Need help for switch indicator light

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daryl

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Now I will try to explain this as best I can Guys. I have a stack switch indicator light. Now what I have is a customer that wants her attic fan to be able to be controlled by a manual switch just in case she wants it off even though the thermostat says to run, and the indicator light to turn on only when the fan turns on. The switch will always be in the on position. But the light will be off and then when the thermostat turns the fan on then the light turns on. So, in my box in the hallway I have a 2 wire which is my hot and a three wire going up to my thermostat fan. So I tied my black or hot to one side of my switch then my black on my three wire on the other side. So I'm sending power up on the black. I tied the black to one side of the thermostat. The other side of the thermostat I tied the black from the fan and the red from my three wire to send power back down to my indicator light when the fan turns on. Then took a pigtail from all my neutrals in the box down below and put it on the neutral side of the light. Yes I broke the metal plate to separate the power sources. So the switch is always on , thermostat always has power, when it reaches 80 degrees the thermostat turns on fan turns on sends power to the light. Well my light always stays on. When there is no power there. I think its reading through the neutral. When I take the neutral off the light turns off. This switch is meant to control the indicator light. How can I fool it. I want switch always on, indicator light always off until fan turns on. I believe this little light might be neon or something and is picking up the current in the box just like our volt ticks that glow when they get close. What can i do Sorry so long
 
Re: Need help for switch indicator light

dayrl,

Disconnect the black going to the thermastat,turn/leave switch back on. Does the indicator light come back on? If 'yes' then turn switch off,does light go off,if yes then remove the neutral from the switch, reinstall the tab you broke off,leave the red alone.

So, neutral non stop to fan
hot one side of sw.
other side of sw. jumper to light and t-stat
red other side of light from stat/motor lead

If this is NG then ring out sw/light so you know what you got.
 
Re: Need help for switch indicator light

Hi Guys, As I see it, the switch with the "built-in" indicator light is internally connected to the switch. If the switch is on the "on" position the light will always be on. You might need to use a separate light that is on the return side to make your light go on and off to track the fan as it goes on and off. I dont think you can get the desired effect using a light that is internally connected to the switch.
 
Re: Need help for switch indicator light

By Daryl: So I tied my black or hot to one side of my switch then my black on my three wire on the other side.
I see one problem with this:
300.3(B)

300.3(B) Conductors of the Same Circuit. All conductors of the same circuit and, where used, the grounded conductor and all equipment grounding conductors and bonding conductors shall be contained within the same raceway, auxiliary gutter, cable tray, cablebus assembly, trench, cable , or cord, unless otherwise permitted in accordance with 300.3(B)(1) through (4).
Bold added by me.
 
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