Electrical – How to replace one switch in a 2-gang box with a timer

electricalswitchtimerwiring

I have a box with 2 switches wired in it. One switch controls the front porch light; the other at least one half hot outlet. I want to replace the switch that controls the front porch light with a timer. The existing wiring is shown below

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Currently, the black power wire is stripped about 6 inches down from where it comes into the box. The striped portion is bent into a u-shape and attached to the hot switch on the brass side of hot switch then the other and is connected to the front porch switch light.

I hope this makes sense. My neighbor thinks I should piggy tail the power wire to the two switches. What do you think?

Best Answer

The current set-up with the wire bent into a loop and the same wire proceeding on is perfectly fine. You do not have to have separate pigtails for each switch. I have one 3-gang switch box where I used that connection method for the three switches. The city electrical inspector said it was fully acceptable.

EDIT But it could be that the installation of the new timer switch would be easier if the two switches were each fed by a separate pigtail from the line hot. Sometimes these timers have stranded wire leads and sometimes they have hard contacts. What does yours have?

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