Screw terminals are color-coded on each switch. They vary by device.
Green screw always ground
Silver screw always neutral > except some 4 ways switches
Brass screw is hot > can be hot from breaker or hot wire going to load > or in 3-way switch can be hot traveler wires from other 3-way switch
Dark screw is hot > can be hot from breaker > or in 3-way switch is hot going to load
Single-pole switch:
2 brass screws > hot and load wires connect to either screw
3-way switch:
2 brass screws connect to travelers
dark screw goes to hot from breaker and hot to load
Switch-plug combo and pilot light switches:
dark screw goes to hot from breaker
silver screw to neutral, brass screw goes to load
Double switch:
dark screw goes to hot from breaker
brass screws each go to load
Receptacles:
brass screw goes to hot from breaker and to hot going to next receptacle
silver screw goes to neutral and to neutral going to next receptacle.
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