But it is only a switch wire and not a wire for the light.
Wall light switch no white wire only red.
The exact purpose of a red wire for a light fixture can vary.
I ve decided to put this faq together to help those with questions about installing ge 3 way switches.
Option 1 run a neutral wire if you want to use smart switches and don t have a neutral wire in your switch box you can hire an electrician to run a neutral wire between the light.
In existing 3 way wiring this wire toggles hot between two.
The red wire is most likely a spare wire that was intended to be used when wiring for a ceiling fan.
The red and black are used for hot and the white neutral wire at the switch box allows for powering a timer remote control or other programmable switch.
White and red wires.
The wall switch typically when a ceiling fan is installed the red wire is most commonly used for the light and the black is commonly for the fan motor.
To do this method the wire from your wall circuit to your light has to have 3 wires.
If you have the access replace that romex in your wall with a 3 conductor one black white red and ground run black as your hot white as your neutral and red to your load.
Split the incoming hot wire into a y and connect it to a terminal on each switch.
Connect white wires together.
Except in rare cases it is a hot wire or a switched hot wire.
This is an updated version of the first arrangement.
This is a typical wiring setup for a 3 way light switch with black white red and ground wires.
Black and white always connect to black and white.
If it doesn t work switch the lower wires.
The return wire for circuits usually white load.
Because the electrical code as of the 2011 nec update requires a neutral wire in most new switch boxes a 3 wire cable runs between the light and switch.
Check the wire with a non contact voltage tester with the power and.
A smart switch can simply tie into the white neutral wires to complete the circuit and get a source of power to keep the radios in the switch working at all times.
In the switch box.
Chances are that wire goes up into a box probably in your light where you have access to hot load and light wires.
Connect the blue wire to the red wire.
The hot wire from the breaker usually black neutral.
A three way switch is different.
How to wire an existing overhead light to a new wall switch.
The red wire as a spare wire when a ceiling fan is not installed this spare red wire is.