I am trying to install Cooper Wiring Device to a fluorescent light. There are three wires, not two as indicated in the instructions. Also, there are two copper wires and a green one; no black .

SOURCE: need to know wiring diagram for cooper single pole lighted switch

well lets see on one side you should have two brass screws that would be to interupt your lead to the fixture then you either have a brass and silver screws on the other side or you have black and white wires the black or brass is always hot the silver or white is neutral does that answer your question if not hit me back with a description of what your switch looks like

SOURCE: Cooper Industries Cooper Wiring 274W Switch and

Switch-plug combo:
bare ground goes to green screw
dark screw goes to hot from breaker
silver screw to neutral
brass screw goes to load (light)

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You are replacing single pole light switch?
Single pole switch has 3 wires: black and red and bare copper

New device has 4 different colored screws: green, dark, brass, silver
Bare copper goes to green screw.
Black wire goes to dark screw
Red wire to brass screw
Nothing on silver screw for a moment. Test circuit and make sure light turns on-off.
If lights works, then good so far.

Now let look at silver screw. Neutral wire has to connect to silver screw.
In back of your electrical box are white wires twisted together and covered with wire nut.
These are neutral wires.
You must connect another short piece of insulated wire to these neutral wires and run that wire to silver screw.
The neutral wire will complete circuit to receptacle.
If you do not have neutral wire, then receptacle will not work in that box without additional wiring.

Hook up neutral wire to silver screw.
Now turn on power and click switch again.
If circuit breaker trips, then reverse your red and black wires.
Otherwise this should be correct wiring.