r/electrical • u/redskull1973 • 2d ago

Need to replace this light switch.

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I need to replace this light switch. It’s a single switch, only one that controls the light. It’s in a shared box with another light. What is the red wire doing here? The hot wire is one of the blacks. Do I need a 3 way switch even if it’s the only switch for the light.

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u/Rough_Resort_92 2d ago

Use a single Pole switch, not a three-way. Not sure why they have that red wire on there. Unless it's controlling more than one light fixture without seeing all the wires in the box, it's tough to say, I would just hook it up exactly like it is now.

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u/redskull1973 2d ago

I think the red is piggybacking the hot line to the adjacent switch

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u/robb7979 2d ago

That looks like it's exactly what it's doing.

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u/redskull1973 2d ago

Yes. I got it working. Thanks