Setting Up The Woods Outdoor Lighting Timer Switch

  I am replacing a single pole wall switch timer which controls our outside house lights. The timer worked for many years with no problem until recently. I was hoping to purchase the same timer but it is no longer in production. At Menards, I purchased a Woods Model 59018 digital timer. The switch for these lights is in a junction box which also has a switch for our foyer light. The foyer light works fine so there was no need to replace that switch. In the junction box there are many sets of wires with various colors. There is a set of 3 white, a set of 3 blue wires (dark, medium and lighter blue), 2 wires (one yellow and one orange), and 2 black wires. The timer has 4 wires which are black (hot), red (lead), green (ground) and white (neutral). I know that the black wire needs to be connected to the black wires in the box. I also know that the green wire is the ground wire which goes to the ground screw in the box. I don’t know what color to connect to the lead wire to or the white wire. I have tried various color connections. The digital time on the timer works fine. It’s the outside lights that don’t work either with the programed timer or pushing the ON button to over ride the timer. The ON light on the face of the timer lights up when the ON button in pushed but the lights don’t go on outside. Obviously the load (red) wire is not connected to the correct wire in the box. Please help. I’ve tried every variation of color connections and still don’t have it working. Thank you.

This electrical question came from: Monica, a Homeowner from Mundelein, IL
Additional Comments: Love what I’ve seen but none of it addresses the issues I have right now. Sure hope you can help. Thank you.

Part: Woods Model 59018 digital timer

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical question Monica.

Woods Outdoor Lighting Timer Switch

Monica, this is the link for the instructions:
In Wall 7-Day Digital Timer

Product Note:
The Coleman Cable completed the acquisition of Woods Industries, including Woods US and Woods Industries (Canada) Inc. Coleman Cable and Woods combine to continue as a leader in product innovation, packaging design and merchandising for a wide variety of electrical corded products, bulk electrical and electronic wire, surge protectors, garden lighting, timers and other accessory items for the consumer. Now the family of prominent brands include; American Contractor, Yellow Jacket, RoadPower, Moonrays and SmartStrip, to name just a few.

The Following links will assist you with your electrical wiring:

• Light Switch Wiring
• Troubleshooting Electrical Wiring
• Types of Electrical Testers
• Using Electrical Testers
• Electrical Wire for the Home

wiring a switch

Wiring a Light Switch – Diagram 1