Wiring a light switch–whether because you need a new one or are adding new light switches to a house–is a process that requires some basic understanding of how a light switch works. To begin with, you need to make sure you’ve got the wiring all through the house. Once you have the wiring and can access them, wiring a light switch shouldn’t take much longer than a few minutes.

Wiring a Light Switch

To begin with, ensure that power to the switch is turned off. To do this, trip the breaker box so that you are certain no power is flowing. So long as power is flowing, there is the chance that you can get electrocuted. Once you’ve got the power off, you can begin changing or adding a new light switch.

Remove the old light switch by unscrewing the plate and then unscrewing the actual light switch. Once the screws are undone, pull it out carefully so that you can see the wires. There should be red or black wires and then white wire. If the white wire has not been pigtailed, do so. This just takes the wire and puts a wire nut on it to keep the neutral, white wire from getting in the way.

Carefully unhook the original black or red wires from the light switch. To do this, unscrew the copper screws on the side of the light switch. Then carefully pull the old light switch out of the hole that was cut. Set it aside and then grab the new switch. Slide it into the hole and then put the black wires on both the copper wires. Make it so that the wire wraps around the screw in the same way it would screw down. This way, when you loosen the screw, the wire loosens and when you tighten the screw, the wire tightens. This will make it easier to get in there and make changes.

On the green screw which is the grounding screw, attach the green or bare wire. This is an important step because all electrical outlets and switches should have a ground to offer a form of protection. Once this wire is attached, put the switch back into the wall, screw it into place and then take the plate and cover the switch. Screw that into place and the light switch will have been successfully wired.