Things You'll Need:
- New single-pole light switch
- Plastic electrical box
- New wiring
- Screwdriver
- Screwgun
- Wood screws
- Wire cutters
- Pliers
- Wiring nuts
- Electrical tape
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Step 1
Set your plastic electrical box in place in the wall, securing it to a stud with wood screws. You can put it at any height you want, but 48 inches from the floor is standard. The face of the box should come out from the front the stud by half an inch, to accommodate new drywall.
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Step 2
String new wiring into the box from the holes in the back, securing them with the brackets provided with the box. There should be two wire bundles, each containing three wires: white, black and a bare copper grounding wire. One bundle will run to your fuse box, the other to the fixture that will be controlled by the switch. (NOTE: Don't hook up the electricity to the circuit until after you've finished installing the switch and the fixture.)
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Step 3
Pull all three wires out of each of the two bundles and let them hang out the front of the box. Use your wire cutters to strip a half inch of insulation from the ends of the white and black wires.
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Step 4
Connect the ends of the two bare copper grounding wires together with a wire nut. Do the same with the two bare ends of the two white wires and wrap the white wire connection in electrical tape to seal it.
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Step 5
Bend the ends of the two black wires into small hooks with your pliers, and hook them around the receiving screws at the top and bottom of either side of the light switch. Tighten the screws with your screwdriver. Wrap electrical tape around the side of the switch to seal the connections.
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Step 6
Tuck all the wiring into the box. Press the switch unit against the front of the box and attach the unit with the machine screws provided with the switch. After you drywall around the box, you can put an electrical plate over the switch.
