switches strip the plastic off the ends of the wire a half inch down from the end.
Single Pole Light Switch
Step1.
First you take the black (hot) wire from the supply wire and insert it into one of the holes on the back of the switch (you can only use these holes if its 14 gauge wire, if its 12 gauge wire you have to use the screws on the side of the switch).
Step2.
Take the black (hot) wire going to the fixture and insert it in the other hole on the switch.
Step3.
For the white (neutral) wire take the supply wire and the wire connecting to the fixture and twist them together using a pair of pliers.Then use wire nuts to cap off exposed ends.
Step4.
Twist the bare ground wires together leaving one wire about two inches longer than the other, then connect the longer tail piece to the grounding screw on the light switch.
Step5.
Install the switch into the electric box
Single Pole Switch Diagram
3-way Light Switch
Wiring a 3-way switch is a little more complicated, a common scenario for this is a switch at the top and bottom of the stairs. The supply wire most commonly used is 14-2 wire which contains three wires a black (hot), white (neutral) and a ground wire.
The electricity will come from the supply wire to the first switch, from there i recommend using 14-3 (or 12-3 wire where 12 gauge wire is all ready being used) wire to connect the two switches together using the red and black wires for the common wires.
Use the white wire to carry the neutral to the next switch and use the ground wire to carry the ground to the next switch. Then a 14-2 wire from the second switch going to the light fixture that will carry the power, neutral and the ground wires to the fixture.
3-Way Switch Wiring
Step1.(wiring the first switch)
Take the black(hot) wire from the supply and connect it to the first light switch, it will be labeled on the back of the switch as (hot), connect the black(hot) wire there.
Step2.
Take the white(neutral) supply wire, and the white wire from the wires that will go to the second switch, strip the ends of the wires and twist together with a pair of pliers. Install a wire nut to cover the exposed ends.
Step3.
Take the bare copper(ground) wire from the supply, and the bare copper(ground) wire from the wires going to the second switch and twist them together leaving 1 about 2 inches longer than the other.Connect the longer wire to the grounding screw on the first switch.
Step4.
Now at the first switch take the black wire from the wires going to the second switch, label it with a piece of tape(optional but recommended) as a common wire, connect it to the first switch in one of the spots labeled common(or common wires), there will be two of these common connections per switch(connect the wire to either spot).
Step5.
At the first switch take the red wire from the wires going to the second switch, label it as a common wire and connect it to the first switch in the other available common slot.
Step6.
Install the switch in the electric box, now you are ready to move to the second switch.
Step7.
(wiring the second switch)
First take the the black common wire coming from the first light switch and connect it to either of the spots on the second light switch where labeled as common.
Step8.
Take the red common wire coming from the first switch and connect it to the other common slot on the second switch.
Step9.
Take the white(neutral) wire coming from the first switch and the white(neutral) wire going to the light(or lights), strip the ends of the wires and twist them together. Then install wire nuts
to cover the exposed ends.
Step10.
Take the bare copper(ground) wire coming from the first switch and the bare copper(ground) wire going to the light(or lights)leaving one end two inches longer than the other. Then twist them together and connect the longer end to the ground screw on the second switch.
Step11.
Congratulations If your reading this your all most done. Unless u need to wire the light fixture itself. At this step there should only be one wire left to connect to the switch.
Step12.
Take the black(hot) wire going to the light and connect it to hot Position on the second light switch.
If you have a question about light switch wiring or a question about another repair post it in the user feedback.
3-Way Switch Diagram
