Can't figure out this switch. Have 3 black wires instead of regular 2.

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Can't figure out this switch. Have 3 black wires instead of regular 2.

This thread has been locked for further replies. You can start a new thread to share your ideas or ask questions.
Can't figure out this switch. Have 3 black wires instead of regular 2.
Can't figure out this switch. Have 3 black wires instead of regular 2.
2020-08-14 03:55:51 - last edited 2020-08-15 01:22:21
Model: HS200  
Hardware Version:
Firmware Version:

Hello all, so I'm trying to replace my single pole light switch that powers on/off the light/fan combo. Actually just the light, the fan is operated by a pullchain, thus toggling the switch turns on/off only the light. Now in my box there's an odd number of black wires all pigtailed together, total of three. One of them is exposed in the middle and ties around the screw on the single pole switch. [Whereas in all other rooms there's only two black wires.] Besides those, there's one red/copper (going into the single pole light switch) and 2 white ones screwed together (assuming these are neutral) I figured out that the extra black wire actually powers the outlets in this specific room. I tried screwing all 5 black wires (2 from the HS200 and 3 from the box), screwed green with red (assuming they're both ground) and white with whites. Doing this gave power to the fan and the outlets but the light didn't work. Next I tried splitting the 3 black wires with the two from the switch and alternated, trying diff combinations; once I was able to use the switch to toggle the outlets on and off, and once I was able to toggle the fan on and off. Other times it gave power to neither of them. But never got the light to work. I can't figure it out, I don't know what I'm doing wrong here or if I'm missing something. Could this be a faulty piece? I mean the light on the device does go on and it does power the outlets/the fan. So I'm not entirely sure what's going on here. I know I'm doing something wrong but not sure what.. This is very frustrating. Any suggestions, any help, tips would be much appreciated! I could also upload pics if needed for clarification, feel free to ask me anything (: Sorry for my bad grammar, English isn't my first language.

Also, I think the HS210 has a 3 way switch or something? Do you think that would solve the problem instead of the HS200?

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#1
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1 Accepted Solution
Re:Can't figure out this switch. Have 3 black wires instead of regular 2.-Solution
2020-08-14 19:03:49 - last edited 2020-08-15 01:22:21
Wire all 3 black into a tp link black as a bundle. Wire the red into the other TP Link black. Wire white to white as a bundle. Green goes to the metal ground of the box. Red should be to the fan/light load, not ground (nor neutral).
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Re:Can't figure out this switch. Have 3 black wires instead of regular 2.
2020-08-14 12:41:36

@Abdi7 

If you can post pictures of the original switch wiring.

Both sides and the back of the switch.

And one of the wiring in the box.

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#2
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Re:Can't figure out this switch. Have 3 black wires instead of regular 2.
2020-08-14 18:20:21
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#3
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Re:Can't figure out this switch. Have 3 black wires instead of regular 2.-Solution
2020-08-14 19:03:49 - last edited 2020-08-15 01:22:21
Wire all 3 black into a tp link black as a bundle. Wire the red into the other TP Link black. Wire white to white as a bundle. Green goes to the metal ground of the box. Red should be to the fan/light load, not ground (nor neutral).
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Re:Can't figure out this switch. Have 3 black wires instead of regular 2.
2020-08-14 19:10:21

@MikeP oh I haven't done that, I kept thinking the red was ground as what the app was telling me in the instructions. But I'll give this a try as soon as I get home and will let you know if it works! Thank youu. Also the green on tplink just stays open by itself?

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#5
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Re:Can't figure out this switch. Have 3 black wires instead of regular 2.
2020-08-14 20:40:50
I don't recall the HS200 mentioning the red, but it's been a while. Could be it was warning you a red wire means it's a 3 way switch, but because this is for a fan/light I expect the electrician used 3 wire cable, one for the fan (black), one for the light (red), and neutral (white). The green wire is ground and should be attached to a screw inside the box, as should all of the bare conductors from the incoming wires. It's for safety and isn't essential to make things work - some jurisdictions don't require it to be connected (but I always would).
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Re:Can't figure out this switch. Have 3 black wires instead of regular 2.
2020-08-14 21:01:22

@Abdi7 don't forget to wrap that section of bare black wire with electric tape.

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#7
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Re:Can't figure out this switch. Have 3 black wires instead of regular 2.
2020-08-15 01:22:14 - last edited 2020-08-15 01:23:52

I did this and it worked without any issue!! Thank you so much. Made it look so easy, can’t believe I was losing my mind over this. And yes you’re right, the app instruction doesn’t mention red, it states copper as ground. I just misunderstood copper for red and kept putting the wrong two and two together lol. Also I didn’t have any electrical tape at the moment so I just bent the exposed area and screwed a nut on it. It’s now secure 👍🏼 thanks everyone for their help again 😊

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#8
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Re:Can't figure out this switch. Have 3 black wires instead of regular 2.
2020-12-14 21:44:52

@MikeP 

Did your solution for HS200 wiring work?  That was bundling 2 black of house to 1 black of switch. And connecting house red to the other switch black. 

I want to try it.

Let me know retiredatthelake@gmail.com

Steven Frey 

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#9
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Re:Can't figure out this switch. Have 3 black wires instead of regular 2.
2020-12-15 14:59:41

@SDFrey The case here was for a fixture with a fan + light so there were two load wires, red & black, and neutral, plus the incoming (and sometimes outgoing power wires).  If yours is the same and you have a white neutral (check, don't assume) it should work.  If you have a red because it's a 3 way switch there are more variations, the wiring discussed here won't work.

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