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I moved to a new place (for me,) but the wiring is old. I'm adding a switch/outlet combo (Combo) to a 2 gang box with an existing 2 single pole switchs combined on the other side of the box. The old switches were wired in a way I haven't seen before, and I don't know how to add the new Combo.
The old switches have 4 brass screws and is installed with the writing "Leviton" is upside down. I'll have to speak in terms of top/down and right/left as I see them, even though the existing installation was "different" for me. The switches control an exhaust fan and ceiling light, respectively. Before I messed with the old switches, 2 outlets and the ceiling light in the adjacent room worked just fine! (Middle of run.)
As I said, the box is two gang. Four sets of 3 wires come into the box, all sets are white, black, and bare ground. The bottom right set of wires is the only one with power. All wires I don't mention were grouped together and capped. I jotted down a diagram of how it was wired, but now I'm not so sure I got it right. :confused1: There were 2 black wires connected to the lower right (as I saw the switches facing me) screw. There was one black wire attached to each of the top screws. I don't remember a white wire connected to the switches at all. The ground wires were attached at the back of the (metal) box, as there is no ground screw on the switches.
I know I need to use pigtails instead of putting two wires under a screw. Beyond that I need all the help you can give. Here are some of my questions:
1. The new hardware has 2 brass screws on my left, 2 black screws on the right and a green ground screw on the bottom left. I assume the black wires go to the black screws. Is that correct?
2. In replacing the existing switches with new ones, does it matter which black wire is on the top or bottom?
I first tried to put in the new switches hardware (not adding the Combo.) I assumed the bottom black (live) wire goes to the bottom black screw, the bottom white wire to the bottom brass screw, and the top wires and screws similarly attached. Only trouble is that when I wire the new hardware that way, neither the ceiling light nor the fan works. So what am I doing wrong?
3. And, finally, back to the reason I got started with all this, whenever I get the new switches in place, how do I get power to the Combo?
Thanks in advance for help in this.
I moved to a new place (for me,) but the wiring is old. I'm adding a switch/outlet combo (Combo) to a 2 gang box with an existing 2 single pole switchs combined on the other side of the box. The old switches were wired in a way I haven't seen before, and I don't know how to add the new Combo.
The old switches have 4 brass screws and is installed with the writing "Leviton" is upside down. I'll have to speak in terms of top/down and right/left as I see them, even though the existing installation was "different" for me. The switches control an exhaust fan and ceiling light, respectively. Before I messed with the old switches, 2 outlets and the ceiling light in the adjacent room worked just fine! (Middle of run.)
As I said, the box is two gang. Four sets of 3 wires come into the box, all sets are white, black, and bare ground. The bottom right set of wires is the only one with power. All wires I don't mention were grouped together and capped. I jotted down a diagram of how it was wired, but now I'm not so sure I got it right. :confused1: There were 2 black wires connected to the lower right (as I saw the switches facing me) screw. There was one black wire attached to each of the top screws. I don't remember a white wire connected to the switches at all. The ground wires were attached at the back of the (metal) box, as there is no ground screw on the switches.
I know I need to use pigtails instead of putting two wires under a screw. Beyond that I need all the help you can give. Here are some of my questions:
1. The new hardware has 2 brass screws on my left, 2 black screws on the right and a green ground screw on the bottom left. I assume the black wires go to the black screws. Is that correct?
2. In replacing the existing switches with new ones, does it matter which black wire is on the top or bottom?
I first tried to put in the new switches hardware (not adding the Combo.) I assumed the bottom black (live) wire goes to the bottom black screw, the bottom white wire to the bottom brass screw, and the top wires and screws similarly attached. Only trouble is that when I wire the new hardware that way, neither the ceiling light nor the fan works. So what am I doing wrong?
3. And, finally, back to the reason I got started with all this, whenever I get the new switches in place, how do I get power to the Combo?
Thanks in advance for help in this.