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How to Wire a Single Light Switch - Diagram 2

Summary: Fully explained pictures and wiring diagrams about wiring light switches describing the most common switches with photo diagram 2.

Understanding the Basic Light Switch for Home Electrical Wiring

The wiring diagram shows a common electric switch also known as a light switch, wall switch, toggle switch, single pole switch or 1-pole switch.

Unless the instructions state otherwise, It does not matter which screw terminal the wires get attached to because this is just a single pole switch which means that there is one line of power that flows through the switch and it does not matter which way the electricity travels through the switch.

With this type of switch the electricity comes in through one connection and flows out through the other.

If you wanted to be logically correct you could wire the switch so the power comes in the bottom and out the top as the direction of travel of the position of the switch.
Some electrical devices are wired so the power enters the top and travels downward and leaves the controlling device through the bottom connections, however it really does not matter to the electrical wiring of this type of switch as long as the electricity is getting to the light fixture or the electrical device you are controlling.

Single Pole Switch Wiring Diagram #2

Single Pole switching provides switching from one location only. This light switch wiring diagram shows the power source starting at the switch box.

Single pole switch diagram #2
This switch wiring diagram shows the power source starting at the fixture box.
The white wire of the romex going to the switch is attached to the black line in the fixture box using a wirenut.
The white wire becomes the energized switch leg, as indicated by using black or red electrical tape.

Single pole switch diagram #2 shows the power source starting at the fixture box.

Wiring Lights and Switches

I'm wiring a house. How do I wire 4 can lights in the ceiling to be on 1 single pole switch. I have installed 12-3 cable in the ceiling. Should the power source be coming from ceiling?

Mike - this section of the website has a variety of fully described wiring diagrams that will assist you.
As for the location of the power source, because you are wiring the house then that is totally up to you to decide. The power source for the light switches may be in the ceiling or at the wall switch location; you just need to plan out your wiring from there out.