How to wire 3 switches in a 3 gang box

Assuming both switches are single pole...
One black wire from connects breaker connects to each switch.
One black wire from light goes to light
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-wire-switches.html#gang

If your switches are 3-way... then re-post new question.

Gene

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Copy following links:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-wire-switches.html#gang

http://waterheatertimer.org/images/3-gang-box-800.jpg

You have to test which wire is neutral.... usually white wires twisted together and covered with wire nut in back of box.
Hot wire with test 120volt to neutral.
Hot wire will test 120volt to ground.

Gene
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Hi John,

I'm an electrician and can help you with this question.

The *best* way to plan for this fixture is to install a "3-wire" cable (romex, bx, etc.) designated as "14-3" where "14" is the size of the conductors and "3" is the number of insulated conductors. A "three wire" cable consists of 3 insulated conductors (white, black & red) and an uninsulated or bare conductor. Sometimes, you may find that the cable has 4 insulated conductors and instead of a bare conductor it will be covered with green or green with a yellow stripe insulation. This 4th wire is the ground wire (insulated or not). Either type of cable is acceptable for use.

By installing a 3 wire cable, you will not be required to use a "special switch" or an "RF switch" which are often much more expensive to purchase and more involved to install. You can use two independent switches, consisting of a variable dimmer for the light and a speed controller for the fan, simple "snap" or "toggle" switches or any combination of both if you install into a "2 ganged box". If you opt to install a single gang box, your switches will be needed to be on a single strap (often called duplex switches) and your choces for control will become limited - and likely more expensive, too.

If you run a 3 wire cable, you can install your choice of switches, if you install only a 2 wire cable, you will be forced to use special switches or a standard switch and a pull chain on the fixture (this option is only available to you if there is a constant power source at the fixture). It will cost a little more for the 3 wire cable, but it will provide the most flexibility when selecting fans / switches.

I hope this was helpful & good luck!

Hi Velie,

I am an electrician and can help you wire this switch. If I understand correctly, you have a two-gang switch box in the wall. In it, you have two switches installed. One switch is a 3-way type, and is one of two (or more) switches used to control preparation area lighting. The other switch is a single pole type and controls a light over your kitchen table. Right?

If this is correct, remove the double switch wall plate. Let's set aside concerns with the 3-way switch. We have nothing to do to this switch so we will not need to remove it from the box, nor will we need to disconnect it. It works independently of the switch that controls the light over the table.

Remove the switch that operates the light over the table. If it is indeed a single pole switch, it will have just two terminals for wires to connect. It will probably also have indications for ON and OFF on the handle. If installed correctly, flipping the toggle up or pressing the top of the switch will turn the light on. If is a 3-way switch, it will have terminals for 3 wires to connect. One of the terminals will be a dark color from the other two. Additionally, no ON and OFF markings are on the switch handle and the light may turn on in either handle position (depending on the position of other switches controlling the light). With this information, I assume that you have now verified that it is in fact, a single pole switch. Right?

If all is going as expected, then we can continue. Shut off the power. Since a single pole switch has only two wires to connect, this should be fairly easy to do. One terminal should have a single wire that goes to the light over the table. The other terminal should have a wire that is powered all the time. It is very possible that the wire that connects to this terminal is ALSO is connected to the the 3-way switch either directly, or by a short length of wire that has a wirenut to connect several wires together. If you need to verify a connection to the 3-way switch, remove the switch from the box if needed (do NOT disconnect any wires). The wire should be connected to the dark colored terminal screw of the 3-way switch. This would indicate that this wire - and those connected by wire nut to it - is the source of constant power. Carefully fold the wires into the box and re-secure the 3-way switch if you pulled it from the box.

You new switch has a single RED wire and TWO black wires. Twist a wirenut cap on ONE of the black wires (it does not matter which). Remove the wire that was determined to be powered all the time (was also connected to the 3-way's dark colored terminal) from the old switch, and twist it around the dimmer switch's remaining BLACK wire with a wirenut. Disconnect the remaining wire from the old switch and twist it around the dimmer switch's RED wire with a wirenut. Add the dimmer switch's GREEN wire in to the bundle of uninsulated ground wires in the wirenut inside the box. Fold all the wires gently into the box and secure the dimmer to the box. Install the wall plate and turn on the power.

I hope this helped & good luck!

Open following link to see illustration:
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/Single-pole-switches-in-4-gang.jpg

Each residential electric box has 1 hot wire. This wire should be black.
Hot wire carries power from the breaker box.
Use tester and find hot wire.

Each device in box connects to the black hot wire using short jumper wires.

Outlets: Hot wire connects to brass colored screw.
Single-pole switches: Hot wire connects to either brass-colored screw.

Neutral wires are usually white, and are twisted together.
Neutral wires connect directly to silver screw on each outlet.

Wire going to lights connects to other brass screw on each switch.

What is 1mm double core?
Following image shows example 120Volt 4 gang switches with outlet.
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/Single-pole-switches-in-4-g.jpg
Each 120Volt electrical box has one Hot wire. This is true for ceiling and wall boxes.
Normally in a gang box, the Hot wire jumpers across all devices in the box.
Some switch boxes do not have Neutral wire. Neutral wires are usually white, and are twisted together and covered with wire nut and shoved to back of box.
Open following links for typical 120V and 240V circuits in US.
http://waterheatertimer.org/B220C.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/See-inside-main-breaker-box.html

Feel free to add a comment and describe wiring, and voltage.
For example if hot wire arrives from one of the lights.
Describe the wires that you have, and what each wire goes to for best possible answer.

Open following links for images of 3-gang and 4-gang single-pole switches.
With the 4 gang, just subtract one of the switches.
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/Single-pole-switches-in-4-g.jpg
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/despard-500.jpg

If you have a 3-way switch, or outlet in the box, then add a comment with more exact information about what wires you are trying to connect, what color wires you have, and what you have tried so far. This will narrow down the possible answers and speed help.

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Switches are not identified.
Single-pole switches are wired differently than 3-way.
Wire colors are not identified. Some boxes have red and black wires that carry power.
Add a comment and fill out details after studying image and reading information.
I am not there, so you can also add a comment and include in-focus photo of your switches that you posted on Flickr.

Following image shows single-pole switches, with typical black and white wires.
No bare copper ground wire is shown. Ground wires connect to green screw.
http://waterheatertimer.org/images/Single-pole-switches-in-4-g.jpg

So your new switch has 2 brass screws. No white wire connects to single-pole switch. One screw will have 1 black wire that goes to light fixture. The other screw will have 1 or 2 black wires that jumper or connect to the other switches as shown in image.

White wires are usually twisted together and covered with wire nut and pushed to back of box.

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Try ebay.

This is single-pole -or- 3-way dimmer
Manual shows on following link:
http://www.lutron.com/TechnicalDocumentLibrary/0301107A.pdf

1) Manual says: The red/white wire is not used in a single-pole application. Twist a wire
nut over this wire for a single-pole application.
2) Green wire connects to bare ground wire. Or bare ground to bare ground.
3) Connect dimmer-red and dimmer-black to either insulated wire that came off of old switch

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