I am trying to install a single pole Leviton switch with pilot light. I originally installed by the diagram. I have three wires in the box(red, white, and black). The diagram shows A1- Black, B1(silver screw) white, and Black screw on rt. Side is common. I connected black to black(top left), white to silver screw(bottom left), and red to black screw on right(common). The light worked by switch, but pilot light did not come on at all. I thought the pilot light was bad, but since light worked I left it. Our daughter was getting married and I got tied up with that. Six months later, I bought another switch to replace it. Wire it by diagram and same thing, so I started switching wires to different screws. Now the pilot light is on all the time and the light doesn't come on in either switch position. How should it be connected?

Need to know model number of switch.

Also, are you sure the white in the box is a neutral conductor?

Which is hot, black or red?

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Originally Posted by MrsFixIt72

I am trying to install a single pole Leviton switch

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Well the guy below sounds like he has some idea about how a switch works but I'm not sure that his advice was correct . The light inside switch has to have a neutral . The fact that there is a red wire in this switch box at all leads me to believe that there is no neutral . It sounds like this is a three way switch box . The question is was the white wire hooked to the switch that you took out . If it was hooked to the switch that you took out then it is part of a three way switch system . Also does this switch work in conjunction with another switch? If it does then it is a three way switch . What you are describing with a silver screw is a single pole switch that requires a neutral to light a light . Now it is possible that there is a red and black wire and it is not a three way switch . But more than likely it would have more than one switch in the box and be there to control a ceiling fan and light combination . If that is the case then there will be white and black wires coming in the box as well from other tables . If that's the case hire an electrician to put the white wire back where it came from and create a pigtailed from the neutral wires to power the light on the switch . Don't do any electrical work unless you have a license , a permit , and have shut off all the power to the structure . If you like the hire a >Link Removed<

Assuming that the black, white and red wires are the only wires in the switch box.

Sounds like you pruchased a 3-way illuminaded switch. Box probably says it can be used as a 3-way or a single switch.
We know that one of the two wires connected to the traveler terminals is the hot because the pilot light is lit. But we don't know which one. We also don't know which of the wires is actually connect to the light in the ceiling.
Remove the wire presently connected to the common screw and cap it with a wire nut. Remove the other two wires and temporarily connect them with a wire nut. Turn power back on. If the light burns you have the two wires you will be working with.
If the light does not light turn power off. Separate the two wires and connect one of them to the wire that was connected to the common screw. If light still does not light connect the other wire to the wire that was connected to the common screw.
When you find the two wire that make the light burn connect one of them to the common screw. Connect the other one to one of the traveler screws. Cap the third wire with a wire nut. If the pilot ligtht does not come on when the light is off, reverse the wires connected to the switch.

I think this is a bit too cautious,

Don't do any electrical work unless you have .... shut off all the power to the structure

Since when does the entire building need to shut off to work on a switch?

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The light inside switch has to have a neutral

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Incorrect.

Illuminated switches that do not require a neutral exist, both single pole and 3-way, and have become quite common.

Electricianman is right however, if this switch is one of a set of 3-way switches, my advice is incorrect.

Is this switch one of a set of 3-way switches. If so, go to the other switch and see what wires are connected to the traveler screws of that switch. Connect the same two wires to the traveler screws of this switch. Connect the third wire to the common terminal.

Model # of switch is 5226 by Leviton. Red wire is my hot according to my tester. I now have Red on brass screw(Lt top), white on silver (Lt bottom), and black on black screw(Rt top). Switch is controlling outside flood light and is the only switch for that light. There is another switch in the box controlling the patio light. Wired this way, the light works, but the pilot light does not come on in either position.

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Originally Posted by MrsFixIt72

Model # of switch is 5226 by Leviton. Red wire is my hot according to my tester. I now have Red on brass screw(Lt top), white on silver (Lt bottom), and black on black screw(Rt top). Switch is controlling outside flood light and is the only switch for that light. There is another switch in the box controlling the patio light. Wired this way, the light works, but the pilot light does not come on in either position.

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I just remembered that this WAS a 3-way circuit. The other switch is upstairs and our kids would flip it not realizing it was the outside lights and leave it on, so my dad fixed it so that switch does nothing. That's why there's 3 wires to that switch. If I know which one is my hot(red) and that needs to go to the black screw on rt, isn't the white my neutral? Do I pigtail to the other blacks in the box?

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isn't the white my neutral

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No, you have no neutral at this switch. The neutral goes directly to the light.

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switch is 5226 by Leviton

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That model requires a neutral.
Suggest you return it and purchase a type that does not require a neutral such as Leviton 5611-2T.

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

No, you have no neutral at this switch. The neutral goes directly to the light.

That model requires a neutral.
Suggest you return it and purchase a type that does not require a neutral such as Leviton 5611-2T.

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Thanks, I'll do that.

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Originally Posted by MrsFixIt72

Thanks, I'll do that.

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Leviton 5611-2T is a decorator rocker switch, no pilot light. This won't solve my problem. Is there a switch with pilot light that doesn't require a neutral?

Do you need a pilot light to show the light controlled by switch is on?

Or a lighted handle when the light is off?

There may not be a switch that can operate without a neutral available.

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Originally Posted by tkrussell

Do you need a pilot light to show the light controlled by switch is on?

Or a lighted handle when the light is off?

There may not be a switch that can operate without a neutral available.

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Pilot light to show the light is on. My husband turns on the floods when he lets the dog out and forgets to turn it off when the dog comes in. The neighbors behind us(350 feet away) complain when left on.

Pilot light to show the light is on. My husband turns on the floods when he lets the dog out and forgets to turn it off when the dog comes in. The neighbors behind us(350 feet away) complain when left on.

I got the Leviton switch #5226 to work by disconnecting the white wire and capping it off. I cut a white pigtail, connected it to silver screw and then connected it with a screw to my grounded box. It works perfect now. Yea!

While it may work, it is not correct. You need a true neutral for that type of switch. Even the instructions state the 4 wires that must be present in the box to wire this switch:

http://communities.leviton.com/servl...226%205626.pdf

I am unable to find a switch that will do what you want without a neutral wire.

So, keep in mind,you have wired the switch incorrectly, and created a Code violation.

Without the Neutral it is easy to wire a switch with a pilot light to work.
Only problem is it lights when switch is off. Just have to remember when pilot light is off, light is on? That's if you have no neutral.
Combo Pilot light/switches can be wired to do either.