There is definitely a difference between Single Pole light switches and 3-Way light switches. We dive into the differences and help give you a better understanding of the two!
Your video is perfect! You answered every question I had for a complete home change over from toggle to rocker and the single and 3way pole. Even at the end when you said I know your wondering can you interchange them. I said out loud, “yes I am wondering actually!” LMAO
Ryan Charlton What’s up Ryan, we are happy to hear the video helped. 😀 Let us know if you have any questions. Us fellow DIY’ers need to stick together. 😎👍🔧🔩
I'm a duns when it comes to wiring. I've watched video and video one after the other searching for 1 answer and you good sir answered that for me at the very end of this video. Thank you kudos👍
Jordan Watts Thanks for watching & we are happy the video helped. Glad we could answer your question, that’s awesome! We really enjoy making these helpful videos for our fellow DIY’ers. Many more helpful videos to come! 😀 Let us know if you have any questions. Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
Thank you thank you thank you. I was connecting the black wire to the top gold left side of the 3way, I was stuck till I saw this video then found my black wire needed to go with the black screw. Thank you for this helpful and free video
Cali Dame Thanks for watching & we hope you enjoyed the video. We love RU-vid! We are happy the video helped you get your DIY project completed successfully. 😀 Let us know if you have any questions. Many more helpful videos to come! Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
kaytarose Awesome Awesome & thanks for watching. We are happy you enjoyed the video & it was exactly what you were searching for. That’s why we love RU-vid. Many more helpful videos to come! 😀 Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
Thanks for watching & welcome to the DIY Raptor Club. You are very welcome & we want to thank you for sharing this. Us fellow DIY’ers need to stick together! Enjoy your day! 😎👍🔧🔩
Thanks now I know specifically what to ask for. They gave me the wrong switch at the hardware store!😬 Time to go back. I'll have to watch your 3 way video 🧐😁
N Scott Thanks for watching & we are happy to hear the video helped! Definitely let us know if you have any questions as you work through your DIY project! Keep us posted! Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
Steve Arnold How are you Steve? Thanks for watching! We are happy to hear you enjoyed the video. How’s your DIY project going, what’s the update? Let us know if you have any questions, we are here to help! Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
Cheska Mary Barcelo Thanks for watching & sharing your comment, that’s awesome! Let us know how your DIY project goes. Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
Daymon Warren Thanks for watching. Always happy to help. Us fellow DIY’ers need to stick together. Many more helpful videos to come! 😀 Please subscribe to the channel and Ring your RU-vid Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
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Thank you! I am about to install my switch and was quite confused by the red wire inside the box thats not used. I’m going to leave it unattended and do the regular paddle switch! I’d love to know where that red light connects to and why.
Thanks for watching & welcome to the DIY Raptor Club. The red wire is a travel wire and will feed through the wall and up through the ceiling into some other switch either inside that same room or in a different room. An example of a different room would be a very large living room and dining room that are not separated by a wall. Does that light switch turn on the lights and have another switch somewhere else in that room that turns off the same light? Keep us posted on your project. Hope all is well. 😎👍🔧🔩
Question for ya! Didn't see anyone else ask...I have a switch in the kitchen and another in the hallway. They both run the same light. I want to remove the kitchen switch and just keep the hallway switch, what would you recommend?
Excellent video Michael. Thank you for your educational time. I have a small outdoor project. An electrician added a series of outlets directly from the main panel. I would like to add a switch at the end of that circuit. Then I'd like to add another double outlet that will have some lights connected to it. The switch will control these lights. What kind of switch would you recommentd?
Jaime Alonzo Thanks for watching. If your switch will not be used in sequence with another switch, a single pole switch will re recommended. 😀👍 We hope you enjoyed the video. Let us know if you have any questions. Us fellow DIY’ers need to stick together. Many more helpful videos to come! Please subscribe to the channel and Ring your RU-vid Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again. 😎👍🔧🔩
I have a exhaust fan with a light in my bathroom that is controlled by two switches. One for the light and one for the fan. I need to replace the switches. One is pig tailed to the other. I know I cannot use single pole switches as there are not enough screws to attached the wires. Do I use double or triple? I always thought double or triple was for controlling the same light from a different locations such as bottom of the stairs and top of the stairs.
Donnie Londe Thanks for watching Donnie & that’s awesome. RU-vid Rocks! Let us know if you have any questions. Please subscribe to the channel and ring your RU-vid bell 🔔 this will be very helpful to us thanks again. 😎👍🔧🔩
Hey there, you are welcome. We are happy to help. Let us know if you have any questions and hey if you’re into crypto trading, check out our DIY ecosystem. Toolboxtoken.com Reach out to us any time! 🧰
I got 2 switches in my kitchen . One switch near the garage door and one switch near the sink . They both control the kitchen lights. Is that a 2 way switch ? Thanks
@@j0nwalter Thanks for watching & welcome to the DIY Raptor Club. We appreciate you reaching out to us. Below is a link to our video showing replacement of 3-way switch. This will hopefully help. Keep us posted. 😎👍🔧🔩
Hello, I have 2 old flick switches in the front of my living room by the door. One 3 way switch for the living room light, and one single pole switch for the outside light. The other 3 way switch for the living room is across on the other side. I want to replace the 2 switches by the door (living room and outside light) with a double rocker switch that are vertical of eachother connected, instead of two separate switches that are horizontal. How could I go about doing this? Thank You!
Azsa Thanks for watching & sharing your question. A few things come to mind. 1st, for your convenience, below is a link to our step-by-step video that shows installation of a new 3-way switch. You may find this helpful. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6XoIl_X2HsU.html Also, there are great options for your project. You can remove old switches & install new switch & use a cover that is large enough to cover entire box...& at the same time, have the cutout for your exact switch. Lowes, Home Depot, & Menards are great places to find your supplies for your DIY project. Definitely keep us posted! Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
Thank you so much! My only question is, do I have to change out both switches for a 3 way? I am changing out a regular toggle switch to a dimmer switch.
You cannot send power to your lights in the ceiling using a white on your top brass screw on a single pole switch. Your black power lead hitting the bottom breast screw is exactly that. However your black wire going from the top of the switch to the fan or the light fixture is what is supposed to be attached to your brass screw on your single pole switch. Your neutrals are to be twisted with a pair of lineman pliers and a wire nut are the proper color code screwed onto those Twisted white wires in that box. At least that's the way I've been taught by many electricians to wire a single pole switch. I do not agree with electricians using wires as Commons or power leads. It can be very confusing when other people come behind them years later trying to remodel or redo their work. Your main power source should come from the breaker through the walls and or ceilings to the outlet in that room putting it on its own breaker then from there you extend out from the outlet to the light switch with 14/2 wire then from the switch through the walls up to the ceiling to your fan and or light bars or light fixtures recessed lights Etc. Thank you and have a great day
Thanks for watching & sharing your thoughts. Confusing indeed for those that come by next time to work on wiring. Home owners are left with whatever & however from those they pay to hopefully make their services reliable & to code. Enjoy your night. 😎👍🔧🔩
So if I am understanding correctly, 3-way is ONLY if you want multiple switches controlling the SAME light? If I have 4 overhead lights and want two controlled by one switch and two controlled by another then two adjacent single pole setups is what I would want?
InfiniteClouds Thanks for watching & sharing your question. The 3-way Switch is very beneficial as you can see. Switching to single pole is an option & make sure you properly wire cap remaining wires not being used. Keep us posted on your project! Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
I have an old fashioned GE switch with 3 push in wires on the back. Any idea how I can identify these wires to try and buy a new single switch? I think it’s a very old low voltage button.
Thanks for watching, any update? We had a viewer run into the same experience recently. He took several photos of how wiring fed into the receptacle. He then carefully removed receptacle and took it to his local Lowes and had it matched up to an exact replacement. The new receptacle will have detailed instructions that should help in explaining the wiring to give you a better understanding of its layout. Please keep us posted and hey if you’re into crypto, join our DIY ecosystem. toolboxtoken.com Reach out to us any time! 🧰
your moms sidedick Thanks for watching & sharing your question. Great question & yes you can. This is not common however an option. The issue is, if you shut the single pole switch off it will shut the control off for the 3 way Switch. So with the single pole off, the 3 way will lose control until the single pole is turned back on. Keep us posted on your DIY project. Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
Thanks for watching & we appreciate you reaching out to us. Below is a link to our video showing replacement of a 3-way switch. This will hopefully answer any & all questions. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6XoIl_X2HsU.html Please keep us posted. Us fellow DIY’ers need to stick together! 😎👍🔧🔩
How does a person can’t convert a three-way switch to a single pose I bought a three-way switch, google swish online for my sons room but I don’t have a red wire. Just wondering how to convert it. Thank you.👍🏻🍺
Have one red wire (hot line) and two black negative connect to one screw.. no ground wire. two white wire connect together in the back. This is for a single pole switch? Can you use a single pole switch
kvdgadj Thanks for watching. In most cases, the Red wire is your travel wire. The travel wire is what takes electricity from one switch to the other. We always recommend having the proper switch for your electrical setup. Hope the video helped. 😎👍🔧🔩
I pulled out an unfamiliar/late 1980's looks like single throw switch with 2-inserts and I remember the 3rd wire goes to bottom looks like a ground a black screw. I throw it right away w/out careful review and replaced it with a single throw single pole switch. It work but only for the sink lighting's; the outlet w/a reset and the bathroom exhaust fan and overhead lighting DON'T WORK?? Does it mean the old one was a 3-way light switch? Thanks in advance for the reply.
Thanks for watching & welcome to the DIY Raptor Club. It’s possible...🤔 Is there another switch in same room that turns on & off lighting? If yes, you have a 3-way setup. Are there red travel wires present? Please keep us posted. 😎👍🔧🔩
Yes, another 3-ft away double-switch nearby quick right to walk-in shower tub for the exhaust fan and overhead lighting above shower. Felt disappointed, swap into a 3-way switch when sink's vanity lights on shows the same results BUT UPON TURNING LIGHTS OFF,,, the OUTLET WORKS and THE DOUBLE-SWITCH FOR THE FAN/OVERHEAD SHOWER LIGHT ARE OPERABLE TURNING ON/OFF. No red travel wires present. There's 3-blk wires; 3-wht wires(wired nut) and 3-bare/open wires surely they're ground(twisted bundled). Sorry, due to the Pandemic I am not letting anybody even friends at home, reply soon highly appreciated
@@juniorferraren2551 Thanks for watching & we appreciate you reaching out to us. What’s your update, have you completed project? Please keep us posted on where you are in the project so we can best assist you. 😎👍🔧🔩
@@DIYwithMichaelBorders Absolutely not completed. Analyze and read my last response 5-days ago,,w/the 3-way switch, again I leave it that way,,WHEN VANITY LIGHTS WERE ON; the outlet w/reset by the side of the vanity lighting's doesn't work to include the across double-switch 1-overhead shower lighting and 1-moisture exhaust fan.Now what did I missed????
12sreyes Thanks for watching, if your previous switch was a Single Pole...& you’re not planning on using the 3-way switch for 3-way purposes, we recommend you install a Single Pole. Keep us posted. Us fellow DIY’ers need to stick together. Many more helpful videos to come! 😀 Please subscribe to the channel and Ring your RU-vid Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
are you sure that on the single pole switch one brass screw secures the neutral while wire? I would think you connect the black wires to each of the brass screws since that is the hot wire. No?
OraneenarO Thanks for watching. We have attached our video link below showing how to safely replace your single pole switch ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GdfqCx7alt0.html Hope this helps! 😎👍🔧🔩
Francisco Martinez Thanks for watching & great question! We have attached a link below to our step-by-step video that shows how to install a 3-way switch, definitely check it out! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6XoIl_X2HsU.html Keep us posted on your project! Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
Soldier16 Thanks for watching. Do you plan on using that specific switch as a 3-way at a later date? If not, it’s best to install a single pole back into your box. Keep us posted. Please subscribe to the channel and ring your RU-vid Bell 🔔 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
On my three-way switch, I understand the black wire going into the black screw is hot. But the other wire above it going into the brass screw is also black. I'm confused by this. I have a timer switch I'm putting in and the timer switch has a blue cable a black cable and a red cable. I know the black cable from the timer switch will go into the black screw because it's hot but do I put the blue or red one into the top brass screw? Any help would be greatly appreciated thank you
Thanks for watching & welcome to the DIY Raptor Club. The brass screws on a 3-way are traveler wire connection points. Black screw is for HOT. Green is for ground. As far as your new switch, we recommend checking the instruction manual for proper connection orientation...as some switches are different than others unfortunately. Sounds like you have a pretty cool switch about to be installed. 😎👍🔧🔩
Lee Amy Thanks for watching Lee, we are adding that to the list. That’s a great video. Let us know if you have any questions, we are here to help! Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
Mark Zanetti Thanks for watching Mark, we appreciate you reaching out to us. Us fellow DIY’ers need to stick together. Many more helpful videos to come. Please subscribe to the channel and ring your RU-vid bell 🔔 that would be awesome thanks again. 😎👍🔧🔩
Michael, I'm looking to replace a 3 way switch for a single pole smart switch. Does this mean I will have to change the other switch out for a single pole switch?
Bart Ford Thanks for watching. This is common & the 3-way Switch has a (RED Travel Wire) connecting into switch. After properly & safely turning power off & removing wires from switch, you must properly “wire cap” the Red Travel Wire. This will allow you to cut the 3-way out of the system. Keep us posted. Please subscribe to the channel and Ring your RU-vid Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
robert hall Very cool. Thanks for watching. Us fellow DIY’ers need to stick together. Many more helpful videos to come! 😀 Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
Just to let you know, you got one part wrong... you only interrupt hot. Neutral has nothing to do with the operation of the switch. You could potentially have some big problems if you wired a hot and Neutral in a switch, depending on how you do it.
Good morning Sam, thanks for watching. Does your switch have a Red wire? If so, it’s a travel wire that’s feeding power to another switch. 3-way switch is needed in this configuration. Keep us posted.
@@DIYwithMichaelBorders okay sorry, I have switches that are just two way, with two wires but one is a red wire? They are typically for things on the other side of the room etc, but only 1 switch controls the outlet
@@Nolife231 Thanks for watching & that’s correct. The red wire is called a travel wire, & like you mentioned, connect to another switch on the other side of room. What is the switch that controls outlet feeding...?...
It doesn't matter where you connect it's a myth that's why companies give the option for both. Old electricians just didn't like the new as any industry
downbntout Thanks for watching & we hope the video helped! Definitely reach out to us if you have any questions! Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again! 😎👍🔧🔩
King Super Saiyan Thanks for watching & we hope you enjoyed the video. Many more helpful videos to come. Let us know if you have any questions. Please subscribe to the channel and turn on your RU-vid notification Bell 🛎 that would be awesome thanks again. 😎👍🔧🔩
It doesn't matter where you connect it's a myth that's why companies give the option for both. Old electricians just didn't like the new as any industry