How to Wire Switches and Lights

In this video, I show three ways how to wire a light switch and I demonstrate replacement of a dining room chandelier.

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[deanna]

You're talking to me like I'm a 3 yr old and i greatly appreciate it! This is exactly what i was looking for. Most other videos explain things like the person watching already knows what they're talking about. I appreciate you actually starting at the beginning. I learn better if i understand why I'm doing something. Once again, thank you for explaining everything so well!

[ryanhoward]

I am an electrician and you did a great job of explaining a basic lighting circuit. The pointer I have for you is with the problem you had with the lamp cord on the fixture. You are right, typically the ribbed wire is the neutral. A way you could check that is to ohm out each wire to the lamp socket. The tab in the bottom of the lamp socket is the hot/positive and the threaded portion is the neutral/negative. Turn your meter to ohms .You put one of the meter leads on a wire of the fixture, make sure the circuit is off or disconnected and the other meter lead on either the tab or the thread portion. If the meter reads open than its the other wire. We call this, ringing out a wire because most meters will make a tone when you complete the circuit. I know I am not a word smith, but I hope this helps.

[MaryannePeters]

Thanks so much for showing all these different configurations. That kind of information is annoyingly difficult to come by, and I really appreciate it.

[snoww]

The pictures and illustrations are very clear. Explanation is great too. Thanks.

[smritisundar]

Hello! We just wanted to say that we felt silly trying to figure out why our switch wouldn’t work and nothing on the internet explained it to us. Your diagram helped us so much and we got it to work and feel so empowered that we were able to do it ourselves! Thankyou so much

[herojh]

Thanks for this! I have been looking for a good visual and explination of this.

[kylebodile]

Perfect instruction! Thank you so much

[buzzkelly]

Excellent video. Just what I was looking for.

[travisandrews]

Thanks always love to see drawings helps a lot.

[johnfithian-franks]

Hi, I am not a newbie when it comes to electrics, but I am always being asked how to connect a three-way switch where two switches control one light and I have been looking for a well-explained video online. I like the way your videos go into just the right amount of detail without confusing the watcher so I was hoping this video would cover the three-way switch. I know you are not an electrition by trade but the problem with trades videos is that they try to complicate the situation so that the average person will put the work out to them instead of doing it themselves. I also know you are in the USA and don't use earth sheld but that is a simple change to explain. Anyway, the point of this rambling is to ask if you are considering doing any other electric videos and hopefully one on three-way switched circuits.

[VanClaaude]

Great video. However, since scenario #1 was easy to understand, is this possible to present more detailed version of scenarios #2 & #3 with some examples. It'll be highly appreciated? Thanks for sharing.

[jfrederick]

Wow! You are so clear even I can do this!

[CarlosRomero-kket]

Thanks for the diagrams, just what I needed!!

[CASH-TO-THE-MERE]

NEW SUBSCRIBER....I APPROVE OF THAT 👍👍👍

[editboy]

Thanks for the great vids, you've got a new subscriber.

[ddave]

Hello, great and helpful videos -- Thanks! Could do a video for the wiring of a "switched outlet" where one plug is "switched" and the other has constant power?? I know a tab on the outlet is supposed to be snapped to "un-link" the two plugs, but from there, I'm not sure of how to proceed. I looked quickly thru your other videos and didn't see one for this, so sorry if I missed it. But if there is an existing video clip, please provide a link. Thanks!

[mlbd]

Thanks for this - the last scenario @ 3:02 matches mine. I wish I would have come here sooner, could have saved myself a bunch of time ;-)

[karenfrye]

Very informative. I have a switched light and need to add an additional light. Do I just run black, white and red straight across to the new light? Thanks, I liked your video.

[xcmskim]

Great video. Please do a video on 3 way switch wiring.

[surferdude]

Very good explanation. In scenerio 3, where the white wire is being used as the switch leg, you should put some black electrical tape on the insulation at each end. This indicates that the white wire is now a hot wire and not a neutral wire.