How To Troubleshoot Light Switch And Replace A Light Switch - Step By Step

[@josephk9182]

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[@billyc768]

I would like to add that you should check for voltage again with the multimeter after turning off power at the circuit breaker, just to make sure you flipped off the correct switch. Don't assume the circuit breaker is labeled correctly.

[@josephk9182]

Sure I checked it but I did not show it on this video.

[@llroman7823]

So true. I found 3 breakers mislabled! Thanks for reminding me.

[@jq7323]

Why would you check when the circuit is switched off? I am a novice.

[@billyc768]

@@jq7323 Because you want to be extra cautious when working with high voltage...or more importantly, high amperage. As I mentioned in my original comment, you can't always trust that the switches on the circuit breaker are labeled correctly. Of course, if you've had to do anything on that circuit in the recent past, you already may be 100% certain that you turned off the correct one. But it still doesn't hurt to check the voltage anyway. You don't want to find out the hard way that you didn't cut off the one you thought you did. It literally could come as quite a shock. 😄

[@danyarbrough7847]

Thanks for breaking this down so well! Best I’ve seen after much searching 👍

[@josephk9182]

Any time.

[@Sguy2130]

Appreciate the tips, espiecially on testing the resistance of the switch, verified the switch went bad on my garbage disposal switch prior to installing the new switch (also tested the new switch first). Thanks!

[@josephk9182]

Thank You.

[@stevendomenech7405]

Excellent video

[@ruthnigh4012]

Excellent explanation and video, you explained so well - that now I understand! Thanks for sharing!

[@rondoschiavoni8840]

IT NOW WORKS I BOUGHT THE LED CIRCUIT TESTER IT HELPED ME THE MOST

[@josephk9182]

Happy to know.

[@dudemann8654]

Excellent video! Very informative and to the point. Thanks!

[@josephk9182]

Any time

[@ronaldclifton8710]

Great video, I wish I could understand him better.

[@josephk9182]

Thank you.

[@johnveltri9941]

Very helpful. Thank you much friend.

[@josephk9182]

Any time.

[@vendu100]

Thank you for very clear video. Do you have a video on how to identify or trace switch to circuit breaker? or circuit breaker tacing video?

[@josephk9182]

Please look at my playlist electricity.

[@cwd1232]

Great vid!

[@josephk9182]

Thank You

[@ahmedm6041]

Great video and thank you for sharing your skill! I hope you do another video of testing a bad outlet.

[@josephk9182]

I will do. Thank You.

[@nesco713]

Great video. Easy to understand and follow.

[@josephk9182]

Thank You

[@Pokka676]

You are genius

[@josephk9182]

Thank you.

[@hereticsaint100]

Super helpful! I was finally able to correctly test my switch. It's ok, so it must be the light fixture. Thanks!

[@josephk9182]

Good Luck with it.

[@DIYBikeLife]

Black should go to ground and red to hot from the multimeter…..js….but great video thanks for the help…really needed it

[@hydrainarms3135]

Awesome mate 👍

[@josephk9182]

Thank You

[@bryanmann6756]

Excellent video. How do you check a dimmer switch? same way?

[@josephk9182]

Same way.

[@markiejoecandil9126]

Thank you for you explanation how to trouble shoot of switch

[@christie8184]

Great video. 100% resolved 1 issue. The funny thing is I had to connect the ground and the neutral at the fan/light to make it work. Something is still wrong?

[@josephk9182]

The neutral and ground should be separate.

[@Pretyboyflako1]

If you had a open neutral that was your issue

[@musicvideos1846]

Fantastic video! Thank you - now I know how to change a light switch. Do you have a video showing how to change an outlet switch? Can you make a video explaining how to work the volt meter - the choices of the different settings? For this, you went to 200 volts. Thank you so much Joseph!

[@josephk9182]

Look at this: How To Replace Single Light Switch kzbin.info/www/bejne/mniodpaof6iJY5Y If you want to add outlet or switch Look at the following: How to Add an Outlet, a Wall Switch and Light Fixture to Existing Wall - Part 1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4PJkHSqi8aJbtk Part 2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGWnenpsqqx5pdU Part 3 kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4rbaKqHermMpZY I will do video of how to use multimeter.

[@musicvideos1846]

@@josephk9182 You are so kind. You replied to me so quickly. Do you have a video on how to change an "outlet?" - not add a new one. Thank you that you will make a video on explaining how to use a multimeter - the voltage - DC and AC, Ohms, resistance - what all those choices on a multimeter mean and when to use them. Thanks so much Joseph. What is a good multimeter to buy?

[@josephk9182]

I have but I did not put it yet. You can look at this last part of this video to see how I connected the wires to the new outlet. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnLGiIB_ZZ1rrdk Here is a nice not expensive Digital Multimeter = amzn.to/3oqGZ9K

[@musicvideos1846]

@@josephk9182 Hi Joseph - thank you for the link showing the outlet install and the link showing a multimeter for purchase. I look forward to your video on taking out an outlet and putting a new one in. I also look forward to your great video on explaining how to work a digital multimeter - every function choice and how to test to see if the multimeter is working. Thanks so much!!!

[@Mystic_94]

Thank you very helpful

[@josephk9182]

Thank You

[@plomo221]

Are the colors mix?

[@campbellzachc]

Movie Trailer Voice: *In a World.....Where Wire Strippers Don't Exist*

[@josephk9182]

Thank you.

[@jessheredia0127]

Thank you for your explanation. I finally understand

[@josephk9182]

No problem thanks

[@squirrelattackspidy]

Back 5 years later. What symbol do you set it on to check continuity? Can you do this with voltage / current going through the wires and the switch hooked up? Or do you only check continuity when there is no voltage / current? I guess if it's already hooked up and live, I could always check to see if the switch is working by checking the voltage with the switch in the on and off positions. Thanks!

[@pbm___000]

This video is dangerous to have you test a switch using live voltage! Totally misses the point that a multimeter can test for resistance and doesn't need house electricity to test the switch. Try this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJDQmpqZqcaSf9U

[@squirrelattackspidy]

@@pbm___000 Thanks!

[@williamcattr267]

You demonstrated a voltage test of the switch, but what if a person wanted to perform a continuity test with the multimeter with the switch still connected to the wall? Can this be done by just turning off the circuit breaker to the light switch and performing the continuity test, or does the switch still have to be removed from the wall to perform the continuity test? Just wondering if there would be a false reading if the breaker was off (and yet still wired) for a continuity test.

[@josephk9182]

You can test with multi meter the switch continuity provided you turning off the circuit breaker to the light switch. It is not going to be a false reading if the breaker was off.

[@phillipkelley3513]

Excellent video! Do you recommend putting electrical tape around the side of the switch that has the "Hot wires" where they are a little exposed?

[@josephk9182]

You can but it is not necessary.

[@phillipkelley3513]

@@josephk9182 Ok thank you.

[@KeithBarnett]

I did the first check and got a big spark. Does that also mean a bad switch our not wired right?

[@josephk9182]

You probably short between the hot and the ground and that is why you got spark. Does not mean a bad switch but what it says that a 110v is in the switch which is good. Now you must verify if the switch is the problem or the wire.

[@randy1ization]

having the swith grounded, which is tied into the neutral, would seem more of a risk for electrical shock if someone would grab the power side of the switch and the ground, then they would become the load? or would electricity take the path of least resistance and just go to ground?

[@josephk9182]

First neutral wire should not be connected to the switch, only the hot wire. Second the metal part of a switch should be grounded (usually to a green screw) and yes in case of voltage leaks to the metal part the electricity takes the path of least resistance and just go to ground (this mean short to the ground )

[@randy1ization]

, my thinking is this, if there is no ground connected to the switch, there can be no shock, because you are in no way possible can be connected to the neutral side of the circuit(neutral and ground are really the same thing), in the breaker box the ground wires hook to the neutral buss, then go to a copper rod into the earth. and complete the loop? line load line? thanks for your time. or is this the case, if somehow u touch hot side of switch, because cover is off and standing barefoot on wet floor, would u shock.? I know u can grab hot with one hand, in shoes and not get shock.

[@ktadema]

@@randy1ization Grabbing hot barefoot on wet floor would absolutely shock. Even your other example, grabbing hot side with shoes, is not 100% safe. You are assuming your shoes and whatever you are stepping on has enough electrical resistance to stop completing a circuit that would allow electricity to go to ground.

[@mapleridgefarm1026]

When your testing the switch why do you use the ground probe to test the hot wire?

[@josephk9182]

Because the hot wire potential (the voltage) relative to ground should be 120 volts . The neutral is grounded in the electrical breaker box.

[@mapleridgefarm1026]

Joseph K. Not sure i understand that, what would happen if i actually use the hot (red probe) to test the hot wire?

[@johngreen8693]

@@mapleridgefarm1026 Just what I was windering Joe.

[@wehadkeecreekkennels3019]

@@mapleridgefarm1026 it doesn't matter which probe you use. AC has no polarity.

[@bobalbert2828]

Great video! Thank you

[@josephk9182]

Than You

[@daMMadification]

Lol loved it when you said ...this stupid switch

[@josephk9182]

Thank You

[@ghaziyadallee3913]

great video thanks, I am in the UK, which country does your volage pertain to?

[@johngreen8693]

The US uses 120v I think - from the videos I have seen.

[@warronfrench8163]

Joseph K, good video, spacebo. I was wondering, do you have a video for troubleshooting why a "network" or "circuit" made up of a (startis with) a 4way -> 3way -> 4way -> ending at a 3way no longer works?

[@josephk9182]

Can you clarify 4way -> 3way -> 4way

[@lnc4920]

I only get a reading of around 51 on my meter when switch is on. Is that the switch going out?

[@josephk9182]

If you taking about voltage yes. The resistance should be 0 when switch ON and when OFF is infinite.

[@Mr_Gilado]

How come when they tested the live wire I got 120v, but when connected to the light switch drops to 10v ? I hit the switch to on and the continuity still reads 10v

[@aniruddha129]

Is it a bad idea to turn off main power off when working instead of specific light or outlet power?

[@pbm___000]

If you're asking this question you probably shouldn't be working on electrical circuits that can literally kill you. Hire a pro or take some classes.

[@emilyelizabeth6582]

I’m redoing the switches in my house to our kitchen lights the lights (2 light hosing )didn’t turn on with the switch we got a new switch hooked it up the same way as the old one and still didn’t work we noticed though there is two grounds twisted together behind the switch and not actually to the switch what could possibly be the issue?

[@josephk9182]

The ground is not the issue but you need to connect the ground to the switch ground for your protection. First verify that the circuit breaker to this lights is ON. Then check to see if there is 110V between the switch contacts to the ground when the switch is ON. If there is 110V there may be a disconnection wire probably the neutral wire or the hot wire.

[@emilyelizabeth6582]

@@josephk9182 thank you 😊

[@tompiche2369]

In this case the switch was bad. What do you do if the switch is working fine, but the light still does not work (assuming the bulb is also good)? What can you check on the light side?

[@josephk9182]

First replace the light if it does not fix the issue check to see if there is a potential (110 V) between the hot and neutral where the light is connected (when the switch is ON). If no 110V this mean there is a wire disconnection between the switch and the light.

[@botfantasies6229]

Why do you touch red probe to ground and then black probe to hot? I thought it’s black probe to ground first and then red probe to hot.

[@josephk9182]

It does not metter in AC voltage. It does matter in DC voltage. Basicaly in AC voltage you can connect the voltmeter red to ground and black to hot or red to hot and black to groung you will get the smae result. (The voltage is 120V AC)

[@glorygloryhallelujah]

I recognize that accent from anywhere...ivrit

[@chickenfoundation9323]

On hot side I get 120 but the light side I get 3-7 still bad switch?

[@josephk9182]

If the switch is turn on you should get 120v on the hot side and the light side. The switch is bad.

[@gabbygonzaga552]

I am getting 0 from the ground to the hot. There is a ground wire. Any idea why this could be?

[@josephk9182]

and what is the volt between hot to neutral ? The hot may not have voltage or the ground is disconnected.

[@graciemaemarie11jones16]

if i should change my switch, i dont have ground wire. new switches have green grounding screw. is my nuetral my ground?

[@denvercharlebois699]

neutral is not the ground. If you don't have a green screw on the switch then the copper needs to be grounded to the box, for a proper grounding.

[@okaythen001]

installing a 3 way switch for a staircase, can I use one switch tha'ts dimmable switch and the other one that's not?

[@josephk9182]

I quite sure you can .

[@squirrelattackspidy]

How do you know which is hot and which is ground if they are the same color?

[@josephk9182]

You can use an electricity tester pan to figure out where is the hot.

[@sabinoespinoza9986]

What would happen if accidentally connect the hot wire to the upper screw, and the “light” wire to the bottom screw?

[@josephk9182]

It will turn the light off when the switch is up and when you close the switch it will turn on the light.

[@sabinoespinoza9986]

Joseph K Wow, you replied to my comment/question right away. Thank you so much. There is a buzzing sound coming from my switch light? What do you think would be the problem?

[@josephk9182]

Not a good contact. Best is to replace the switch.

[@sabinoespinoza9986]

If accidentally connect the hot wire where the ground connects and vice versa. Would the lights still turn on?

[@josephk9182]

@@sabinoespinoza9986 You should never do it. The ground is to protect you. The ground should be connected to the ground only. If you do it you will short the hot to the ground ant it a sure case of short or fire beside of high possibility to be electrocuted .

[@randy1ization]

do u know why electrical tape is used on wire nuts

[@josephk9182]

It used for electrical insulation.

[@randy1ization]

a wire nut is a spring covered in plastic, it will loosen up, over time, if not taped in place. that is why you tape wire nuts, also like a clock, put the tape in the same direction as the nut turns an d tape it to the wire.

[@randy1ization]

the ground wire is not always hooked to the switch, and you may have to check the power neutral from the grounds wired together in the switch box. or tap into the neutral wire. all the switch does is allow one side, the hot side, to go to the load, when switched.

[@josephk9182]

You should have grounded the switch. If you do not have ground you can refer the hot to the neutral or to the ground (the expose wire). Note, all neutral wires are grounded in the electric breakers box .

[@DimensionFluke]

Ive tested the switch in low continuity range and max. I got no reading... o ohms im really concerned that the building wiring has a short.

[@josephk9182]

If you test result 0 ohms when switch closes and opened its short

[@DimensionFluke]

@@josephk9182 Gad damn it.. Another xtra work!

[@josephfoster30]

The hot wire coming from the wall has no power at all? What could it be?

[@josephk9182]

How did you test it ? there may be number of reasons if no power. 1. hot is somehow disconnected. 2. circuit breaker issue. 3. neutral is disconnected

[@randy1ization]

I understand grounding an outlet, but grounding a switch I cannot understand.

[@randy1ization]

I had a buzzing switch, everything is junk today, 6 year old switch went bad. I lived in a house built in the 60s for 25 years, never replaced a switch.

[@randy1ization]

I checked voltage 119 volts. replaced with new cooper brand. 2 leviton brands were bad. made in usa. so I was surprised. Levitons been making switches forever. sad.

[@keithkennedy9072]

Single pole switch is 68cents at home depot just replace it if not working

[@josephk9182]

Yes I agree but first you must verify that the switch is the issue otherwise, you will replace switch that would not solve the issue.

[@MrKatfishHimself]

That light had an delay to cut on. Why did you replace a single pole with a 3 way switch? You left a screw exposed for no reason.

[@josephk9182]

You are correct. I had a spare 3 way switch so I used it to replace the single pole switch.

[@MrKatfishHimself]

@@josephk9182 you could have put some electrical tape over the screws so maybe if you forgot in case you needed to switch it out again, you wouldn't get a jolt or another wire happen to touch it.

[@pbm___000]

No! This is so dangerous for beginners! A better way is to disable electricity at the circuit breaker, and then test for continuity in the switch. Even that poses risk, but is a safer way to test

[@mfahlers]

You need to improve the sound. Please get a microphone, they are not that expensive.

[@josephk9182]

I will tahnks

[@rondoschiavoni8840]

just replace a new ac 3 prong outlet , followed to wire to wire from old to new out let , now when checking with volt meter the longer slot prong is hot to ground it this OK it works fine. oh my mobile home has all its outlets larger prong hole to to ground 1976 mobile home?

[@josephk9182]

can you clarify what is the longer slot ? What is the voltage between the short prong and the ground ?

[@rondoschiavoni8840]

The short prong and ground is 120 volts on-the new replaced outlet, yet on "all" _ the other outlets in my mobile home are opposite the longer prong is hot to ground 120 volts .

[@josephk9182]

You made a mistake in the new outlet installation. The volts between short prong to ground should be 120 and between long prong to ground 0. You need to connect the hot wire which is usually the dark color (black) to the short prong and the neutral wire ( white color) to the long prong. Just flip the wire . please look at my video : kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4rbaKqHermMpZY to see how to do install the outlet and how to test it (at the end of the video at 8.40 minute)

[@rondoschiavoni8840]

to Joseph Hi the trouble is the new outlet I installed is right the short prong is 120 Volts to ground , however the rest of the Mobile home is all wired so the long slot is 120 volts to ground, is it because its an older mobile home and that is the way they wired it years ago? and I also notice all the round ground holes in the out let face up on the top of the 2 slots, I thought the hole ground was suppose to face down towards the floor.

[@josephk9182]

No. The electrical code states that the hot wire should be in the short prong . I believe the outlet connection was done not by electrician . It is dangerous because some old appliances connect the neutral wire to the metal. You r neutral has 120v which is dangerous. Just flip the wires.

[@rubinp3168]

Way too confusing. Get to the point is it good or bad

[@BlogofTheW3st]

Are you Israeli?

[@buddybell9711]

Ur audio is terrible from the first second. Redo the video and come watch it

[@josephk9182]

Sorry for the audio quality.

[@buddybell9711]

@@josephk9182 NO WORRIES MAN JUST REDO IT THATS WHY I COMMNTED

[@Absentimental34]

damn dude, that's extremely rude considering the guy is legitimately helping people maybe you should lower your expectations and develop some manners

[@buddybell9711]

@@Absentimental34 the hole reason I even said anything is because I'm a fan who are u to judge my by. Comment. Dude you do great vids your audio in this be one is a bit off that's all I'm saying

[@Bewefau]

cant even hear a word your saying get a better mic.

[@josephk9182]

Yes I will.

[@bigmacdaddy1234]

Everybody else heard him just fine. Get a hearing aid.