Light switch direction....easy to change?

[Ferocious]

You gotta flip the switch down (instead of up) to turn the light on in this room.

I'd like it the other way around.

Is it easy to fix....or is it a major project?

Thanks.

 

[IamDavid]

Very simple. Just take the 2 screws out and flip the switch over.

 

[Tominator]

Make sure to throw the breaker or pull the fuse! The wire on the switch is HOT!

 

[Eli]

lol.. Yeah. Don't fiddle around with the switch with the power on. Use a flashlight to see if it's dark.

 

[Ferocious]

Thanks for the directions and also the safety tip.

 

[etech]

Turn the light on first.

Then turn the breaker off that controls that light. Confirm that the light is off. Take off the cover plate. I am a bit anal about safety so take a meter and confirm that the power is off. If you don't have a meter use two screwdrivers, touch each one to the screw terminals and then touch them together while holding them to the terminals. If the power is off you won't see a big arc.

Then as IamDavid said just reverse the switch and reinstall the cover plate.


One thing, is this a single switch circuit? A three way circuit will work with one switch working backwards. All you would have to do in that case is flip the other switch of the three way circuit.

 

[Ferocious]

Just a single switch circuit.

Thanks again.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

yeah turn off the breaker.

I would also recommend that you make sure it is wired correctly. Since the idiots before switched the wire positions, they might of screwed up other things too especially if it is 3 wire cable.

EDIT: Home Depot sells a book on basic wiring. You can go there, read the little bit that you need. Its like 15 bucks or something.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: yamahaXS
yeah turn off the breaker.

I would also recommend that you make sure it is wired correctly. Since the idiots before switched the wire positions, they might of screwed up other things too especially if it is 3 wire cable.

Yes, you're right, but Ferocious is obviously a bit um, mechanically-limited (no offense, Ferocious ) Just let him flip the switch. It's "working" now, it'll work upside -down-rightside up.

 

[Ferocious]

Yes, you're right, but Ferocious is obviously a bit um, mechanically-limited (no offense, Ferocious ) Just let him flip the switch. It's "working" now, it'll work upside -down-rightside up.

Believe it or not.....I was (still?) a member of Tau Beta Pi.

 

[etech]

A light switch is a single pole switch. You can reverse the wires and it will work exactly the same way. The only way to change the orientation of whether it is on or off is by physically reversing the switch.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Ferocious

Yes, you're right, but Ferocious is obviously a bit um, mechanically-limited (no offense, Ferocious ) Just let him flip the switch. It's "working" now, it'll work upside -down-rightside up.

Believe it or not.....I was (still?) a member of Tau Beta Pi.

Just b/c you have a mechanical engineering degree in quantum flux physics doesn't mean you can change out a lightswitch...or walk across the street alone w/o getting hit. I know quite a few doctors and degreed lab techs who barely know where the gas goes in the car.

 

[me4get]

I just take the switch cover off, the remove the 2 screws holding the switch off. The flip the switch over. 120VAC doesn't even bother me anymore. Just a slight tingle. But best to shut off the breaker or fuse if you don't get along with AC current.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: me4get
I just take the switch cover off, the remove the 2 screws holding the switch off. The flip the switch over. 120VAC doesn't even bother me anymore. Just a slight tingle. But best to shut off the breaker or fuse if you don't get along with AC current.

I am with him. 120v doesn't bother me any more after being shocked by it umpty billion times. Hell, I even shcoked my tounge with 120 when I was trying to strip a live wire with my teeth ( I was un aware it was live, I am not that dumb )

but still, turn the power off. if they did it correctly, the wire will be wrapped around the screws in a clockwize direction then wrapped with electrical tape. ( that is the way I do all mine ) None of that backwiring bull crap.

 

[etech]

I hope you two have your insurance premiums all paid up. You don't get used to or immune to 120VAC.

You may get lucky for awhile but it will kill you.

 

[MajesticMoose]

120V doesn't really hurt that much, it will however scare the crap out of you the first time you get a shock. actually everytime it scares me but not hurt

 

[RossGr]

Heck, 120VAC is nice, after all it lets go of you every 1/120 sec!

Trip the breaker, but if you didn't you'ed have to try pretty hard to get shocked, and to get a fatal shock would take even more effort. ie barefoot in a puddle of water then lick your fingers and touch the exposed wires, or simply licking the wires while standing in water.

Moral of the story, if you do not touch exposed wires you will not get shocked, Gotta be a bit careful cause it is possible to contact the switch box ( an old metal one) and draw a spark, which will then trip the breaker or blow the fuse.

 

[morkinva]

flip your house upside down

 

[SilentRunning]

Originally posted by: etech
I hope you two have your insurance premiums all paid up. You don't get used to or immune to 120VAC.

You may get lucky for awhile but it will kill you.

Voltage doesn't kill, amperage kills. My EE prof tested for 120v vs 240v by licking his fingers and touching the terminals (fingers were on same hand). The key is not to handle the two wires with both hands and be insulated from a ground source. Allowing a path for the current to flow thru your body at or near your heart is what will get you. I take no responsibilty for anyone who is stupid enough to do what my prof did.

 

[GoingUp]

Originally posted by: IamDavid
Very simple. Just take the 2 screws out and flip the switch over.