Need a photo of a Lowel switch wiring

[cbrougham]

I'm adding a Lowel replacement switch into a cord I'm replacing on another fixture; at least, that's what I'm trying to do. I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how this thing is supposed to be wired, and there are no wiring instructions with the switch or anywhere on the Internet (shock). I've got other Lowel cords, but they're all the old style switches; the replacement I'm using is the newer, squarish, flat style.

If anyone could pop open one of their switches and take a photo or two, I would be eternally grateful and will pony up for a virtual brew.

Many thanks in advance!

 

[Chris Santucci]

I'm pretty sure one wire passes through while the other is connected to the switch contacts.

.

 

[Paul Hudson]

Chris is exactly right. Just break the circuit on ONE wire.

 

[cbrougham]

Thanks guys. The weird thing is that, unlike a typical hardware store rocker switch (which is actually pretty similar to the "old" style Lowel switch), this one has got a little bit extra going on:

I guess I could chase the unbroken wires through the switch, but the terminal connections have me a bit stumped...?

 

[Don B]

Hope this helps.

 

[cbrougham]

Eureka!

Eureka!

Don, you're a lifesaver--figuratively and, possibly, literally! I thank you so much.

Cheers--Enjoy your VirtuaLager --> :beer:

 

[slondon]

This switch breaks both the hot and neutral wires which is a very good setup. The more common arrangement is to interrupt only one wire. While it will work to break either the hot or neutral wire, it is not safe to do so in very many cases, though not, perhaps in a Lowel light due to the configuration of the bulb contacts. As an electrician, you should know to always wire a (single pole) switch to interrupt the hot wire. By convention and code, the hot wire is black and the neutral is white.

If you think of an inline switch for an ordinary medium base socket you can appreciate the reason for breaking only the hot wire. The hot lead is wired to the contact at the bottom center of the socket and is naturally protected from being easily touched. The neutral wire must be wired to the screw thread portion of the socket, which is the larger and much more exposed contact. It should never have power connected to it.

It matters how you wire three-prong plugs as well. The ground wire is obvious but you must take care to wire the black hot lead from the contact that has the colored or brass screw (if the prongs are different widths it will be the narrower one), and the white neutral must be wired to the contact with the white or silver colored screw.