Single Pole Light Switch

[TDick]

Another reason I haven't added a heating element yet.

I had a 20+year old programmable dimmer connected to front door lights.
Only one switch so I ASSuME it was a single pole.

It died, I ordered another single pole programmable from HDepot
it was Dead On Arrival so I said screw it and just bought a simple single pole switch (USA)

My biggest screwup was not taking a picture of the wiring when I took the old dimmer out.

It only has two black wires coming out of the bottom & as I recall, it had wire nut connections:

one to a single black wire, which was cold, so I assume it is the load to the fixture.

the other to a twisted wire - two black & one white, which was hot.

My single pole only has screws so I connected ONE of the blacks and the white to the bottom screw, and the black LOAD (?) to the top.
I had power but it was constant on, no switching.

So I switched posts with the black & white up top. Same results. Power is NOT switching off.

Also have a THREE WAY dimmer. Same same.

Then I just connected the two black wires with the white - no switch - and the lights came on.
This is getting 'xacerbating - any expert advice?

[jward]

I would expect you to have a black wire for the line in/power from the main panel breaker go to the switch. Another black wire out of the switch going to the light. The light should also have a white neutral wire to it.