Both my friend and I have the same problem, a wall switch box with only two wires and a ground entering the switch box. We both had
24-hour timers that worked fine; we both bought replacements to find that they need 3 wires, they need the neutral. There were no insturctions on the outside of the packaging.Do they still sell timers that need only two wires?
These will NOT use fluroescent lights.
Not counting the ground wire from here on: The new ones have white, black, and red wires. The white goes to the neutral which is usually also white, the black to the hot which is usuallly also black, and the red goes to the load, the light bulb.
But we don't have a neutral wire in the boxes that hold the switch. I havent' seen his but I have one piece of 12-2 Romex. Plainly, the neutral and hot wires went to the ceiling, but only the hot and its return went to the switch.
The original toggle swich just made or broke the connecton beween the two wires. The first and second timers I had did the same thing. Those timersr broke years ago and I know what they looked like, but not the brand, and I haven't found them on the web.
I could maybe put in a neutral if I have to, but the house he rents iisnt't suitable for that.
Thanks.