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Electrical wiring help: What to do with unused ground wire in box
Posted on 1/11/23 at 11:30 pm
Posted on 1/11/23 at 11:30 pm
Installing a Honeywell home timer switch to give a little more outdoor light at night without having to touch the switch, and I have a question about the install.
The back of the timer switch that I am installing has the standard line (black), load (blue), and neutral (white) wires already seated and ready to pigtail with what’s in the switch box.
However, there is no grounding screw on the timer switch but I have a ground wire connected to the light switch I’m replacing.
Question is, what do I do with the existing ground wire? I’ve seen several methods and I’m wondering which is correct.
1. Cap the bare ground wire, wrap with electrical tape and store in back of box
2. Wire the ground to one of the yoke screws of the timer switch.
3. Pigtail the ground wire with the ground wire of the other light switch that’s in the box (being used for a different light).
The back of the timer switch that I am installing has the standard line (black), load (blue), and neutral (white) wires already seated and ready to pigtail with what’s in the switch box.
However, there is no grounding screw on the timer switch but I have a ground wire connected to the light switch I’m replacing.
Question is, what do I do with the existing ground wire? I’ve seen several methods and I’m wondering which is correct.
1. Cap the bare ground wire, wrap with electrical tape and store in back of box
2. Wire the ground to one of the yoke screws of the timer switch.
3. Pigtail the ground wire with the ground wire of the other light switch that’s in the box (being used for a different light).
2
Posted on 1/12/23 at 5:50 am to 0x15E
Im not an electrician, but i’d use the other switch ground point as first option, if any issues then cap it
Posted on 1/12/23 at 7:10 am to BabySam
So there's no ground wire on the wiring to the lights? Maybe tucked back out of the box or cut short?
Posted on 1/12/23 at 7:53 am to Wraytex
quote:
So there's no ground wire on the wiring to the lights? Maybe tucked back out of the box or cut short?
No, it’s an all-plastic housing on the timer switch so there is no ground needed on the switch itself (Or at least that’s what I’ve read).
So now I have a bare ground wire in my box that went to the old light switch, but can’t be used with the new timer switch.
Posted on 1/12/23 at 12:00 pm to 0x15E
I'd stuff it back in the box. Weary of cutting it, if the timer dies or you change it in the future.
Posted on 1/13/23 at 9:29 am to 0x15E
Is there not a ground wire going to the light fixture from the box and one from the power source? I would make sure you connect it so there is a ground going back to the light fixture.
Otherwise
These are really handy for those situations.
Otherwise
quote:
3. Pigtail the ground wire with the ground wire of the other light switch that’s in the box (being used for a different light).
These are really handy for those situations.
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