GE 45609 - Old switch has only 3 Black wires and Ground

Other Devices & Integrations Lighting & Load Control
1

I’ve installed several switches before - zwave included. However I can’t seem to get my mind around this one.

I want to put the GE 45609 for my back porch light. I pulled out the old switch and found this.

1 Silver screw - Black wire attached
1 Black screw - 2 Black wires attached
1 Ground - ground attached.

On the 45609, I have

1 Silver Screw marked neutral. I am assuming that I do not want to attache one of the back wires to this, even though there is a black wire on the silver screw of the original switch.

2 Black screws - one for load and one for Line.

There is a bundle of White wires in there, but they don’t run to the switch.

Question is, what do I do with these 3 black wires. I’m assuming one of them goes to the light and then I’m not sure why I have 2 on the bottom screw. I realize one of them supplies power from the breaker, I’m assuming the other passes power to other outlets.

Is it possible that the black wire that is on the silver screw is the “Load” or the one that goes to the light? If that is true, then I should put this black on the screw marked “Load” on the new switch.

See photos: The Yellow cap in the one photo has all of the white wires.

2

Seems straightforward… your yellow cap on white wires is neutral. One from the panel, one going to the downstream outlet, and one going to the light – all bonded together because your lightswitch doesn’t need neutral.

The two black wires bonded together are as you suspect – one from the panel (source), and one to the downstream outlet.

The solo black wire is the load, going to the porch light.

That’s my best guess. You can confirm by marking or remembering all the wires, and cutting all of them off the switch. Then get an AC sensor (wand) or neon light indicator and check… one of the paired black wires should be hot (from the panel). The other two should be limp.

If it was my switch, I’d cut the pair of black wires, strip them anew, and put them in the paired holes as “Line”.

The solo black wire to “Load”.

Then, for the white wires, add a new white wire to the wire nut and bring that to the GE. Alternatively, if it’s getting too large for one nut, remove one white wire from the wire nut bundle, and bring that to the GE switch with your new piece of wire, so you’re keeping the count the same under the nut. Or, if there are only two white neutrals under that nut – golden. Cut the wire nut off, strip them, and bond them in your GE Neutral terminal instead. I’m guessing there are three – one upstream, one downstream, and one to your porch light.

3

Thanks! that worked like a charm.

FYI, I went to Lowes today to buy a piece of wired to use for the common. They guy in electrical said he never heard of a common wire being used on a switch.

I’ve seen them on switches before… I’m guessing maybe they were 3 ways?

Thanks!!!