From: Fuzzy 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: replace a wall switch
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 11:03:22 -0600

cpliu  wrote:

>Thank you all for the help, and sorry for the confusion that the other 
>side of the switch wasn't shown. I just uploaded a picture showing the 
>other side. 
>
>http://users.adelphia.net/~c.liu/images/switch2.jpg
>
>I thought it was a 2-way switch with a ground, but I'm not completely 
>sure.  I agree that I should have an electrician take a look too, but I 
>also would like to learn about it myself. It's a 55 year old house I'm 
>living now. There are a lot things need repairs, and I would prefer to 
>know more be able to do some of the basic stuffs myself.

Yes, it appears to be a 2-way switch with two standard brass terminals
for the line and a green terminal for ground.  You are wise to consult
an electrician if you are not comfortable with dealing with this.  It
might also be a good idea to have him inspect the rest of your wiring
to determine how safe it is.

>If it's a 2-way, my question is: which line from the wall should be 
>connected to which brass terminal? I just don't want to take the risk of 
>breaking my electricity lines in the house.

It shouldn't matter since all the switch does is interrupt the power
flowing through the line.  I'd hook the wires to whichever brass
terminal allows a configuration that more easily fits back in the box
without undue crimping of the already old wiring.  

A word of caution, I am not an electrician.  My advice is based on
having successfully replaced several similar switches in a 40 year old
house.