- 1). Turn off the power leading to the circuit you'll be working on. If you're doing new construction or remodeling there shouldn't be any power on the circuit yet, but check ahead of time just in case.
- 2). Pull about 3 to 4 inches of electrical wiring out of the gang box where you'll be installing the switch. You'll need both segments of wire -- both the wire leading to the switched electrical circuit (such as a light) and the wire coming from the power source (the home wiring that leads back to the circuit breaker).
- 3). Remove 2 inches of the wiring's outer sheath -- the plastic outer coating that covers the two separate leads contained in each wire. Remove the coating by cutting it carefully with a knife and then pulling it away. There will be two leads underneath the outer sheath, each coated with a plastic insulating layer -- be careful not to nick the insulation of the leads underneath.
- 4). Remove 1/2 inch of insulation from the leads of each piece of wire with a set of wire strippers. There will be a black lead and a white lead in most electrical cables. Your wiring may also have a bare or green-coated wire; this is used as a grounding wire.
- 5). Place the white wire leads of the two electrical wires together and slip a twist-on wire nut over the ends of the bare wires. Twist the wire nut to the right until it's securely fastened onto the wires.
- 6). Loosen the two brass-colored screws on the right side of the switch and slide the bare ends of the black wires under them -- one wire per screw. Tighten the screws to hold the wires in place.
- 7). If you have ground wires (the bare or green-coated wires), twist them together with a wire nut.
- 8). Place the switch into the gang box, lining up the screw tabs on the top and bottom of the switch with the screw holes in the gang box. Orient the switch so that "ON" is on the up side. Screw the switch into place with the screws provided.
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