Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Lighting timer switch

I have almost completed the installation of a timer switch inside my house to control lighting outside.
I simply removed the manual switch and replaced it with the timer control switch.
Here is my problem. The new switch has two wires.
The manual switch was connected by 3 wires. All 3 wires are the same color. I determined which was the hot wire. I connected it. I connected the 2nd wire of the 3. The timer works fine. My question " what do I do with the 3rd wire?
I assume it is a ground wire, If it is, where do I connect it to the new switch?
I don't want to assume anything with electricity.
Thanks for your help.

If you don't want to assume anything then why did you connect up this timer without knowing what the wires were for.

Did one of the wires connect to a ground terminal on the old switch? Did the old switch have a ground terminal?

Tell us about the old switch. I suspect that two of the wires were connected to the same terminal, and that you now have something in the house that does not work.

First of all sir, It is not connected. I put the wires on to the timer switch just to see if it worked and then stopped and wrote this note.
The manual switch had two posts. Two wires were connected to one of the posts. Since all 3 wires are the same color ( Which is weird ) I dont know where to connect the 3rd wire. It's probably a ground wire. Should that be connected with the hot wire or the other wire is my question.
Thanks

Fast rule...one screw, one wire. Someone wired another light to this switch via an incorrect method. It won't be a grounding wire and be black. You should find out what other appliance/light the other wire controlled and make plans for it.

None of those wires are a ground.

Take the two wires connected to one terminal and add a third wire six inches long. This third wire is called a pigtail.
Connect the three wires together with a wire nut
and connect the pigtail to one of the switch terminals.

The wire that was alone on a switch terminal gets connected to the other switch terminal.

Thank you for your help.
I Agree.....If God wanted you to talk more than listen you would have two mouths and One ear.:)
I hope I've got it right but I must admit that on the old switch there was no "pigtail" and only two terminals.
Thanks

That's why I stated someone wired it incorrectly with two wires under one screw head. Not uncommon, but not code. Either that, or whoever did the rewiring left the abandoned wire in the box without a cap. You still need to determine where that wire goes so you can either cap it off or attach it where it can be used properly.

Larry
With regard to the 3rd wire. I have not found anything in the house that doesn't work, so I still do not what that 3rd wire was for. Could it possibly have been a ground wire?
If it is a ground wire where should it be connected?
Or should I just put a screw cap on it and forget it?
Thanks.

Why do you keep insisting this might have been a ground wire? if it was connected to the same place as one of the other wires then it cannot be a ground wire. Period. Stop trying to go there.

You have already stated that the wire was attached along with one of the other hot wires to one of the switch terminals. If what you told us is correct, then it is a hot wire, and something in your house does not work OR the wire is no longer necessary.

Perhaps if you provide us the details of the situation we can provide more insight. How many cables or conduits come into this box? What (color) wires are in those cables or conduits? How were those wires connected to anything BEFORE you started making ahcnges?

I removed the manual switch which controlled a porch light outside of my house.I replaced the manual switch with a new timer control switch.
Here is my problem. The new switch has two wires.
The manual switch was connected with 3 wires that came into the box. Two of the wires are yellow and one is black. I determined which was the hot wire. I connected it. I connected the 2nd wire (which is yellow ) of the 3. The timer works fine. My question " what do I do with the 3rd wire? It came from one of the two posts on the old manual switch, but I didn't mark which post.
I know this may be confusing but I hope you can help.
Thanks!
:wall:

This is simple. Why do you keep making it difficult?

If two of the box wires were connected to one of the old switch terminals. then two of the box wires get connected to one of the new switch wires.

As an alternative, look at the light. See what happens to the three wires when they get to the light.

Or wait. Eventually you will probably find something in your house that does not work.

Further, I am sure that there are other wires in the box that you are neglecting to tell us about. Those other wires give you a clue about this wire.

Racraft I'm trying to sort out why you think I would lie to you about the number of wires in the box when I'm asking for help?
Did anybody ever tell you that you are about as gentle as a train wreck!:blah:
This board, I think is a do it yourself board where people ask for help. Therefore were not expected to know it all like you.
Sorry I ask.

I am not accusing you of telling a lie. You never stated anything about the number of wires in the box or about any other wires. All you keep talking about are the three wires connected to the old switch. I am asking about the other wires in the box, the ones that are not connected to the new switch and were not connected to the old switch.

None of us can see your setup. If we could, we'd be done by now. Those of us who have responded to your post are trying to help. You have to give us the complete picture.

Yes, I know I am not gentle. My patience wears thin people repeatedly ignore portions of a response they font like or that they don;t want to bother with.

In your case you can figure this out by looking at the wires at the light. You can figure this out by looking at the wire in the switch box. ALL the wires. If you help us out by telling us about the entire setup we can help. If you insist on only discussing the three wires that were connected to the old switch (for which YOU neglected to write down how they were connected) then we can't be much more help.