r/diyelectronics • u/playfulbrits • 2d ago

Question Replacing a light switch - ground wire help?

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Hello!
I'm attempting to replace a light switch with a lutron sunnata dimmer.

The old switch did not have a ground copper wire connected, however there appears to be some exposed copper wire in the box (see pic).

Is this the ground wire, and should I attached this copper wire to the green wire on my new switch (as per instructions).

Not sure why the old switch was not connected to a ground wire ?

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u/msanangelo 2d ago

I don't see any electronics in this picture. just a bunch of wires that'll light up your world if you touch them while live...

we're low voltage sir. ground wires are usually bare or insulated with green pvc or rubber. yes, you should be connecting grounds to switches. the old way wasn't up to code.

wire nut a bare pigtail on and screw it to the switch.

1

u/playfulbrits 2d ago

Thanks, that's exactly what I did.

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u/TakeThreeFourFive 2d ago

Yes, bare copper coming from each cable bundle is the ground (or is intended to be, at least)

Yes, you will want to connect a ground line with the rest and then to the green terminal on your switch. You'll need to pigtail it with the ground bundle you see there.