Light switch
Quick question can you put a switch inline on positive side or negative side or dose it need to be on one or the other? I was able to track white (-) wire and want to put a switch inline on it for the bedroom lights.
Forum Discussion
12 Replies
- You can put a light switch on either side. HOWEVER for safety's sake the Positive side or rather the "HOT" side is recommended. But it will work the same no matter where you put it.
Why safety
Well if you put it in the "Ground" or Neutral side (negative) then the fixture is HOT even when the light is off. On 12 volt.. not generally a problem
But.. On 120 volt,, If the bulb breaks and you tough the wires inside the last thing you do in this life may be regret where you put the switch. - The poster stated Positive and Negative
DC circuitry is implied.
Installing switch on entry circuit then having over-current fault before the load causes a protective breaker or fuse to react. After the load an unintended short to ground is without significance performance wise
With switch in negative side, overcurrent before the load causes the protective circuit to enable. Short to ground AFTER the load causes a completion of circuit LOAD STAYS ON. - Either, but keep in mind that other things may share the same ground.
- Hello starcraft69.
Did you complete this mod yet? I want tot do the same thing and was wondering how it came out and any advice you may have. - Thank you to everyone! I was pretty sure i could but wanted to confirm. My lights have switch on them but i want to put switch on the wall as you inter the bedroom. To turn on main bedroom lights. Once again thanks
- Your lights don't already have a switch?
jplante4 wrote:
On 120VAC, I'd do the positive side to protect boneheads like me that assume that a light fixture that is turn off is not carrying current.
Ummmm, there is no "positive side" in a 120 vac circuit, just hot & neutral, and of course ground. In such a circuit one would always switch the hot.- A lot of automotive design switches the negative-you can definitely do it either way-I think we all lean towards switching the positive out of habit...
time2roll wrote:
Electrically it does the same thing. Not really an issue with 12 volts.
By convention all switches and fuses are on the positive side so I recommend staying with that.
It is not uncommon to find a switch that completes a circuit on the ground side in automotive applications. Many door switches as well as fan speed switches work that way.- On 120VAC, I'd do the positive side to protect boneheads like me that assume that a light fixture that is turn off is not carrying current.
