Switch – Replacing an old light switch with a new one. Trying to figure out correct wiring

lightswitch

My old light switch did not have the common labeled and just had two brass screw connectors. Coming in the bottom of the box was a black, a white, and ground wire. The ground was connected to another ground and out the top not connected to the switch. The black was to the switch and the white to another white and put the top. Coming off the switch was a red that went out the top. Not sure which to connect to the common connector and which to the other. I also wrapped the ground wire around the ground screw.

Here is how I wired the new switch:

enter image description here

Coming into the bottom of the box was a black, a white, and ground.
The ground was wired to another ground coming in from the top of the box, the old switch was not grounded. The white coming in the bottom was connected to another white from the top (I assume straight to the light) the black was looped around one terminal and then connected to a black coming from the top of the box. Then there was a red wire coming from the top of the box on the second terminal on the switch.enter image description here

This should be a better picture (sorry I’m on my phone and first time posting here). I went and got a single pole switch. Can o wrap the ground wire around the ground screw then up to the ground wire coming in the top?

Best Answer

You have a romex 14-2 coming in the bottom of your box and a 14-3 going out the top. With a plastic box. Single pole switches have no common,connect the black wires together (they are your line side circuit) and around 1 of the single pole screws (doesn't matter which one) connect the red wire to the other screw (this is your switch leg going to your light). the white wires just get connected together, and the ground wires (bare wires) get connected and attached to the ground screw on the single pole switch.

Yes a 3-way switch can be used as a single pole switch, you just have to leave one screw unused.