Switch Plate Cover

Switch Plate Cover

How do I cap one of the switches in a three-way switch system?

I have a three way switch system in my staircase to control the staircase lights; one switch is at the bottom of the staircase, the other at the top. I want to take out the switch at the bottom, and put a flat plate cover on it (wife wants to put a picture over that area, and the switch would gouge into the back of it; we never use that switch anyway). My question: what do I do with the wires? The switch (looking at it) has two wires connected to screws on the left (top one is black, bottom one is white with a black piece of tape on it). On the right side, there is a red wire (hot), and a wire going to the green (ground) screw. Do I cap these wires, or use a connector to tie some of them together? I would like the switch at the top of the stairs to keep working.

OK you do have a 3-way sw.
If you look at the screws on the sw (not counting the green ) there will be 2 different colors. Usally 1 black and 2 brass colored (doesn't matter).
Take 1 wire from the black screw and 1 from the brass. Use a wire nut to connect the 2 wires together. use tape or another wire nut and cap off the 3 wire. The wire going to the green screw you can also cap.
Blank off the box and your done. You can leave the sw at the top of the stairs alone, or at worst take it and flip it 180degrees if it is upside down.

Three Top Decorating Mistakes With Switch Plates

Here are the three top decorating mistakes, with switch plates.

1) Painting a room, a beautiful color, adding stunning flooring and window treatments, spending thousands of dollars, then adding a gaudy dollar store switch plate on all your electrical outlets and switches.

2) Renovating or changing a room or your whole house, and not bothering to put switch plates on at all, the finishing touches always seem to get forgotten.

3) Not getting the right type of switch plate. If you are hoping to blend in the electrical outlet or switch, then you would find one a similar color to your wall color or backsplash if its in the kitchen, you can even get ceramic ones that blend in well.

We all own lots of electrical equipment, and appliances. Our houses are wired for sound, security, blenders, coffee makers and the trusted microwave. So, we are going to have lots of electrical outlets. They are not always going to be conveniently hidden, so why not make them a part of the decor?

Whether they are for light switches, dimmers, plugs, or TV, cable and the internet, there is a switch plate out there that will finish your room or house off nicely. Don't cheap out on this part, that gaudy one you got from the dollar store, will stand out on the wall like a sore thumb! Especially if its one of those multiple light switch ones, that are quite large.

If you are on a really tight budget, then you could actually change your room, with very little money. If it is the kitchen, try changing the cabinet hardware and the switch plates, and you will be amazed at the difference.

You can get all kinds of decorative switch plates now, you see more and more at the local hardware store, but the best place is online, there are so many to choose from. You can get traditional all the way to funky!

Finish off your room, and get yourself some beautiful decorative switch plates
decorative switch plates

About the Author

unique switch plates online there are some really beautiful switch plates on the internet, spice up your walls.. article and website by Diane Palmer

Switch Plate Cover

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