"Some husband" is me. Can't tell you how helpful this was in understanding the rat's nest that was hiding above our old ceiling fan. Incredible. Thank you!
This video saved me BIG TIME!! Bought a new house and it was wired using switch loops. I’m an electrical engineer and I was pulling my hair out trying to figure it out. This did it. I’m a visual learner and you did an awesome job breaking it out. Thank you!
So so helpful! I’m and apprentice only 2 months in and just seeing this drawn has really helped me. Our colours are different here in Aus (switch wire is generally a red and a white), but I was still able to make sense of what you were talking about. Also love that you drew a picture of the light and explained what that would look like in real life rather than just a diagram. Thanks so much! 👌
@@watsup3111 Well if its a switch wire then I'd say yes both the white and the red are going to be considered 'hot' as they will technically both be considered to be carrying a current.
@@watsup3111 Well if its a switch wire then I'd say yes both the white and the red are going to be considered 'hot' as they will technically both be considered to be carrying a current.
I just want to thank you for these videos, especially this one, when they were explaining it to me in class it was like they were speaking gibberish , thank you for thoroughly explaining this. Much appreciated
Local 27 Pittsburgh plumber installing ceiling fan in bedroom. Saw white connected to black and stopped right there. Thank you for your video bro, I now understand whats going on in that fixture box! You explained that perfectly!
Excellent job with the illustration being the key 'helper'. The way you explain made total sense to me as I am a linear thinker... starting point, next point, etc until the end point. I'm not an electrician BUT I do live in a house that was built in 1905. My dad has since updated the wiring. This is all good and well, however... he'll be 83 this year, so when he updated the wiring it was old school switch loop. A constant hot from the ceiling down the switch. The colors he used for hot and neutral arent customary either. To make a long story short... every time I tried explaining what was in my junction box, what I was trying to do I was being told it's not possible, I didnt know what I was talking about or what I was doing. UNTIL you! I am soooooo glad to have stumbled upon your video! For too long I've been trying to hang a new ceiling fixture where there used to be a double switch ceiling fan. When I removed the fan I didnt pay close enough attention to what went where. Your video has taught me enough to safely hang this fixture. I think.... I still dont know what I'm supposed to do with all of the extra wires! I have 2 white, 2 black, a red and a bare copper wire in the ceiling junction. I'm going to watch a few more videos and I'm sure you'll show me. Awesome job and thanks again!
I'm a DIYer, great explanation. What I've learned about this is that if you use something like a 14/2, where you have just the black and white, then you should wrap a bit of black electrical tape around the white wire as an indicator that it's hot and not neutral. Also, as per code in some places, you have to run a 14/3 (black, white, red)...where the white is just wire nutted off at the switch, the black is as you explained, and the red is used in place of the white that you've explained here. So the line in hot black is connected to the red wire which travels to the switch. It serves two purposes. First, it is safer because red, like black, it typically associated with being hot. Second, having the white allows you to, in the future, properly make other connections from that switch, like hang another outlet off of it or something...which you could accomplish with the neutral being there...but not accomplish if there is no neutral there.
I"m so glad I found you !!! This is excellent. I have an old house and just needed to remember how to run a switch from the panel to a garbage disposal without doing any fancy anything else. no dishwasher etc. thanks ---super clear
This was a lifesaver! Have another circuit of lights in addition to switch so imagine my surprise with three white wires and three black. Isolated the switch and will mark the neutral as hot. Thank you so much!
OH MY GOD!!! This is the clearest explanation of a Switch Loop I have ever seen!! I'm a female who is soooooo happy not to pay some Electrician $125.00 just to roll into my driveway! One suggestion: I started out with a Light Switch that had one wire holder labeled "Common" Took me a bit to figure out the black wire belonged in the same type slot as the hot White Wire (I switched to a Light Switch with no "Common").
Thanks for the help. Our house was built in 66 and after watching your two videos on this I realize our house is full of these. Very clear depiction. Thanks again.
I was struggling to complete a project because I couldn't understand this concept. Thanks to this video I understood and finished the project. Thank you!
I can't thank you enough you solved my issue never done electrician job but the way how you explain that made it so easy couldn't find more detail and strait forward instructions everything works great now just saved over 300$
I'm an apprentice with a year and a half in the trade. I have gained so much knowledge watching this channel! I even find myself having to explain various task to my journeyman sometimes!
I just started an ECM program at Hudson valley community college in Troy, NY. Your videos have been an extreme help. Thank you for your videos they are helpful in my understanding of electricity and the wire schematics
As a scandanivan electrician, americans use a very different way to work with electric (same concept, I know), but you explain it so well, that I could understand the entire video. Keep it up, man!🙂
You are absolutely awesome and inspire me so much,sir. I've been learning a lot from you and for that I could never thank you enough. Thank you so much for your insights! God bless you, brother!
Jeez!! Thanks so much. Just had the craziest encounter with this. A learning lesson none the less. I went to change my fan to a light fixture and because I have been really good at grasping these installs, I went beast mode. I just took the old fixture down and pulled cables and disconnected stuff; but after pulling these cables I noticed a white cable in with the black cables and it was a hmm moment. So I pressed on and started wiring white with white, black with black and at the end the breaker box kept shutting off (shorting out) and would not allow me to hook this up. I am so glad I found this video and it makes sense now, but WTF? I will not go beast mode ever again and will study the connection prior to thinking I know my SH^%. Always learning..
Wrap a ring of black tape around the HOT white wire at each end of the run. This is the indicator that the white wire is not being used as a neutral, but as a hot. Great video. Thank you.
It's an excellent explanation of a switch loop given not all loads, (light fixtures, etc), are wired with a leg to allow a neutral to make a direct path to a switch.
I've run into this way of doing it left by a lot of older generations of electricians and it has always driven me loopy. That's why I'm here now. Maybe now I can sort out my bathroom's wiring. Thanks!!
Thank you soooooooooo much! I am a diyer in our 1926 home and I have come across so many things that are terribly unfamiliar! Thank you for explaining in layman’s terms and walking us through with the visual!
Best how to on switch loop, you made it a lot easier to understand, even going to electricians school when understanding switch loop was mind blowing, but your method of showing how to connect it was right on point... Mostly ever house,mobile home around here is older stuff and 90 % have the switch loop which if not used to seeing will stump you.. Again thanks for these how to's...
You just gave me the clarity I was looking for. You wouldn't believe that even vocational teachers couldn't explain the switch loop as easily as you just did.
When I started learning how to wire houses or do service work on old house's more then anything.i worked under a prick who didn't explain things good.it took me way to long to understand this.to really wrap my brain around it.if I would have seen this video it wouldn't have been such a pain in the ass.this video is awesome man.glad young guy can turn to utube if ur not getting what u need on the job
I'm personally very careful about how much I share with any given apprentice. Why? Because it can be like teaching people to shoot weapons that they don't have a full understanding of who or what can be damaged. That's why it's up to the individual to teach themselves electrical work, like you are doing. Seek and ye shall find...🙏
I got all fired up the other day to change the whole damn wiring in my workshop because it's old and potentially dangerous, but haven't been able to understand how because nobody explained it this good. Thank you so much!
This Dustin has taught me more - in the most simplistic way.... thankfully that its so much easier to understand. When I'm on site there are are times I have to get home and watch one of his videos to fully understand what is being done. Thanks Dustin. Big fan.
Well taught. I was trailing behind until I realized the difference between what connects to the lamp fixture and what connections occur inside the electrical box behind the lamp fixture. Thanks!
Exactly what I was looking for and it fixed my issue. My initial connection my light was on when the switch was on off and when I switch to on I would blow the breaker. Problem is fixed now 😁 knowledge is power. Thank you
Thank you for this video. My house was built in 1962 and most of the light switches were wired this way. I've been scratching my head for weeks trying to figure it out. You explained it perfectly!
My house was built in 1974 and is the same way. "...scratching my head for weeks..." Make that years! I only had 2/some years electrical experience but that was, yeGads! 35 years ago!! Since then the only electrical I've done was for my own purposes. Heck, I still use my old Wiggy.
Thanks for your instruction brother ! Started out as a car technician then went to heavy equipment. Steel mill went bankrupt so I ended up an industrial tech . Work with vfd’s soft starts , contractors and such but always learn something from you ! Like to buy you a beer sometime !
I've been following you on this channel for years, you've opened up my mind to so much insight about the electricians field. I digress, I want to say about 12-18 months ago you did a whole video on different types of connecting that can be done to accomplish this end result. You used the style screen board with your drawing and colors, good times. I'm sure it was more towards two-way switches, you used phrases like The Chicago style, west coast style and the right way. Seeing this video reminded me of the one you did back then. It was very insightful and easily followed by me. How would I go about seeing some of your older vids and can you pop a couple of the classics up every now and again.. 😂😂 Presently I'm working on getting my foot in the industry, transitioning out of welding so im minutely informed. I'm registered with IECRM out of Colorado and do extensive research on some real informative online training programs. You're a big inspection and funny as hell. Just thought I'd through it out there. Congratulations on the new format look and up grade. Been following Mike Holt's NEC platform, grounding and bonding, WOW, what a freaking mind f..k it was for me to get that theory down. I seen your video on it as well. Took me over several months to really get it.. Maybe do another grounding and bonding, huge topic for me... Love you too Bro. 😂😂😂
Funny, I was just watching your other video where you were actually were installing this and I said I wish I could see a picture of it in the next video I found was you drawing pictures. Thank you.
My 70s mobile home used this method on almost every light and switch... it makes my brain hurt so much and your video totally cleared this up for me! I’m starting to think I want to be an electrician now, this stuff is very interesting
Guess who spent 6hours trouble shooting a fan that he had tapped into a switch loop to make work because it had a black and white conductors connected to the single pole switch. 😒. I took fan back and everything. Then I saw this video and the light went on. Thanks a lot for your clear explanation.
Love ya bro ur info is worth so much thanks for your input and expertise showing the husband's lol im a electrician myself well apprentice i have 4 years experience both resi and commercial. Just here seeing how u teach and its great man keep up great work
Thank you for this video and description. I had a light fixture in an a basement that had three separate wires converging to one point. When I took out the light I went into auto pilot and didn't stop to look at how the wires were run and tore apart the rats nest, then I realized I had two black wires and a white connected. At that point my mind was blown and off to youtube I went. Appreciate it!
Great video brother !!! I understood your explanation of the circuit and how it works. Thank you very much for the great video and keep this information coming.
Not sure if you can answer but, I have an older home I'm renovating with switch loop wiring going into a J box powering basement light fixtures, and also powering 3 receptacles on the 1st flr. I want to add 3 way 14-3 wire going into two 3 way switches. I will remove the current single pole switch and use the same wiring on that switch so that all fixtures and receptacles continue to work as before, plus add the 3 way wire running from switch to switch.
Oh wow that makes a lot more sense now!!! I just started working as a helper but I don't know anything about electrical work, can you please do a three way switch, I like the you explain very simple and makes a lot more sense the guy who is training me doesn't have the patience and is not very helpful, PLEASE I NEED LOTS OF HELP!!!!
found this video because i was trying to replace a light in our lanai with a ceiling fan, and no matter the switch position i still had power on black and this video popped up during my search. I was SO CONFUSED, so thank you for this video!!!!
There are thousands of homeowners of older houses who need to see this video. It was a common method at one time. This video helped me understand basically how all the fixtures in the house I'm moving into are wired. It was a complete puzzle before but now that I understand it it's pretty straightforward. If you're changing out a switch and there are only two wires, no neutrals in the box , then this is what you've got. Thanks. If you should read this comment, here's a question. What gauge wire is adequate for the switch loop? My house has 12 gauge but I noticed that the switch loop was a thinner gauge, possibly only 16? Probably adequate just to run juice 10 feet or so from the switch to the light but what's code on this?
Thank you very much for the way you teach i really understand you because I'm not electrician and I'm living in 150 year old house that's driving me nuts have a good day
"So easy, it's difficult." It only takes a moment to label the hot wire. Sometimes I'll mark the cover with arrows so the next guy can see what I did. It's the 4-way switches that drive me nuts! As a handyman, I don't see them very often. Great videos, thanks!
Sometimes it's easier to bring a feed cable to the light first and then to the switch. However, you need to bring power to the switch first so you connect the white wire going from the switch to the light (normally a white and a neutral) to the black from the panel side. Problem with this is you sacrifice a neutral in the switch box. So you can't install a smart switch or a dimmer switch for example because those draw current and require a neutral..
I am a residential electrician who does electrical roughing and from my experience a switch loop is absolutely necessary when wiring a receptacle with a half constant hot and a half switched hot which is necessary for an appliance like a sink disposal it's exactly the same as what the video just explained except instead of a light it's a receptacle.
@@gustavoramos8229 This makes sense. So basically, for any appliance that doesn't plug in (and has a direct power source, like a garbage disposal), but still needs to operate with a switch. Perfect explanation, thank you!!
Faybian Grant I was renovating an old house with knob and tube wiring, so I had to put new wiring in it but it already had Sheetrock so I fed it from the attic because it was on the second floor and used that light to feed the switch and stuff.
Not just advanced wireless control switches require neutral ... some simple switches with "nightlight" LEDs, timer switches, and occupancy sensors (which are getting super common) all require it. Great video!
holy shit dude thank u so much! i get it now! the loop is still there you're just extending the hot feed through the white wire to the switch and it comes back through the black wire that's why you just need a 2 conductor wire. appreciate it bud!
Chris (If that really is you) most places will require you to use a three wire with ground for that leg down to the switch from the light, because that way you'd have the required neutral within the switchbox.
The explanation was easy to understand but you should give some solutions to those replacing a normal on/off switch with a smart switch that has load, line and common on it. Obviously it needs one more wire but whats the easiest way to accomplish this?
Simply run a 3 wire from the lightbox down into the switchbox, rather than a 2 wire as is being shown. If you didn't do that, you'll need to fish a neutral in.
I did this a few times in my brother-in-law's house to add switches for lights that had constant power and were operated by pull chains in the fixture. In the boxes for both the switch and the fixtures, I put black tape around the end of the white wires that were made hot switch legs.
Thanks for this great explanation of the switch loop. I am about to graduate with an AA in electricity next May 2019! I will watch as many videos as I can from your channel. Thanks for sharing.
I always explain it to new helpers as, we're just extending the hot wire (black) down to the switch and back to the light. That usually helps them understand.
@@TheRainman904 Had bathroom redone and guys did this, 4 years later ceiling fan died, want to replace but want to wire correctly, what does this include, running new conduit all the way to own breaker? Or could I "tap" into another rooms power and put a junction box in ceiling?
"Some husband" is me. Can't tell you how helpful this was in understanding the rat's nest that was hiding above our old ceiling fan. Incredible. Thank you!
Same here!
This video saved me BIG TIME!! Bought a new house and it was wired using switch loops. I’m an electrical engineer and I was pulling my hair out trying to figure it out. This did it. I’m a visual learner and you did an awesome job breaking it out. Thank you!
So so helpful! I’m and apprentice only 2 months in and just seeing this drawn has really helped me. Our colours are different here in Aus (switch wire is generally a red and a white), but I was still able to make sense of what you were talking about. Also love that you drew a picture of the light and explained what that would look like in real life rather than just a diagram.
Thanks so much! 👌
Does that mean the white wire is still the hot when you got white and red?
@@watsup3111 Well if its a switch wire then I'd say yes both the white and the red are going to be considered 'hot' as they will technically both be considered to be carrying a current.
@@watsup3111 Well if its a switch wire then I'd say yes both the white and the red are going to be considered 'hot' as they will technically both be considered to be carrying a current.
I just want to thank you for these videos, especially this one, when they were explaining it to me in class it was like they were speaking gibberish , thank you for thoroughly explaining this. Much appreciated
I have been trying to figure out this wiring technique for years. It is now clear as a bell. Thanks a million.
Local 27 Pittsburgh plumber installing ceiling fan in bedroom. Saw white connected to black and stopped right there. Thank you for your video bro, I now understand whats going on in that fixture box! You explained that perfectly!
Excellent job with the illustration being the key 'helper'. The way you explain made total sense to me as I am a linear thinker... starting point, next point, etc until the end point.
I'm not an electrician BUT I do live in a house that was built in 1905.
My dad has since updated the wiring. This is all good and well, however... he'll be 83 this year, so when he updated the wiring it was old school switch loop. A constant hot from the ceiling down the switch. The colors he used for hot and neutral arent customary either.
To make a long story short... every time I tried explaining what was in my junction box, what I was trying to do I was being told it's not possible, I didnt know what I was talking about or what I was doing. UNTIL you!
I am soooooo glad to have stumbled upon your video! For too long I've been trying to hang a new ceiling fixture where there used to be a double switch ceiling fan. When I removed the fan I didnt pay close enough attention to what went where.
Your video has taught me enough to safely hang this fixture. I think....
I still dont know what I'm supposed to do with all of the extra wires! I have 2 white, 2 black, a red and a bare copper wire in the ceiling junction.
I'm going to watch a few more videos and I'm sure you'll show me.
Awesome job and thanks again!
I'm a DIYer, great explanation. What I've learned about this is that if you use something like a 14/2, where you have just the black and white, then you should wrap a bit of black electrical tape around the white wire as an indicator that it's hot and not neutral. Also, as per code in some places, you have to run a 14/3 (black, white, red)...where the white is just wire nutted off at the switch, the black is as you explained, and the red is used in place of the white that you've explained here. So the line in hot black is connected to the red wire which travels to the switch. It serves two purposes. First, it is safer because red, like black, it typically associated with being hot. Second, having the white allows you to, in the future, properly make other connections from that switch, like hang another outlet off of it or something...which you could accomplish with the neutral being there...but not accomplish if there is no neutral there.
I"m so glad I found you !!! This is excellent. I have an old house and just needed to remember how to run a switch from the panel to a garbage disposal without doing any fancy anything else. no dishwasher etc. thanks ---super clear
This was a lifesaver! Have another circuit of lights in addition to switch so imagine my surprise with three white wires and three black. Isolated the switch and will mark the neutral as hot. Thank you so much!
Thanks for the help. Started as an apprentice and in my free time (days off) I still try to keep learning
OH MY GOD!!!
This is the clearest explanation of a Switch Loop I have ever seen!!
I'm a female who is soooooo happy not to pay some Electrician $125.00 just to roll into my driveway!
One suggestion: I started out with a Light Switch that had one wire holder labeled "Common" Took me a bit to figure out the black wire belonged in the same type slot as the hot White Wire (I switched to a Light Switch with no "Common").
For future reference, the"common" was referring to the neutral
Thanks for the help. Our house was built in 66 and after watching your two videos on this I realize our house is full of these. Very clear depiction. Thanks again.
I was struggling to complete a project because I couldn't understand this concept. Thanks to this video I understood and finished the project. Thank you!
Thanks for explaining a switch loop. I was having a hard time understanding how it work and your video explained it perfect! 👍
I can't thank you enough you solved my issue never done electrician job but the way how you explain that made it so easy couldn't find more detail and strait forward instructions everything works great now just saved over 300$
Dont think it can be simplifies any clearer,your explanation was on point.i understand the switch loop because it's my house from 1994.
Much needed review. Many Sincere Thanks!
I'm an apprentice with a year and a half in the trade. I have gained so much knowledge watching this channel! I even find myself having to explain various task to my journeyman sometimes!
I just started an ECM program at Hudson valley community college in Troy, NY. Your videos have been an extreme help. Thank you for your videos they are helpful in my understanding of electricity and the wire schematics
As a scandanivan electrician, americans use a very different way to work with electric (same concept, I know), but you explain it so well, that I could understand the entire video. Keep it up, man!🙂
You are absolutely awesome and inspire me so much,sir.
I've been learning a lot from you and for that I could never thank you enough.
Thank you so much for your insights!
God bless you, brother!
Jeez!! Thanks so much. Just had the craziest encounter with this. A learning lesson none the less. I went to change my fan to a light fixture and because I have been really good at grasping these installs, I went beast mode. I just took the old fixture down and pulled cables and disconnected stuff; but after pulling these cables I noticed a white cable in with the black cables and it was a hmm moment. So I pressed on and started wiring white with white, black with black and at the end the breaker box kept shutting off (shorting out) and would not allow me to hook this up. I am so glad I found this video and it makes sense now, but WTF? I will not go beast mode ever again and will study the connection prior to thinking I know my SH^%. Always learning..
Wrap a ring of black tape around the HOT white wire at each end of the run. This is the indicator that the white wire is not being used as a neutral, but as a hot.
Great video. Thank you.
It's an excellent explanation of a switch loop given not all loads, (light fixtures, etc), are wired with a leg to allow a neutral to make a direct path to a switch.
This is a brilliantly clear explanation and image. Well played. Thanks for the effort you put into these vids.
great job! you simplified the basics, things I learned years ago but have mostly forgotten.
I've run into this way of doing it left by a lot of older generations of electricians and it has always driven me loopy. That's why I'm here now. Maybe now I can sort out my bathroom's wiring. Thanks!!
Thank you so much! Saved me hundreds of dollars that I would have given to someone to do this 5 minute job! Thank you again!
I've heard this explained before and had a hard time understanding, but you explain it and draw it very clearly. I understand now XD thanks bro
Thank you soooooooooo much! I am a diyer in our 1926 home and I have come across so many things that are terribly unfamiliar! Thank you for explaining in layman’s terms and walking us through with the visual!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for this. So glad I found your video because I was going in circles trying to figure it out.
The explanation was perfect, really good method of instruction, helped a lot thanks!
Thank you for Sharing your knowledge and electricity 🙏
Best how to on switch loop, you made it a lot easier to understand, even going to electricians school when understanding switch loop was mind blowing, but your method of showing how to connect it was right on point... Mostly ever house,mobile home around here is older stuff and 90 % have the switch loop which if not used to seeing will stump you.. Again thanks for these how to's...
You just gave me the clarity I was looking for. You wouldn't believe that even vocational teachers couldn't explain the switch loop as easily as you just did.
Thanks the drawing is what clears it up!!!! Thanks bro!
Thanks, wordy yet clear, real example then whiteboard. Switch legs any colour, except watch local code. Thanks!
When I started learning how to wire houses or do service work on old house's more then anything.i worked under a prick who didn't explain things good.it took me way to long to understand this.to really wrap my brain around it.if I would have seen this video it wouldn't have been such a pain in the ass.this video is awesome man.glad young guy can turn to utube if ur not getting what u need on the job
I'm personally very careful about how much I share with any given apprentice. Why? Because it can be like teaching people to shoot weapons that they don't have a full understanding of who or what can be damaged. That's why it's up to the individual to teach themselves electrical work, like you are doing. Seek and ye shall find...🙏
You're a great teacher, I'd be happy to work along side you daily, I'd learn alot because you teach in a way that it's simple to understand.
I got all fired up the other day to change the whole damn wiring in my workshop because it's old and potentially dangerous, but haven't been able to understand how because nobody explained it this good. Thank you so much!
Great explanation! when I saw my fixture wired like this I was perplexed, Your diagram is what made it make sense for me.
This Dustin has taught me more - in the most simplistic way.... thankfully that its so much easier to understand. When I'm on site there are are times I have to get home and watch one of his videos to fully understand what is being done. Thanks Dustin. Big fan.
So helpful - especially doing this on a holiday (and when none of my electrical minded friends were available). Thanks so much
Well taught. I was trailing behind until I realized the difference between what connects to the lamp fixture and what connections occur inside the electrical box behind the lamp fixture. Thanks!
Stayed for the Rick and Morty shirt, but was very surprised at the quality of the content you provided in the video. Great job
Great diagram. Showing where the Hot and N connect to the fixture (dot at the end of the wires) cinched the explanation. Thanks !
Now I understand the loop!! Great explanation !! thanks for your time.
Good job explaining this concept.
Exactly what I was looking for and it fixed my issue. My initial connection my light was on when the switch was on off and when I switch to on I would blow the breaker. Problem is fixed now 😁 knowledge is power. Thank you
Well done. The way you illustrate it made it simple really.
Thank you for this video. My house was built in 1962 and most of the light switches were wired this way. I've been scratching my head for weeks trying to figure it out. You explained it perfectly!
My house was built in 1974 and is the same way. "...scratching my head for weeks..." Make that years! I only had 2/some years electrical experience but that was, yeGads! 35 years ago!! Since then the only electrical I've done was for my own purposes. Heck, I still use my old Wiggy.
I’m a new electrician I’m sure I’ll use your page through my life
This guy is great! Well done Electrician U. You guys rock!!
Thanks for your instruction brother ! Started out as a car technician then went to heavy equipment. Steel mill went bankrupt so I ended up an industrial tech . Work with vfd’s soft starts , contractors and such but always learn something from you ! Like to buy you a beer sometime !
Wow...that easy...switch loops n 3 ways were my biggest road block..i know understand..u the man
I've been following you on this channel for years, you've opened up my mind to so much insight about the electricians field. I digress, I want to say about 12-18 months ago you did a whole video on different types of connecting that can be done to accomplish this end result. You used the style screen board with your drawing and colors, good times. I'm sure it was more towards two-way switches, you used phrases like The Chicago style, west coast style and the right way. Seeing this video reminded me of the one you did back then. It was very insightful and easily followed by me. How would I go about seeing some of your older vids and can you pop a couple of the classics up every now and again.. 😂😂
Presently I'm working on getting my foot in the industry, transitioning out of welding so im minutely informed. I'm registered with IECRM out of Colorado and do extensive research on some real informative online training programs. You're a big inspection and funny as hell. Just thought I'd through it out there. Congratulations on the new format look and up grade. Been following Mike Holt's NEC platform, grounding and bonding, WOW, what a freaking mind f..k it was for me to get that theory down. I seen your video on it as well. Took me over several months to really get it.. Maybe do another grounding and bonding, huge topic for me...
Love you too Bro. 😂😂😂
Funny, I was just watching your other video where you were actually were installing this and I said I wish I could see a picture of it in the next video I found was you drawing pictures. Thank you.
This was great. It's always great to be enlightened.
I see what you did 😏
This kind of video I want to see thanks, you re doing really great job
Thank you so so much for your videos, I'm an apprentice and your videos have helped me a lot, thank you so much
Thank you! Sir is big big help for me and good explanation
Could you demonstrate or draw this example with multiple light fixtures connected?
Same here. I have one that is on multiple lights… I see two neutrals… can two neutrals ago to a switch?
My 70s mobile home used this method on almost every light and switch... it makes my brain hurt so much and your video totally cleared this up for me! I’m starting to think I want to be an electrician now, this stuff is very interesting
Fantastic video. You keep it simple and I appreciate that.
Bro thanks a lot seriously I never seen this problem or circumstance before. Thank you.
Guess who spent 6hours trouble shooting a fan that he had tapped into a switch loop to make work because it had a black and white conductors connected to the single pole switch. 😒. I took fan back and everything. Then I saw this video and the light went on. Thanks a lot for your clear explanation.
Love ya bro ur info is worth so much thanks for your input and expertise showing the husband's lol im a electrician myself well apprentice i have 4 years experience both resi and commercial. Just here seeing how u teach and its great man keep up great work
Thank you for this video and description. I had a light fixture in an a basement that had three separate wires converging to one point. When I took out the light I went into auto pilot and didn't stop to look at how the wires were run and tore apart the rats nest, then I realized I had two black wires and a white connected. At that point my mind was blown and off to youtube I went. Appreciate it!
Thank you for explaining this. It makes no since to me, but it works. Thank you
Great video brother !!! I understood your explanation of the circuit and how it works. Thank you very much for the great video and keep this information coming.
This was a good refresher! Very well explained!
That is the best explanation if this I have ever seen
Not sure if you can answer but, I have an older home I'm renovating with switch loop wiring going into a J box powering basement light fixtures, and also powering 3 receptacles on the 1st flr. I want to add 3 way 14-3 wire going into two 3 way switches. I will remove the current single pole switch and use the same wiring on that switch so that all fixtures and receptacles continue to work as before, plus add the 3 way wire running from switch to switch.
Clear and understandable. Thank you
Don’t ever stop making these videos. Thank you for your help 😳
Nice presentation!
Oh wow that makes a lot more sense now!!! I just started working as a helper but I don't know anything about electrical work, can you please do a three way switch, I like the you explain very simple and makes a lot more sense the guy who is training me doesn't have the patience and is not very helpful, PLEASE I NEED LOTS OF HELP!!!!
Tremendous explanation. Thanks!
You're awesome! Thank you for helping me to understand the switch loop🤙🏾
Thank you very much. It was very helpful.
found this video because i was trying to replace a light in our lanai with a ceiling fan, and no matter the switch position i still had power on black and this video popped up during my search. I was SO CONFUSED, so thank you for this video!!!!
Thank you for clearing this up!!
There are thousands of homeowners of older houses who need to see this video. It was a common method at one time. This video helped me understand basically how all the fixtures in the house I'm moving into are wired. It was a complete puzzle before but now that I understand it it's pretty straightforward. If you're changing out a switch and there are only two wires, no neutrals in the box , then this is what you've got. Thanks. If you should read this comment, here's a question. What gauge wire is adequate for the switch loop? My house has 12 gauge but I noticed that the switch loop was a thinner gauge, possibly only 16? Probably adequate just to run juice 10 feet or so from the switch to the light but what's code on this?
You are a great teacher. Thank you!
Thank you very much for the way you teach i really understand you because I'm not electrician and I'm living in 150 year old house that's driving me nuts have a good day
"So easy, it's difficult." It only takes a moment to label the hot wire. Sometimes I'll mark the cover with arrows so the next guy can see what I did. It's the 4-way switches that drive me nuts! As a handyman, I don't see them very often. Great videos, thanks!
You explained it great. I just would like to know why would a switch loop be necessary in any situation
Sometimes it's easier to bring a feed cable to the light first and then to the switch. However, you need to bring power to the switch first so you connect the white wire going from the switch to the light (normally a white and a neutral) to the black from the panel side. Problem with this is you sacrifice a neutral in the switch box. So you can't install a smart switch or a dimmer switch for example because those draw current and require a neutral..
I am a residential electrician who does electrical roughing and from my experience a switch loop is absolutely necessary when wiring a receptacle with a half constant hot and a half switched hot which is necessary for an appliance like a sink disposal it's exactly the same as what the video just explained except instead of a light it's a receptacle.
@@gustavoramos8229 This makes sense. So basically, for any appliance that doesn't plug in (and has a direct power source, like a garbage disposal), but still needs to operate with a switch. Perfect explanation, thank you!!
@@ThriftDiving this doesnt make sense. If you wire it like a "normal" switch you will still have a switched disposal.
Faybian Grant I was renovating an old house with knob and tube wiring, so I had to put new wiring in it but it already had Sheetrock so I fed it from the attic because it was on the second floor and used that light to feed the switch and stuff.
Not just advanced wireless control switches require neutral ... some simple switches with "nightlight" LEDs, timer switches, and occupancy sensors (which are getting super common) all require it. Great video!
holy shit dude thank u so much! i get it now! the loop is still there you're just extending the hot feed through the white wire to the switch and it comes back through the black wire that's why you just need a 2 conductor wire. appreciate it bud!
Chris (If that really is you) most places will require you to use a three wire with ground for that leg down to the switch from the light, because that way you'd have the required neutral within the switchbox.
Thanks. Very good video. I got the job done after watching your video. I had the second senario. I did the switch loop.
Excellent explanation. Clearly you know your stuff!!
The explanation was easy to understand but you should give some solutions to those replacing a normal on/off switch with a smart switch that has load, line and common on it. Obviously it needs one more wire but whats the easiest way to accomplish this?
Simply run a 3 wire from the lightbox down into the switchbox, rather than a 2 wire as is being shown. If you didn't do that, you'll need to fish a neutral in.
I did this a few times in my brother-in-law's house to add switches for lights that had constant power and were operated by pull chains in the fixture. In the boxes for both the switch and the fixtures, I put black tape around the end of the white wires that were made hot switch legs.
Seems like a smart and easy thing to do to make it quite obvious what is going on with the white wire.
How do you wire from a power pack or power packs to the various switch legs? How does that look like? Your videos are super helpful
Thanks, I've been racking my brain all morning,
Thanks for this great explanation of the switch loop. I am about to graduate with an AA in electricity next May 2019! I will watch as many videos as I can from your channel. Thanks for sharing.
No problem my friend, congrats on finishing your program!
Excellent explanation. thumbs up. your cool. I like your channels.
I always explain it to new helpers as, we're just extending the hot wire (black) down to the switch and back to the light. That usually helps them understand.
yes, but you are teaching them a potentially hazardous habit. never bring the hot wire to the light first. NEVER!
@@TheRainman904 Had bathroom redone and guys did this, 4 years later ceiling fan died, want to replace but want to wire correctly, what does this include, running new conduit all the way to own breaker? Or could I "tap" into another rooms power and put a junction box in ceiling?
Nice video! Very helpful and thank you.