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spend the day at the hospital with an older family member had to have him admitted yesterday... “Do not complain about growing old. It is a privilege denied to many.” – Mark Twain
spend the day at the hospital with an older family member had to have him admitted yesterday... “Do not complain about growing old. It is a privilege denied to many.” – Mark Twain
Location: Really deep in the heart of South California Gender:
Posted:
Dec 23, 2025 - 4:02pm
Steely_D wrote:
The remodel was a decade ago, so although I have my complaints, theEve light switch was OK until
a few months ago, spontaneously died. I unwired it, put it back in, worked fine until
two days ago, same thing. No indicator light on the unit and garage light stuck in ON.
I threw the breaker for a few minutes but it didn't reset as hoped.
So, figured to replace it with a non-HomeKit plain old on/off that I had a couple of from previous swap outs to other Eve switches.
The Eve switch has a white, green, red, and black going to it.
The plain switch has the green and black clearly labeled and two unlabeled screws. I'm thinking that my mistake is putting a white on one of those, when it really should be for a (nonexistent here) second red leading to another fixture.
But I hooked up all four wires and in both cases, giving it power blew the breaker with sparks and two little Xs over its eyes.
So, tomorrow I ought to get another of those breakers - completely identical to the one I'm replacing - and I'll use a simple on/off with three connections: green, black, one red. I won't attach the white.
A replacement Eve switch ought be here after the weekend and I'll put that in with its mandatory white wire and pray.
Yes, I'm wearing gloves and heavy soled shoes. It's outside and the gravel I'm on isn't soaked, but here comes the Pineapple Express...
For 120 volt situations...
Green wire is a ground.
White is the neutral.
Red is usually the "traveler lead" for 3 or 4 way switching.
Black is the hot lead. That's the one that will shock you... especially if you ground it.
I knew this electrician who was a wizard at figuring out things that most other electricians couldn't.
He was a really nice guy who retired a few years back.
The remodel was a decade ago, so although I have my complaints, theEve light switch was OK until
a few months ago, spontaneously died. I unwired it, put it back in, worked fine until
two days ago, same thing. No indicator light on the unit and garage light stuck in ON.
I threw the breaker for a few minutes but it didn't reset as hoped.
So, figured to replace it with a non-HomeKit plain old on/off that I had a couple of from previous swap outs to other Eve switches.
The Eve switch has a white, green, red, and black going to it.
The plain switch has the green and black clearly labeled and two unlabeled screws. I'm thinking that my mistake is putting a white on one of those, when it really should be for a (nonexistent here) second red leading to another fixture.
But I hooked up all four wires and in both cases, giving it power blew the breaker with sparks and two little Xs over its eyes.
So, tomorrow I ought to get another of those breakers - completely identical to the one I'm replacing - and I'll use a simple on/off with three connections: green, black, one red. I won't attach the white.
A replacement Eve switch ought be here after the weekend and I'll put that in with its mandatory white wire and pray.
Yes, I'm wearing gloves and heavy soled shoes. It's outside and the gravel I'm on isn't soaked, but here comes the Pineapple Express...
Location: At the dude ranch / above the sea Gender:
Posted:
Dec 23, 2025 - 3:36pm
kurtster wrote:
Back to the beginning.
In the garage. It was working until it wasn't. How long was it working until it wasn't ?
Just thinking out loud. So if it was fine for a couple of years until it wasn't, something happened in the circuit from the box to the switch in the garage. Or you mentioned a remodel, so it wasn't working that long.
Anyway, an intermittent now permanent short. Any good shaking quakes lately ? Critters eating at the insulation ? Water leaking in from somewhere ?
The remodel was a decade ago, so although I have my complaints, theEve light switch was OK until
a few months ago, spontaneously died. I unwired it, put it back in, worked fine until
two days ago, same thing. No indicator light on the unit and garage light stuck in ON.
I threw the breaker for a few minutes but it didn't reset as hoped.
So, figured to replace it with a non-HomeKit plain old on/off that I had a couple of from previous swap outs to other Eve switches.
The Eve switch has a white, green, red, and black going to it.
The plain switch has the green and black clearly labeled and two unlabeled screws. I'm thinking that my mistake is putting a white on one of those, when it really should be for a (nonexistent here) second red leading to another fixture.
But I hooked up all four wires and in both cases, giving it power blew the breaker with sparks and two little Xs over its eyes.
So, tomorrow I ought to get another of those breakers - completely identical to the one I'm replacing - and I'll use a simple on/off with three connections: green, black, one red. I won't attach the white.
A replacement Eve switch ought be here after the weekend and I'll put that in with its mandatory white wire and pray.
Yes, I'm wearing gloves and heavy soled shoes. It's outside and the gravel I'm on isn't soaked, but here comes the Pineapple Express...
Well…I had a funky light switch in the garage that wasn’t responding to Siri commands. Happened a few months ago and a reset fixed it, but now no. So I shut down the breaker and replaced it with a simple on-off switch.
Back to the beginning.
In the garage. It was working until it wasn't. How long was it working until it wasn't ?
Just thinking out loud. So if it was fine for a couple of years until it wasn't, something happened in the circuit from the box to the switch in the garage. Or you mentioned a remodel, so it wasn't working that long.
Anyway, an intermittent now permanent short. Any good shaking quakes lately ? Critters eating at the insulation ? Water leaking in from somewhere ?
Thx. I have the metal bar. Just replaced it, no problem, then flipped the power on and...sparks and it's dead. Dammit.
Went back to the wall with the wiring and it's so simple it's killing me. There's a white, red, black, and green. That's not hard at all. Grrrrrrrr.
Now I have to hop on bike (Better Half⢠has the car) and got pay another $50+ for a replacement and STILL need to figure out what's the problem.
Or maybe engage an electrician, but the last time I did that to help with the three-switch setup that the remodel electrician installed (before he killed himself) - and the guy could not figure out the wiring set up either and I was out the service fee without getting a result. So calling one in for this seems just as frustrating. Grrrrrr.
And I have a dinner party on Thursday, so it would be spectacular to have lights working in my kitchen.
What were the conditions at failure? Did breakers just trip? Any recent or past replacement work? Any past issues at all with this breaker/circuits? Is it isolated to overhead lighting and wall switches or just sockets? Are the circuits identified? What if anything was plugged in and running at the time? Do you have aluminum or copper cable? Failures that happen suddenly with no apparent cause are usually drawn to failure by a current surge on the circuit for some reason. Like a broken switch contact or loosened wire nut in the service box.
Exactly where are sparks coming from? The breaker itself? And no others in the panel seem to be affected? Sorry. Just a brainstorm without actually being able to see anything. Just be careful. I tell people all the time that yeah, diy plumbing can be a bad day but diy electricity can be a really really bad day. Good luck with it. It will be interesting to hear what you find.
Location: At the dude ranch / above the sea Gender:
Posted:
Dec 23, 2025 - 11:04am
islander wrote:
Ah, those are generally called 'space savers', they put two single pole breakers into the space of one single pole. Yours (if yours matches the picture with the metal bars) is extra special because the inside and outside poles appear to be tied, so a trip on one line will force the other line to disconnect too, but from separate phases. That's a bit of a funky/ special setup. If it's just all the breakers without the cross ties, I think you would still technically call it a 4 pole because there are 4 circuits you are disconnecting. But typically a 4 pole would have 4 inputs as well, typically more on the commercial side of things - 3 phase power + a neutral.
Disclaimer - I mostly work on boats and off-grid which is just adjacent to 'Real' electricians.
Thx. I have the metal bar. Just replaced it, no problem, then flipped the power on and...sparks and it's dead. Dammit.
Went back to the wall with the wiring and it's so simple it's killing me. There's a white, red, black, and green. That's not hard at all. Grrrrrrrr.
Now I have to hop on bike (Better Half⢠has the car) and got pay another $50+ for a replacement and STILL need to figure out what's the problem.
Or maybe engage an electrician, but the last time I did that to help with the three-switch setup that the remodel electrician installed (before he killed himself) - and the guy could not figure out the wiring set up either and I was out the service fee without getting a result. So calling one in for this seems just as frustrating. Grrrrrr.
And I have a dinner party on Thursday, so it would be spectacular to have lights working in my kitchen.
This thing here, but each is 15a. Looks like it'll be a simple 1:1 rewiring. But then I have to address the reason it fried.
Disclaimer: I took a semester of electrical engineering in college 5 decades ago so I could rewire my synth. Made an A in the DC section, but failed the AC section, since I haven't done the requisite math yet.
Ah, those are generally called 'space savers', they put two single pole breakers into the space of one single pole. Yours (if yours matches the picture with the metal bars) is extra special because the inside and outside poles appear to be tied, so a trip on one line will force the other line to disconnect too, but from separate phases. That's a bit of a funky/ special setup. If it's just all the breakers without the cross ties, I think you would still technically call it a 4 pole because there are 4 circuits you are disconnecting. But typically a 4 pole would have 4 inputs as well, typically more on the commercial side of things - 3 phase power + a neutral.
Disclaimer - I mostly work on boats and off-grid which is just adjacent to 'Real' electricians.
Location: At the dude ranch / above the sea Gender:
Posted:
Dec 23, 2025 - 9:54am
islander wrote:
"Load side, line side... they both start with L and that matches the L on this wire..." (actually said to me by a client).
Edit: - 4 pole breaker? 2 ins and 2 outs is still a 2 pole. Just so you don't get 'the look' at HomeDepot.
This thing here, but each is 15a. Looks like it'll be a simple 1:1 rewiring. But then I have to address the reason it fried.
Disclaimer: I took a semester of electrical engineering in college 5 decades ago so I could rewire my synth. Made an A in the DC section, but failed the AC section, since I haven't done the requisite math yet.
Wellâ¦I had a funky light switch in the garage that wasnât responding to Siri commands. Happened a few months ago and a reset fixed it, but now no.
So I shut down the breaker and replaced it with a simple on-off switch.
Turned the breaker back on andâ¦buzzing->sparks->I flipped it off.
Breaker is now pining for the fjords, so Iâm gonna have to shut down the whole house power and replace the four pole breaker after I get a fresh one from HomeDepot. And then figure out why it fried in the first place. (Iâve already tossed the replacement light switch.)
I have never done this before, so
fellas, itâs been good to know yaâ¦
"Load side, line side... they both start with L and that matches the L on this wire..." (actually said to me by a client).
Edit: - 4 pole breaker? 2 ins and 2 outs is still a 2 pole. Just so you don't get 'the look' at HomeDepot.
Well…I had a funky light switch in the garage that wasn’t responding to Siri commands. Happened a few months ago and a reset fixed it, but now no. So I shut down the breaker and replaced it with a simple on-off switch. Turned the breaker back on and…buzzing->sparks->I flipped it off. Breaker is now pining for the fjords, so I’m gonna have to shut down the whole house power and replace the four pole breaker after I get a fresh one from HomeDepot. And then figure out why it fried in the first place. (I’ve already tossed the replacement light switch.)
I have never done this before, so fellas, it’s been good to know ya…
Take care. All the best to him/her.
