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TECHNOLOGY
Sometimes the Most Simple Things Confuse Me
Clueless Homeowner tries to install a light switch and buy coffee yogurt. And, I have some questions!
I mentioned recently that I wanted to replace a light switch with a model that has a pilot light so that I can see at a glance that I left the garage light on again. This simple change could help me avoid deep sighs of frustration from my long-suffering wife.
I bought an $8 switch and tried to put in yesterday.
Fail!
After killing the circuit breaker, I opened up the switch and found two black wires, one connected to the top left part of the switch and one lower down. I thought the one on top must be from the circuit box and the bottom come from the light. So I connected that “top” wire to the screw marked A1 above and the bottom to W. I snapped the circuit breaker back on and…
Well, the pilot light was on. But the garage light wasn’t.
Okey-dokey, I must be wrong about this, so I looked at the instruction sheet. This is the time honored practice for all Real Men: try it our way first, then look at the instructions if necessary.
Hmm. The diagram shows the light side connected to both W and the black screw…
