How To Wire a Triple Light Switch

Sept. 16, 2012 - PRLog -- Villa Park Hardware has training and a video for customers with questions on how to wire a triple light switch. Many homes have a triple switch as you enter to operate an outside light, an entrance light and a switched outlet. The most common triple switch has three single pole switches in one housing.

When you replace a defective triple switch, always turn off the electric to the circuit you are working on and test the wires with an electrical tester. Before you remove the old wires, find the dark colored screw and mark the wire going to this screw with masking tape. This is your common screw and it is connected to the wire coming from the electrical panel to feed the three switches. If there is not one dark screw, the back should be marked “common” to identify this terminal.

You will have a switch that either has screw terminals or push in terminals. Most electricians prefer screw terminals. When connecting the wires to the new switch, wrap them in a clockwise direction so the wire tightens down properly.

Once you have identified the common screw terminal, the other three terminals will go to your light source or appliance. These screws should all be light colored. If you want the switches to work in a specific order, now is a good time to mark each wire before connecting it to the new switch.

You will disconnect all the wires from the old switch and reconnect the common wire to the common screw. The other screws can be connected in any order you like. There is no neutral or white colored wire connected to a switch. A switch is just a break in the hot. If you have a grounding wire, it will be green or bare and would be connected to the green screw.

After connecting the wires, you can wrap the switch with electrical tape to keep the screws or wires from touching a metal box. Put the switch in the box and turn back on the electric to test.

For more tips, you can visit the Villa Park Hardware at 46 S. Villa Ave. Villa Park, IL 60181 or online at http://www.villaparkhardware.com

To watch the video visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6blqPBYzfXk