help with wiring of timer

[Amadauss]

Sorry for being such a simple question but just need help attaching wires in correct location. Right now have a simple off/on switch and want to replace with a timer. The switch now controls a light and it is the only one connected for it. so somewhat simple but.....I am just not sure on which to connect where off the switch to the timer? I attached photos so if anyone can help me out, greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[telectrix]

we have a few US members. they may be better to advise than us UK sparks. as it looks, you probably need a neutral to the timer as well as a line in and line out. my first advice would be to contact an electrician.

 

[Amadauss]

Thank you very much for the help. Will do so.

 

[Megawatt]

Thank you very much for the help. Will do so.

Since you are from the USA go to your local electrical parts house and they make so many different timers it sounds like all you need is a mechanical timer which will wire up the same it has seconds minutes and hours just select how long you want it to run turn the knob and it will time out and then disconnect the light

 

[westward10]

They already have the timer.

 

[MJPD29]

The standard of American work seems pretty poor from what I've seen on here anyway

 

[Megawatt]

The standard of American work seems pretty poor from what I've seen on here anyway

Don’t judge a book by its color M29. And you think the brits are any better. All y’all can do is work on flats or homes and not to sure about that.

 

[DPG]

Don’t judge a book by its color M29. And you think the brits are any better. All y’all can do is work on flats or homes and not to sure about that.

Does that make sense to anyone?

 

[Megawatt]

Does that make sense to anyone?

Nobody cares about what you say and keep your bad attitude to your self. We have some of the best electricians in the world

 

[DPG]

Nobody cares about what you say and keep your bad attitude to your self. We have some of the best electricians in the world

Sorry but your post didn't make sense to me. No need to be rude.

 

[Des 56]

Nobody cares about what you say and keep your bad attitude to your self. We have some of the best electricians in the world

And with that sort of unwarranted remark this forum could be losing a contributor

Also please leave insults directed at the English in the hands of the Scots Irish and Welsh
They have much more experience at it and can do so without causing offence

 

[Megawatt]

Sorry but your post didn't make sense to me. No need to be rude.

Matthew29 started it by insulting American electricians. There was no need for that.

 

[Megawatt]

And with that sort of unwarranted remark this forum could be losing a contributor

Also please leave insults directed at the English in the hands of the Scots Irish and Welsh
They have much more experience at it and can do so without causing offence

Just read post #7 and that was uncalled for

 

[Des 56]

Just read post #7 and that was uncalled for

I read post 6 and yes that was a very uninformed post and also insulting to so many american tradesmen but having one insult should not mean being rude to others making fair comments

 

[ruston]

Just read post #7 and that was uncalled for

Yes it was a bit abrasive , but that is not the opinion of us all.
I have worked on American machines and have respect for the quality of workmanship.

 

[Megawatt]

I read post 6 and yes that was a very uninformed post and also insulting to so many american tradesmen but having one insult should not mean being rude to others making fair comments

I apologize for being rude, I just couldn’t understand why m29 made that comment and I hadn’t even made a comment today. Again I’m man enough to apologize, and hope there is no hard feelings

 

[ruston]

I'm sure no offence was intended By M29 , it is not his style , just a gentle bit ribbing . It happens on our sites all the time.

 

[telectrix]

electrics apart, the Americans seem to be far in advance of us when it comes to getting things done. example, we had a barge clouted a Thames bridge, scuffed a couple of bricks. bridge closed to traffic for 5 months. in the US a flyover collapsed. was fixed in 4 weeks. i;ll say no more or i'll get bolloxed for going off track.

 

[MJPD29]

Don’t judge a book by its color M29. And you think the brits are any better. All y’all can do is work on flats or homes and not to sure about that.

I don't understand what this means, I'm Irish not British also and I can work on more than flats and homes if that's what you mean

 

[MJPD29]

I apologize for being rude, I just couldn’t understand why m29 made that comment and I hadn’t even made a comment today. Again I’m man enough to apologize, and hope there is no hard feelings

Also it was not aimed at you just a general observation from what we have seen on here

 

[Megawatt]

I don't understand what this means, I'm Irish not British also and I can work on more than flats and homes if that's what you mean

M29 what I was saying was get to know a person before you Judge them, I don’t claim to be the best electrician but I’m not the worst. What y’all do in electrical is a different world in what we do. No hard feelings

 

[Megawatt]

M29 what I was saying was get to know a person before you Judge them, I don’t claim to be the best electrician but I’m not the worst. What y’all do in electrical is a different world in what we do. No hard feelings

Don’t get me wrong we have our share of so called electricians who are in my opinion are idiots

 

[westward10]

22 posts and not one suggestion of how to simply connect that time clock.

 

[MJPD29]

I think the back of the timeclock should be self explanatory enough!

 

[westward10]

It is pretty obvious assuming the whites are neutral but was hoping one of our American members could have helped as this was an ideal thread for them to advise.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Amadauss - sorry this thread has gone a bit off track with banter!

Your original switch has only two black wires, the hot coming in and the switched hot going to the light. The timer however also needs a neutral, so that it has both hot and neutral to power its electronics. You need to find whether there is a neutral present at the switch that is part of the same circuit as the hots.

We can see some white wires, these may be:
a) Neutrals from the correct circuit, in which case the timer can be connected without any rewiring.
b) Neutrals from different circuits, which must not be used.
c) Not neutrals at all, white can also be a permanent hot in a switch cable, or a traveler in 3-way setup.

We might be able to work this out if you can show us the wiring behind and attached to the other switch. Also, is the light that the other switch operates, fed from the same breaker in the panel?

 

[Megawatt]

Sorry for being such a simple question but just need help attaching wires in correct location. Right now have a simple off/on switch and want to replace with a timer. The switch now controls a light and it is the only one connected for it. so somewhat simple but.....I am just not sure on which to connect where off the switch to the timer? I attached photos so if anyone can help me out, greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Ahamad unfortunately that new switch you bought is not going to work with just 2 wires and I’ve got to agree with telectrix because it’s going to need a neutral. You really need to call an electrician to help you out. That’s old wiring but a code change in 2017 edition states that when we pull wires to a light switch now we have to pull a neutral also because of this very problem of all the new switches coming out now needs a neutral to work. I’m sorry I’m not going to be able to help you please call an electrician