How to tell what wire is which on older home wall lightswitch

Since you do not define "Wall Switch", I'm going to guess that you mean a simple toggle light switch.

If that is true, both conductors are hot. If one conductor is white, then that should be the feed from the supply (black) conductor to the switch. The other conductor should be a black (return) to the light fixture.

How many wires on the switch and what color. Could be a single pole or 3 way.

Your question makes me think you shouldn't be "messin'" with any electrical work until you gather some knowledge and/or hands on experience.
Textbooks, online training and working with someone who understands the basics of electric circuits would be a great way to start.

Since you do not define "Wall Switch", I'm going to guess that you mean a simple toggle light switch.

If that is true, both conductors are hot. If one conductor is white, then that should be the feed from the supply (black) conductor to the switch. The other conductor should be a black (return) to the light fixture.

Yes, I do mean a simple toggle switch for the fan only located at the top of the stairs. I'm also asking if I have enough wires at both boxes to complete this circuit. I was planning on using a feed circuit at the top box for powering the fan only, and a different feed circuit at the bottom box to power the light circuit. I would be using 3 way switches at both boxes for the light. I have wired the whole rest of the house, and this is my last circuit to run. Thanks for reply, and any other information would be helpful.

Please read your questions, they are not coming across very well. The question in your first post does not seem to be at all related to what you say you are doing in your last post.

How to tell what wire is which on older home wall lightswitch

In your last post you ask,

I'm also asking if I have enough wires at both boxes to complete this circuit.

How should we know, we aren't there and we don't know how many wires you have. Note that you said "circuit", implying a single circuit.

You said you were running one "feed circuit" to the top of the stairs for the fan and one "feed circuit" to the bottom of the stairs for the light. That implies two circuits. Does that mean you want the fan and the light to be on different circuits? You also said that this was your last circuit, again implying you are running only one circuit. Quit confusing.

Neither the light or the fan pull very much power so the combine load does not justify two separate circuits. However, I recognize that there may be other reasons you may want them of different circuits.

If you want two separate circuits you can run a circuit to the top box for the fan, and a circuit to the bottom box for the light as you stated. Or you can run two circuits to the top box.

If you mean you want run one circuit and feed the top box for the fan and feed the bottom box for the light, that is not necessary. You can feed both from the top box.

You will need 3-wire cable between the two boxes no mater what you want.


Just tell us what you want and we can tell you how to do it.

Please read your questions, they are not coming across very well. The question in your first post does not seem to be at all related to what you say you are doing in your last post.


In your last post you ask,


How should we know, we aren't there and we don't know how many wires you have. Note that you said "circuit", implying a single circuit.

You said you were running one "feed circuit" to the top of the stairs for the fan and one "feed circuit" to the bottom of the stairs for the light. That implies two circuits. Does that mean you want the fan and the light to be on different circuits? You also said that this was your last circuit, again implying you are running only one circuit. Quit confusing.

Neither the light or the fan pull very much power so the combine load does not justify two separate circuits. However, I recognize that there may be other reasons you may want them of different circuits.

If you want two separate circuits you can run a circuit to the top box for the fan, and a circuit to the bottom box for the light as you stated. Or you can run two circuits to the top box.

If you mean you want run one circuit and feed the top box for the fan and feed the bottom box for the light, that is not necessary. You can feed both from the top box.

You will need 3-wire cable between the two boxes no mater what you want.


Just tell us what you want and we can tell you how to do it.

OK.. Sorry for the confusion about my description of the wiring. I do have 3 wire cable run between the 2 boxes, and 3 wire cable also run from the box at the top of the stairs to the fan/light. I also have 3 way switches in both boxes, and room for another switch in the top box. All I need is the simplest way to hook this up so I can turn the light on/off at both the top and bottom of the stairs, and turn the fan on/off only at the top of the stairs. Thanks again for all your help!

Closed due to accidental hijacking.