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Left switch on gang light pair not getting power

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1

I’m trying to install a set of light switches to control my fan and lights. The left switch has two black cables running to it and the right has a red and black.

I installed both switches and the left doesn’t power on when I flip the breaker. I’ve confirmed it isn’t a manufacturing issue with one of the switches by uninstalling/reinstalling them in the reverse order. In both cases, the left side is the one not receiving power.

Below are the original and new configurations, respectively:

The new red wire on the left connects to the nest of black wires similarly to the original bottom black wire. I’m afraid what may happen if I reverse the wires going to the red and black on the left switch, though I don’t know whether that will do any actual harm.

Any clear issues with how I rewired these?

electrical wiring lighting switch

share|improve this question

asked Aug 10 at 22:13

Justian MeyerJustian Meyer

11144 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The guide also mentions the switches are only compatible with a one-way, single-pole circuit. I had to do some reading, but I don’t believe I’m looking at a three-way circuit, am I?
  
  – Justian Meyer
  Aug 10 at 22:27
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Difficult to be sure, but it looks like you have LINE & LOAD reversed on the left switch.
  
  – brhans
  Aug 10 at 22:43
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment
 | 

1

I’m trying to install a set of light switches to control my fan and lights. The left switch has two black cables running to it and the right has a red and black.

I installed both switches and the left doesn’t power on when I flip the breaker. I’ve confirmed it isn’t a manufacturing issue with one of the switches by uninstalling/reinstalling them in the reverse order. In both cases, the left side is the one not receiving power.

Below are the original and new configurations, respectively:

The new red wire on the left connects to the nest of black wires similarly to the original bottom black wire. I’m afraid what may happen if I reverse the wires going to the red and black on the left switch, though I don’t know whether that will do any actual harm.

Any clear issues with how I rewired these?

electrical wiring lighting switch

share|improve this question

asked Aug 10 at 22:13

Justian MeyerJustian Meyer

11144 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The guide also mentions the switches are only compatible with a one-way, single-pole circuit. I had to do some reading, but I don’t believe I’m looking at a three-way circuit, am I?
  
  – Justian Meyer
  Aug 10 at 22:27
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Difficult to be sure, but it looks like you have LINE & LOAD reversed on the left switch.
  
  – brhans
  Aug 10 at 22:43
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment
 | 

I’m trying to install a set of light switches to control my fan and lights. The left switch has two black cables running to it and the right has a red and black.

I installed both switches and the left doesn’t power on when I flip the breaker. I’ve confirmed it isn’t a manufacturing issue with one of the switches by uninstalling/reinstalling them in the reverse order. In both cases, the left side is the one not receiving power.

Below are the original and new configurations, respectively:

The new red wire on the left connects to the nest of black wires similarly to the original bottom black wire. I’m afraid what may happen if I reverse the wires going to the red and black on the left switch, though I don’t know whether that will do any actual harm.

Any clear issues with how I rewired these?

electrical wiring lighting switch

share|improve this question

asked Aug 10 at 22:13

Justian MeyerJustian Meyer

11144 bronze badges

share|improve this question

asked Aug 10 at 22:13

Justian MeyerJustian Meyer

11144 bronze badges

share|improve this question

asked Aug 10 at 22:13

Justian MeyerJustian Meyer

11144 bronze badges

asked Aug 10 at 22:13

Justian MeyerJustian Meyer

11144 bronze badges

asked Aug 10 at 22:13

Justian MeyerJustian Meyer

11144 bronze badges

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

2

You need to reverse the line and load on the left switch

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 10 at 22:44

JACKJACK

7,38711 gold badge66 silver badges2020 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Is there any risk to reversing them to see? If that’s the case I’m guessing it didn’t matter what side line/load were configured on the original switches so left and right were configured differently?
  
  – Justian Meyer
  Aug 10 at 22:45
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  That did the trick. Thanks for the help!
  
  – Justian Meyer
  Aug 10 at 22:48
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  They do not designate line and load on a single toggle like these.
  
  – JACK
  Aug 10 at 22:52
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment
 | 

7

These new smart switches are active devices, and power themselves between supply (their black) and neutral (their white obviously). Therefore they care about the difference between supply (their black) and switched/lamp power (their red). Your old switches didn't care about that.

You need the smart-switch black (supply) to go to the bundle of black wires. The smart-switch red (switched) must go to the lamp/fan, which are the red and black that go into the same cable.

Remember, do not dim a motor. Motors respond very badly to triac style dimming intended for lights, they need a different type of thing called a fan speed control.

share|improve this answer

edited Aug 11 at 0:33

answered Aug 11 at 0:29

Harper - Reinstate MonicaHarper - Reinstate Monica

106k77 gold badges8282 silver badges238238 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  That’s great advice. Fortunately these are switches and not dimmers, but you stopped me from trading them in for a dimmer set instead, so thank you.
  
  – Justian Meyer
  Aug 11 at 0:32
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment
 | 

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2

You need to reverse the line and load on the left switch

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 10 at 22:44

JACKJACK

7,38711 gold badge66 silver badges2020 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Is there any risk to reversing them to see? If that’s the case I’m guessing it didn’t matter what side line/load were configured on the original switches so left and right were configured differently?
  
  – Justian Meyer
  Aug 10 at 22:45
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  That did the trick. Thanks for the help!
  
  – Justian Meyer
  Aug 10 at 22:48
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  They do not designate line and load on a single toggle like these.
  
  – JACK
  Aug 10 at 22:52
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment
 | 

2

You need to reverse the line and load on the left switch

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 10 at 22:44

JACKJACK

7,38711 gold badge66 silver badges2020 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Is there any risk to reversing them to see? If that’s the case I’m guessing it didn’t matter what side line/load were configured on the original switches so left and right were configured differently?
  
  – Justian Meyer
  Aug 10 at 22:45
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  That did the trick. Thanks for the help!
  
  – Justian Meyer
  Aug 10 at 22:48
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  They do not designate line and load on a single toggle like these.
  
  – JACK
  Aug 10 at 22:52
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment
 | 

You need to reverse the line and load on the left switch

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 10 at 22:44

JACKJACK

7,38711 gold badge66 silver badges2020 bronze badges

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 10 at 22:44

JACKJACK

7,38711 gold badge66 silver badges2020 bronze badges

answered Aug 10 at 22:44

JACKJACK

7,38711 gold badge66 silver badges2020 bronze badges

answered Aug 10 at 22:44

JACKJACK

7,38711 gold badge66 silver badges2020 bronze badges

7

These new smart switches are active devices, and power themselves between supply (their black) and neutral (their white obviously). Therefore they care about the difference between supply (their black) and switched/lamp power (their red). Your old switches didn't care about that.

You need the smart-switch black (supply) to go to the bundle of black wires. The smart-switch red (switched) must go to the lamp/fan, which are the red and black that go into the same cable.

Remember, do not dim a motor. Motors respond very badly to triac style dimming intended for lights, they need a different type of thing called a fan speed control.

share|improve this answer

edited Aug 11 at 0:33

answered Aug 11 at 0:29

Harper - Reinstate MonicaHarper - Reinstate Monica

106k77 gold badges8282 silver badges238238 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  That’s great advice. Fortunately these are switches and not dimmers, but you stopped me from trading them in for a dimmer set instead, so thank you.
  
  – Justian Meyer
  Aug 11 at 0:32
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment
 | 

7

These new smart switches are active devices, and power themselves between supply (their black) and neutral (their white obviously). Therefore they care about the difference between supply (their black) and switched/lamp power (their red). Your old switches didn't care about that.

You need the smart-switch black (supply) to go to the bundle of black wires. The smart-switch red (switched) must go to the lamp/fan, which are the red and black that go into the same cable.

Remember, do not dim a motor. Motors respond very badly to triac style dimming intended for lights, they need a different type of thing called a fan speed control.

share|improve this answer

edited Aug 11 at 0:33

answered Aug 11 at 0:29

Harper - Reinstate MonicaHarper - Reinstate Monica

106k77 gold badges8282 silver badges238238 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  That’s great advice. Fortunately these are switches and not dimmers, but you stopped me from trading them in for a dimmer set instead, so thank you.
  
  – Justian Meyer
  Aug 11 at 0:32
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment
 | 

These new smart switches are active devices, and power themselves between supply (their black) and neutral (their white obviously). Therefore they care about the difference between supply (their black) and switched/lamp power (their red). Your old switches didn't care about that.

You need the smart-switch black (supply) to go to the bundle of black wires. The smart-switch red (switched) must go to the lamp/fan, which are the red and black that go into the same cable.

Remember, do not dim a motor. Motors respond very badly to triac style dimming intended for lights, they need a different type of thing called a fan speed control.

share|improve this answer

edited Aug 11 at 0:33

answered Aug 11 at 0:29

Harper - Reinstate MonicaHarper - Reinstate Monica

106k77 gold badges8282 silver badges238238 bronze badges

share|improve this answer

edited Aug 11 at 0:33

answered Aug 11 at 0:29

Harper - Reinstate MonicaHarper - Reinstate Monica

106k77 gold badges8282 silver badges238238 bronze badges

answered Aug 11 at 0:29

Harper - Reinstate MonicaHarper - Reinstate Monica

106k77 gold badges8282 silver badges238238 bronze badges

answered Aug 11 at 0:29

Harper - Reinstate MonicaHarper - Reinstate Monica

106k77 gold badges8282 silver badges238238 bronze badges