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Extending button from a power strip ...... what type of switch?
unclet:
I was going to cut an extension cord in half and connect all three wires to the light switch (black, wire and ground). Why only connect the black wire to the switch? Does it matter?
kelemvor:
--- Quote from: unclet on December 28, 2007, 11:50:41 am ---I was going to cut an extension cord in half and connect all three wires to the light switch (black, wire and ground). Why only connect the black wire to the switch? Does it matter?
--- End quote ---
You just need to make a break in the loop. If you cut it in half, it would just go from the wall to the switch and back to the wall. You need it go to to the surge protector or whatever so you can't cut the whole thing in half. The switch just puts a break in one of the wires (not the ground obviously) so that the electricity basically goes like this:
Wall out -> Cable -> Switch -> Continues on the cable -> Whatever is plugged into the other end -> back down the non-cut wire -> wall outlet
There's other ways but you have to splice in whatever you are connecting to the extension cord somewhere...
kegger:
Only switch the black wire in other words out of wall to box where switch is put one wire (black) to switch then (black) wire again out of otherside of switch to your outlet.
The white and green wires stay color for color but with the green you have to tap off to your switch ground position green screw and end of wire shoulg go to green screw to outlet , The white goes straight to the other side of the outlet for the return neutral wire.
Todays outlets in the US have 1 slot slightly smaller than the other one where a plug goes to. The smaller slot on the outlet is where the black wire has to attach to.
If you are unsure about the wiring i will post a Pic for you later if needed.
You really should do this the correct way because of the 120 volts.
unclet:
Ok, I bought two extension cords and I would like to add an on/off switch to each other them. I bought a black wall outlet switch which has two switches built into it (ie: two black switches which turn on/off). I provided pictures below so you can see one of the extension cords and the actual black switch I bought.
I am assuming there is going to be a black, white and green wire inside of the extension cord, so will someone please draw me a quick picture showing me exactly where the black, white and green wires should go?
kelemvor:
Here's my ghetto Paint version of how I think it'd work.
The BLUE wire is really the WHITE wire but I can't draw white on white so...
I'm assuming you want to have one line go into the switch and two come out since it's a double switch...
Basically, strip the extension cord in the middle. Cut all the wires since you'll have to splice two cords together for the second line from the second part of the switch.
I can't tell how the switch is setup by the screws but ff the switch is like an outlet, the two screws on each side are connected with a metal piece so you jsut go into either screw. If not, you can jsut stick a wire to connect the two as shown in the picture.
On the OUT portion, is where you want them to be separate so you can have individual control via the two switches.
See if that makes sense...
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