There are three screw terminals on the body of the switch in addition to the green grounding screw. The continuous hot wire andor the wire that goes to the light connect to the black screw.
How To Wire Switches
Light switch screw colors. Claro wall plates are a simple and elegant claro wall plates are a simple and elegant solution designed to match your existing decorator opening dimmers switches and accessories. Light switch plate cover screws are available in metal with painted tops only on colored ones. The most common cover plates for ivory switches are ivory cover plates. Claro wall plates are oversized to hide gaps around wall boxes and attach securely and snugly in place regardless of the wall condition. The other two screws usually a lighter brass color are known as the traveler terminals. White ivory gray light almond red black.
The light colored terminals are the traveler terminals and are interchangeable. The top one is brass and the bottom one is black. Gives a nice uniform look. This wire is sometimes red. These switches have two light colored terminals and one dark colored terminal plus a ground screw. The dark colored terminal is the common terminal and brings power from the source to the light fixture.
The green or bare copper ground wire if the device has one attaches to the green screw terminal on the switch or to the electrical box. They feature a clean appearance with no visible screws and mount flush to the wall. The yellow undertone of ivory switches offers added warmth and is a popular solution when you want to get away from stark white light switches. The ground wire connects to the green screw and the travelers connect to the two brass screws. Color coding on three way switches is very important. Color is just on head with powdercoated finish on steel.
The other two screws you cant see are brass and green. The black hot wire goes to the brass screw or into the hole in the back of the device on the same side as the brass screw. One screw known as the common is a darker color than the others.