How to Connect a Switch Leg (Step by Step Guide)
Content
The switch leg component of the electrical wiring circuit controls the flow of electrical current to fixtures or sockets. The type of circuit wiring in a switch is determined by the electricity that enters the circuit. Switches that control lights or outlets from multiple locations require the use of an additional switch circuit.
In our guide, we will go into more detail about the specific steps:
A simple guide to connecting the switch foot
The circuit breaker section consists of a switch and two electrical wires that connect the outlet to the switch. The switch leg is what you could use for a door switch, for example. Follow this step by step guide to learn how to connect the switch leg:
Step 1: Roll out the wires
Connect the cable from the luminaire to the junction box. Then run the hot wire that comes out of the plug and bypasses the junction box. The same hot wire connects the light. We now have two wires, one from the lamp to the junction box, and the other is a hot wire that goes past the switch and goes straight to the light. That's all the conductors we need.
Step 2: Stick on the label
Stick a label on each wire so you don't get confused about what's what. In this case, the incoming power (black is the hot wire, white is the neutral wire) is labeled POWER and the white wire is labeled LOOP.
Step 3: Remove the bases
Remove bases. However, you still need to connect the ground, making sure that since it's a metal box, we have our ground screw, and that one of those grounds is wrapped around that ground screw. Trim excess, leaving at least 3 inches sticking out.
Step 4: Connect the Wires Together
First, let's deal with the incoming power. The black and white wires represent the hot and neutral wires, respectively. Connect the white wire to the black wire (hot).
AttentionA: Most lighting fixtures require a ground connection, but since I'm connecting a keyless light fixture with a gold and silver screw, there's no room for it as it's a ceramic fixture with no metal parts to touch. (1)
Step 5: Connect the wires in the junction box
The white wire in the junction box is no longer null; now it's a hot wire. Connect the ground wire to the switch. Next, connect the white wire (hot wire) to the switch; it doesn't matter which side of the switch you connect it to.
Step 6: Attach the Leg Wire
Our black wire is the switch leg. Connect the leg of the switch to the light switch, passing electricity back to the lights to turn them on. Then screw the light switch inside the box and the wires attached to it. (2)
Step 7: Screw on the Light
Bend the hooks of the neutral and hot wires to attach the light. Connect the neutral wire to the silver screw. After that, attach the switch leg to the gold screw. Finally, screw on the light and turn on the power to check if you connected the switch leg correctly. If it lights up, you've done a great job!
Take a look at some of our articles below.
- Rope sling with durability
- How to plug electrical wires
- What happens if the ground wire is not connected
Recommendations
(1) Ceramics - https://mse.umd.edu/about/what-is-mse/ceramics
(2) power transmission - https://americanhistory.si.edu/powering/
pass/trmain.htm
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