simple question: installing a light timer

[Jaguar Fan]

This is a simple question (a dumb question) about installing a light timer.

In my house, right inside the front door, there is a box with three light switches: one 3-way switch for internal lights, one 1-way switch, and a 3rd 1-way rocker switch for external lights.

I want to replace the 3rd rocker switch (on the far right) with a timer I just bought.

Should be simple.

I've removed the cover plate and pulled out the three rocker switches to see what is in there.

• At the top of the box, 5 separate red Romex sheathes of wires come in.
• Starting at the far left, the left sheath contains a red, white, black & ground. I believe this is for the 3 way switch.
• Each of the other 4 romex sheathes contain a black, white & ground.
• The old rocker switch that I want to replace with the timer has a ground and two black wires coming from it.
• One of those two black wires is straight from the right-most red romex sheath.
• The other of those two black wires from the rocker switch connects to a bundle of black wires secured by a wirenut.
• The white wire from this right-most romex sheath connects to a bundle of white wires secured by a wirenut.

So here is my question: the new timer switch has 4 wires: white, black, red & green. How do I connect these?

I assume I connect the green to ground. No problem.

I assume I connect black to the black wire which in turn connects to a bundle of black wires. No problem.

To what do I connect the red, white, and black wires coming from the new timer switch? Do I connect the black coming from the new switch to the black bundle? Do I connect the white to the white bundle? Do I connect the red to the black wire going up into the romex sheath?

Thanks in advance

JF

 

[nehog]

Didn't the timer come with instructions? What make/model is it?

 

[Jaguar Fan]

Didn't the timer come with instructions? What make/model is it?

GE 15086 indoor digital timer

Yes, there are instructions, but I'm not sure I understand them correctly (and I'm not sure I understand just which is line and which is load).

The instructions say the following:

1. Connect Hot/Live wire of main power to the Black wire from Timer
2. Connect the Neutral wires in outlet box to the White wire from timer. Often neutral wires can be found in the back of the wiring box wrapped in a wire nut.
3. Connect Hot/Live wire of Load to the Red wire from Timer
4. Connect the Ground wire to the Green wire from Timer.

 

[Submarine_Sailor]

Ok, when it says line/live, thats's talking about the supply side. Whatever is coming from the breaker/circuit hot. Load is the side going to your outside lights. Make sense?

 

[boydgti]

Seem pretty simple, the 1st thing u should do is turn off the power and confirm its off. The bottom wire comming of the exsisting switch should be hot and there will be other wires attached to it, supplying power to the other switches. The other top wire from the exsisting switch will be the load and only 1 wire will be attached to it. The whites are neutrals and all join together. The green is your ground.
Hope this helps, kind of hard to explain with words

 

[Jaguar Fan]

Seem pretty simple, the 1st thing u should do is turn off the power and confirm its off. The bottom wire comming of the exsisting switch should be hot and there will be other wires attached to it, supplying power to the other switches. The other top wire from the exsisting switch will be the load and only 1 wire will be attached to it. The whites are neutrals and all join together. The green is your ground.
Hope this helps, kind of hard to explain with words

Worked like a charm. Thanks.

JF.

 

[boydgti]

Im a electricial so feel free to ask me an questions U have, glad I could help