I just changed a light switch cover and now on is off and off is on?

Question

No it is not upside down, it is a switch for 4 lights (just to make it fun), all lights and switches are working just the wrong way round. Think I have just got one wire incorrect but unsure which...can you please help?

Answer 1

if it is a single pole switch it is upside down

but if it is a 3way or a four way it is operating properly

and the only way to tell if a 3 or 4way is right side up is to

click all switches on that 3 or 4way circuit down if there right

side up the lights will be off but if all point down and the light comes on then a switches flipped the wrong way.

Answer 2

Personally I think you are foolish to play around with electricity if you are not an electrcian. Apart from the risk of injuring or killing yourself or someone else, there is also the risk of a fault causing a fire.

Please call an electrician.

Answer 3

if there is multiple switches for the lights there is no correct on or

off postion  the switches work depending on what postion the other switches are in one switch down may be on  and another up may be on just the nature of the beast.

Answer 4

Lights in series are not fun, you will need a voltmeter or keep changing wires around AND BE CAREFUL.

Answer 5

So when you close the switch (turn it on), the lights go out!?? I've been a licensed electrician for 26 years and this is a good one.  They've got to be 3-ways switches, ??  Call a local electrician to come take a look at it.

Answer 6

To tell if it's upside down look at the printing on the mechanism,you really should let an electrician look at it because apart from the danger of fire and electric shock already mentioned there are legal and insurance issues,if someone is hurt or the building is damaged in 5,10 or 20 years from now the insurance people and police will come after you.

Answer 7

If there is only one switch that operates the light, the switch will say on/off on the toggle.  If the toggle doesn't say on/off on it, the switch is a 3 or a 4 way switch.  So if it is the only switch that operates the lights and there is no on/off on the toggle, you have the wrong switch but yes you can correct it by switching one wire from one side to the other but I'd go get the right switch.  This is a common problem with home DIYers especially when working on 3 way switches.