Quick help, need to change an electrical switch (BEOFRE IT IS DARK!)

[50]

Okay, so we have two switches i our bathroom and one of them went out. There are three main wires flowing to the switch. Each one has a white a black and a copper (I assume grounding is copper). The old switches don't tell which one is positive and which is negative so I'm not sure which one to go with. Also I want to know if the contractor did the wiring right.
Ok so from these three wires, all three of the copper wires connect together and are attached to a screw. 1st question is, do I need to connect the ground wire from the switch(on the old ones none of hte ground wires are attached)?
Second Question is, on a conventional switch (mine is labeled on and off), would the red (positive right?) go to the top or the bottom? If I know this I can identify negative and positive! Thanks

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: 50
Okay, so we have two switches i our bathroom and one of them went out. There are three main wires flowing to the switch. Each one has a white a black and a copper (I assume grounding is copper). The old switches don't tell which one is positive and which is negative so I'm not sure which one to go with. Also I want to know if the contractor did the wiring right.
Ok so from these three wires, all three of the copper wires connect together and are attached to a screw. 1st question is, do I need to connect the ground wire from the switch(on the old ones none of hte ground wires are attached)?
Second Question is, on a conventional switch (mine is labeled on and off), would the red (positive right?) go to the top or the bottom? If I know this I can identify negative and positive! Thanks

If your thinking positive and negative your way in over your head, your thining DC and your working with AC. That said (and if you turn off the fricken breaker). If its a normal switch, no you don't need the ground (the outlet itself should be grounded). The black is hot, the white is your neutral (bonded to ground in your panel). Connect the new switch just like the old one.

I don't follow your comment about all 3 copper wires are connected together. Can you post a pic?

 

[GRHawk]

Originally posted by: 50
Okay, so we have two switches i our bathroom and one of them went out. There are three main wires flowing to the switch. Each one has a white a black and a copper (I assume grounding is copper). The old switches don't tell which one is positive and which is negative so I'm not sure which one to go with. Also I want to know if the contractor did the wiring right.
Ok so from these three wires, all three of the copper wires connect together and are attached to a screw. 1st question is, do I need to connect the ground wire from the switch(on the old ones none of hte ground wires are attached)?
Second Question is, on a conventional switch (mine is labeled on and off), would the red (positive right?) go to the top or the bottom? If I know this I can identify negative and positive! Thanks

If I read that right, you have 2 switches in the bathroom to control one light or a set of lights. If that is true, then these are 3-way switches (with 3 wires attached to the switch + a bare ground wire). If they are connected wrong at either of the 2 switches, one of the switches will not work some of the time, depending on the on/off position of the other switch. This doesn't mean that either switch is bad, just wired wrong. I recommend an electrician or a friend that knows electrical wiring to come and help you out.

More info here:
http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/switchoutlet/3way/index.htm

If these are not 3-way switches that you have installed, I still think you will need some help. Don't screw around with electricity!

GRHawk

 

[50]

Sorry there are two switches with two lights. I just need to know which wire to connect to which. I know I can test and see if sparks go flying but tis only me right now and I can't run back and forth between the breaker box.

Also the three coper wires are for grounding. I attached the grounding wire from the switch to them too just for safety sake.

 

[JackRipper]

Originally posted by: 50
Sorry there are two switches with two lights. I just need to know which wire to connect to which. I know I can test and see if sparks go flying but tis only me right now and I can't run back and forth between the breaker box.

Also the three coper wires are for grounding. I attached the grounding wire from the switch to them too just for safety sake.

Got pix?

I think if u can't get help locally maybe pics would help us help u...

-JR

 

[GRHawk]

Ok 50,

Single pole switches are much easier. S/B a black and a white wire for each switch at either screw terminal, plus a bare copper wire attached to a green screw for grounding.
Any other wires attached together in the box should be left alone, unless there is a bad connection at the wire nut.

More info here:

http://www.hometips.com/hyhw/electrical/22switches.html

Since you are by yourself, wait for some help!

GRHawk

 

[50]

Hello all,
Let me try to explain this better so the way they have this wired, there are THREE main wires (I don't know why since there are only two lights but there are coming from the wall. Each has a black a white and a copper. One switch controls one set of lights one another. All of the white are twisted together and all of the copper are twisted together. I am thus left with three wires. On the right side, there is a conventional switch, it has two black wires connected to it. One wire is a black wire coming from the wall (right wire) which is connected to the top connector on the switch and the other is at the bottom connector and that is a wire connected to another one of the black wires coming form the wall (center). The switch on the left was originally set up so that the wire on the top connnector was attached to the black wire coming from the wall on the left). The other wire was twisted with the wire coming from the center and the wire coming from the bottom connector of the outlet on the right. So I assume my black wire should go to the left black wire and my red wire will go with the other switch and be twisted with the center black wire.

 

[DrPizza]

okay, I just read your post. WTF are you talking about: "red wire"? Where did the red wire come from?

Please take a picture or draw a diagram and post it for us. I'm more than happy to give you advice, but I wouldn't want to make some sort of assumption and have you burn your house down. (btw, you have 3 wires coming into the box, because one is supplying the power to the lights.)