X10 Community Forum
🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Topic started by: drounds67 on August 13, 2007, 10:51:01 AM
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Hi,
I'm looking to add some wall switches to control my lights in my house. I have two problems. The first is not sure what switches I need. I have two lights in the living room. One that is a fan/light combo(fan motor is on seprate switch is controled by two switches in different gang boxes. I have looked at the switches and they have three wires going to them. Am I going to need a three way switch to make this light operate correctly? The other light is a standard switch so know problem there. Also The kitchen light has two switches that control it. I have not looked at the wiring for this but suspect it will be the same as the other light. Just looking for a little guidance on what I need to buy to control these lights. Thanks
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Actually, the biggest question, is if you have an active neutral wire (usually white) in the switch boxes.
And by "lights", you mean permanently mounted lights, and not a light fixture plugged into a wall outlet, right?
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...I have looked at the switches and they have three wires going to them....
What color are the wires?
As I was typing this message, Walt2 brought up the question do you have a neutral wire? The non dimming switch that you should use for the fan will need one.
Are both the fan and the light controlled from more than one place? If so, you'll need an X10 switches for 3-way use.
Is your kitchen light fluorescent?
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I'll have to check on the color of the wires? I think black, white and another color. But I will check. Yes the kitchen light is fluorescent. The fan is controlled in only one place. It is just the lights. Yes they are permantley mounted. Hope this helps. I will find out what colors the wires are and post them.
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... I think black, white and another color....
I'm betting the 3rd wire is bare or green and is the ground wire. Maybe red going to the load.
...Yes the kitchen light is fluorescent....
Start a search here for fluorescent lights to get an idea as to what you'll need to control the fluorescent light. An XPFM inline switch may be your best solution.
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I check the switch it has one black and two reds. There is a black and red on one side and red on the other.
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No white wires?
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I check the switch it has one black and two reds. There is a black and red on one side and red on the other.
That sounds like a 3-way, where the black is the common, and the two reds are the two switched. All three are "loads".
Not having a white wire, a neutral, anywhere in the box will limit your choices of replacement switches.
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What switch can I use if it is a three way switch?