How
to wire Cooper 277 pilot light switch
How to wire pilot light switch
See testing photographs 1 2
-Read about 120Volt circuit
If you are replacing ordinary switch that has 2 wires, one of the wires is
Hot and other wire is Load. Remove switch, turn power ON, tape tester leads to wood sticks, and test each wire
to bare ground wire. Tester lights up on Hot.
Larger imageCooper 277 pilot light switch Your switch may have different screws |
Pilot light switches, or indicator light switch, is designed to activate the pilot light when switch is turned ON. When switch is OFF, the pilot is OFF. Black Hot wire from breaker box connects to screws that are on same side as break-away fin. Each 120volt electric box has only 1 Hot wire. Take photo of wiring, separate wires for testing, and then test each wire to bare ground wire, and tester will light up on 120V Hot. Load wire going to light connects to brass screw opposite the switch. White neutral wire connects to silver screw opposite the pilot light. What is neutral wire: Neutral wires are the white wires that are twisted together and covered with wire nut and pushed to back of electric box. If box does not have neutral wires, the pilot will not work. It is out of code, but ground wire connected to silver screw will allowpilot light to function until neutral wire can be pulled over to switch box from any nearby outlet box. |
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Add jumper wire if break-away fin is removed on Hot side of device.
Do not add jumper wire on other side of device.
How to wire combination switch receptacle
If you are replacing ordinary switch that has 2 wires, one of the wires is Hot and other is Load. Remove switch, turn power ON, tape tester leads to wood sticks, and test each wire to bare ground wire. Tester lights up on Hot.
 Electrical
wiring device with switch and plug.
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1) Polarized outlet has a wide blade and narrow blade. Black Hot wire from breaker box connects to screws that are on same side as narrow blade. Notice also that screws on Hot side of device have a break-away fin. If fin is removed, then add a wire that connects both screws. Each 120volt electric box has only 1 Hot wire that tests 120V to ground wire. Load wire going to light connects to brass screw opposite the switch. White neutral wire connects to silver screw opposite the outlet. Neutral wires are the white wires that are twisted together and covered with wire nut and pushed to back of electric box. If box does not have neutral wires, the outlet will not work. It is out of code, but ground wire connected to silver screw will allow outlet to function until neutral wire can be pulled over to switch box from any nearby outlet box. |
If your switch does not have 2 screws on Hot side, then this wiring is not possible
Hot side has the narrow outlet blade.
Review instructions above for basic wiring
1) Use screwdriver or pliers to remove break-away fin between Hot side screws.
If Hot side does not have break-away fin, then wiring is not possible.
2) Add a jumper wire between brass load screw and outlet screw as shown in diagram
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 | Single-pole circuit Ground wire is not shown. Single-pole switch has 2 brass-colored screws Wire can connect to either brass screw. Larger image |
 | Ordinary
3 way circuit with 2 switches. Ground wire is not shown. 3-way switch has 2 brass-colored screws and 1 dark screw Larger image |
 | Typical 4-way switch circuit. 4-way switch has 2 dark-colored screws and 2 brass-colored screws. |
| How to wire photo eye to control 120Volt Load | |||
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Photo eye control
requires Neutral wire to power the internal switch. When exposed to light, the photo eye turns off internal switch, and cuts power between black hot wire and red wire to light. When darkness is sensed by photo eye, the switch is turned on and power flows to light through red wire. Neutral wire completes the circuit. Read about 120Volt circuit Intermatic photo controls/ on-line Do not face photo eye toward direct sun, to avoid damage. Face photo eye away from outdoor lights, to avoid blinking |
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| How to wire photo eye to control 240Volt Load | |||
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120Volt photo eye can control 240Volt load as
long as Neutral wire is present. Photo eye control requires Neutral wire to power the internal switch. 240Volt circuit can be turned off by turning off power to either Hot1 or Hot2. This is called turning off 'one leg' in 240V circuit. 12-3 wire or 10-3 wire is needed to provide 2 hot legs and 1 neutral Read about 240Volt circuit |
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 12-3 wire |
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How to replace fan switch
| Illustration
shows 3-speed fan switch with 3 wires. Some 3-speed fan switches have 4 wires. |
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 3-wire switch illustration. 4-wire switch is not illustrated, read instructions to right. There are different types of 3-speed/four wire switches. ALWAYS photograph switch wiring before removing old switch, so mapping to new switch is easier. | Replacing 3-way pull-chain switch is not always simple. Old and new switch should be tested to see if they are compatible match. Old switch and new switch should be compared using multi-meter or continuity tester. See image of multimeter Switch similarities: each switch has same 2 similarities: 1) Each 3-speed fan switch has same pull-chain sequence: off-high-medium-low. 2) Each 3-speed fan switch has only one wire that connects to Hot wire. So one-and-only-one wire is Hot. Switch differences: 3) Here's where different 3-way fan switches can vary: Some switches are 3-wire, and some are 4-wire. Each has 1 hot wire, but the other two or three wires on the switch are not necessarily the same from switch to switch. 4) For example connect power to Hot wire. Let's say switch is in off position. Pull chain once for high speed and power might flow from Hot wire and go to just one wire, -or- power might flow to two wires, depending on the switch. 5) Pull chain again for medium speed, and power might flow to just one wire, -or- power might flow to two different wires. 6) Pull chain again for low speed, and power usually flows from Hot wire to just one wire. How to test: 7) Easiest place to start is to find which wire is Hot. When testing, only one wire shows continuity to all other wires as you cycle through pulling the chain. 8) Once hot wire is determined. Then use multimeter or continuity tester to test which sequence of wires receives power each time chain is pulled. 9) Repeat same test on old switch. Or use deduction to limit number of possibilities. 10) Note how old switch was connected. And then map the change-over to new switch. If old and new switches are not the same, then they will not work. |
| (11) If old switch cannot be tested, make note what speed the fan is on before disconnecting old switch. For example the fan is stuck on medium speed. If possible, make note which color wire connects to Hot. Take photo of wires. Then remove old switch, and leave old switch stuck in medium. Test old switch to see which wire(s) has continuity to Hot wire. That wire(s) will be the medium speed. Then test new switch for which wire(s) is medium speed. This will narrow down the number of guesses needed to connect new switch. | |
| More information http://www.ceiling-fans-n-more.com/ceiling-fan-pullchain-replacement-and-repair.php Westinghouse switches: http://www.atlantalightbulbs.com/ecart/catalog/westinghouse-6.html Leviton: http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=13906&minisite=10026 | Typical: L - Black, 1 - Grey, 2 - Brown, 3 - Purple L - Orange, 1 - Black, 2 - Yellow, 3 - Purple L - Black, 1 - Grey, 2 - Brown, 3 - Green L - Grey, 1 - Yellow, 2 - Purple, 3 - Black L - White, 1- Black, 2 - Blue, 3 - Yellow |
 | Test old switch and new switch with continuity tester or multimeter to match up wires. Set multimeter to read ohms |
The hot wire can also arrive from ceiling box where light is located.
 | How to wire TM813 switch Pass and Seymour TM813 Legrand TM813 switch has single-pole and 3-way switch. Diagram shows how to wire 3-way switch that controls a light, and single-pole switch that controls a fan. Example shows removal of break-away fin since Hot wire powering 3-way circuit is located in box with other 3-way switch. Manual |
Manual
