I need to change a light switch in my home. What I have on hand is a GE 54172 "3-way grounding toggle switch"

If I understand correctly, this switch is intended to be used for dual switch setups, for instance a light which has a switch at the top and bottom of stairs, so that either switch can be used to turn a light on and off, but can also be used for single switch setups.

The question is, since I'm using this as a single switch setup only, can I use either of the two "hot" connectors on the switch, or do I have to use one in particular? I haven't yet pulled the old switch, so the answer may be evident, but I'm guessing what's in there right now will not have two hot connectors.

https://m.media-amazon.com/ima...W5DL._AC_SL1500_.jpg

This article explains it better than I can.

https://www.hunker.com/1230015...ch-as-a-single-pole/

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
This article explains it better than I can.

"You don't need all three terminals on the three-way switch when you're using it as a single pole switch. If you look at the switch, you'll see that the two travelers are arranged across from each other on the switch body, and the common is either underneath or above one of them. The two terminals you should use are the common and the traveler on the same side of the switch body. You might want to cover the other traveler with electrical tape to avoid confusing anyone who services the switch in the future."

OK, that answers it, thanks.

quote:

The two terminals you should use are the common and the traveler on the same side of the switch body.

It really doesn't matter what you use. Just make sure one screw is black. Flip switch so that up is on.

So, in that case, the light is activated as long as the circuit is open, and in a dual switch setup, the circuit is open only when both switches are set to allow current to pass though, and if either switch is set to close the circuit, the light will not turn on.

That makes sense.

Why, then, did the author of that web article specify the usage of one particular hot terminal for a single switch configuration?

Generally the light switch will act as a single pole if the black is on the RH side and the two RH screws are used. Nearly 100 of time they work that way. As long as one is attached to the black terminal, the others are interchangeable, just change orientation 180° if it doesn't work that way.

Buy a single pole switch for $4 and take the guesswork out of it?

quote:

Originally posted by bubbatime:
Buy a single pole switch for $4 and take the guesswork out of it?

When he mentions "the other things"? Yep, you guessed it- wiring a dual pole switch in single pole configuration.

quote:

Originally posted by bubbatime:
Buy a single pole switch for $4 and take the guesswork out of it?

$4 hell they are like $1.29 at Home Depot.

WE CHOOSE TO GO TO THE MOON

Reminds me of the story (probably apocryphal) about NASA spending a shit-ton of money to develop a ballpoint pen our astronauts could use in Space.

The Russians gave their cosmonauts pencils.

Couple weeks back I spent under one US Dollar for a single-pole switch at Menards.

But where's the fun in that?

Yep. I like it when I can repurpose something I already have. And it's not like you're trying to use a light switch to turn on the faucet.

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:

use a light switch to turn on the faucet.

You can do that? Who knew?

That's why it's got to be a three-way switch, so you can operate the servo for the faucet in both directions.

But do not use it for the toilet...

WE CHOOSE TO GO TO THE MOON AND DO THE OTHER THINGS, NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE EASY BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE WIRED.

You could probably download an app for that though. Alexa got your back.

When I was a kid, we had gotten a 45 RPM record with JFK's moon speech on it.
I distinctly remember this.
What a blast from the past.

/drift

quote:

Originally posted by Patrick-SP2022:
When I was a kid, we had gotten a 45 RPM record with JFK's moon speech on it.
I distinctly remember this.
What a blast from the past.

/drift

On that note, as a kid, I recorded Nixon's resignation speech on tape. I carried that tape with me even through the navy and played it from time to time while out at sea. I don't know why. Maybe it struck me as a great speech.