Connect the two remaining dimmer wires, called traveler wires, separately to each remaining wire in your wall box. Use a screwdriver to mount your dimmer to the wall with the provided screws. Carefully tuck the wires back into the electrical outlet box. Tighten the screws holding the dimmer to the electrical box.
Full Answer
How to install three way dimmer switches?
Installing a 3-way switch
- First, connect the ground wire to the corresponding wire on your dimmer. ...
- Use a plastic wire cap to secure the two wires after wrapping, protecting the connection and ensuring a tight seal.
- Next, connect the red wire to the hot lead wire and cap them together. ...
How to wire a dimmer switch in your home?
- Unwire the Black wire from the external switch and directly connect it with a CAP to the Load.
- Connect a 3rd additional white wire to the COM terminal of the external switch. ...
- You may leave the red wire in the original wiring location.
- Now turn on power from your circuit breaker and test.
How does one wire a two-way dimmer switch?
Connect each dimmer wire to a house wire by gripping the ends with a pair of pliers and twisting them together. Likewise can you have 2 dimmer switches for 1 Light. A 2 way switch means there is another switch. You can only use one push-onpush-off dimmer in a 2-way circuit.
Can you dim a 4 way switch?
You can use a 3-way dimmer on a 4-way circuit but you should match the amperage and voltage of the dimmer to the switch you want to replace. Additionally, you have to ensure that the dimmer you wish to use is compatible with the electrical circuit and the light fixture. They don’t make 4-way dimmers. 3-way dimmers are your only option. But you can only have one 3-way dimmer on a 4-way circuit.
Can you install a dimmer switch with only two wires?
Only connect incandescent bulbs to Dimmer Switch (2-Wire). Dimmer Switch (2-Wire) is able to avoid need of a neutral wire by completing an electrical circuit through the connected load. Bulbs that include a power supply like LED and CFL bulbs may emit a soft glow even when the switch is turned off.
How many wires do I need for a dimmer switch?
There will be three wires: one black, one white, and a separate ground wire that may be bare copper or is sometimes wrapped in green. Identify the different colored wires, and use needle-nose pliers to attach the wires to the dimmer in the same way they had been attached to the switch (Image 1).
What is a 2 wire dimmer?
A 2-wire dimmer is usually installed during renovation projects in homes that were built before 1991. These types of house are usually fitted with flush-mounting boxes with only 2 electric wires: the phase conductor from the grid and the switching wire to the lamp, luminaire or light fitting.
Does it matter which wire goes where on a dimmer switch?
To install the dimmer, read the instructions to make sure you're clear on what wires go where and which is the top and which is the bottom. As always, green denotes the ground or copper wire. Unlike installing a light fixture, both wires going to the dimmer will be black and usually can be placed on either gold screw.
Do you need a neutral wire for a dimmer switch?
If the light is off, without a neutral you won't have a complete circuit to power the smart dimmer circuitry.
How is a dimmer switch wired?
New dimmers have either a green grounding wire or a green ground screw that you'll have to connect to a grounding source if one is available. Houses wired with plastic-sheathed cable almost always have bare copper ground wires that you'll connect to the toggle dimmer switch.
Why does my dimmer switch have 2 black wires?
The two black wires connecting to the black leading to the switch are supplying power to the switch/dimmer. The blue wire from the switch connected to the other black wire is the switched-hot going to the light.
What is a 2 way dimmer switch?
Two-way and intermediate dimming simply means you can switch the circuit on/off AND dim up/down from three or more points. Two-way refers to the controls at both ends of the daisy chain.
How do you wire a single pole dimmer switch?
0:192:09Wiring a Single Pole Dimmer (with Wire Leads) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTake the ground wire off the existing switch and connect it to the green ground wire on the dimmer.MoreTake the ground wire off the existing switch and connect it to the green ground wire on the dimmer. Remove one of the wires from the switch and connect it to either of the black wires on the. Dimmer.
What happens if you wire a dimmer switch wrong?
If you damage the wires during installation, you could break the switch, or the wires could come loose. Loose wires present a danger when changing the light switch. Thirdly, you could create a short circuit in the switch. A short circuit can cause the breaker or fuse to pop.
What happens if you wire a dimmer switch backwards?
The outlet will still work if you connect the circuit wires to the wrong terminals, but the polarity will be backward. When this happens, a lamp will have its bulb sleeve energized instead of the small tab inside the sockets.
Which wire is common wire on a dimmer switch?
A one way light switch has two terminals which is a common marked as COM or C. The common is for the live wire that supplies the input voltage to the switch. The other terminal is marked as L1 and is the output to the light fixture.
Why does my dimmer switch have 3 wires?
A 3-wire NM connects the travelers of the dimmer to the travelers of the 3-way switch. Traveler wires are interchangeable on each switch. The 3-way dimmer and 3-way switch are also interchangeable. The common terminal of the 3-way switch connects to the light fixture(s).
Why does my dimmer switch have 2 black wires?
The two black wires connecting to the black leading to the switch are supplying power to the switch/dimmer. The blue wire from the switch connected to the other black wire is the switched-hot going to the light.
What are the four wires on a dimmer switch?
The black is the "hot" wire, the white is the neutral, and the copper is the ground. When you put a switch in a circuit you now have 6 wires - three coming in and three going out. Since the switch cuts the power on and off, there will be a black wire coming into the switch and a black wire leaving.
Can you install a dimmer switch on any light?
A dimmer switch can be installed anywhere that an existing on or off switch is in place. Replacing the current toggle switch with a dimmer switch will allow you to change the lights' brightness, so long as you are using a light bulb that is compatible with the dimmer you have chosen.
How to keep two wires together in a dimmer?
If you see two or more wires together, you'll need to keep these wires together in the dimmers as well. When the wires are unhooked, replace the new switch in its place and simply follow the same color matches from the old switch. Don't forget to secure with a wire nut before pushing these back on the wall.
What is a three way light switch?
What To Prepare. A basic light switch is a single pole with an on and off label. This allows you to turn the light on and off from one spot in the house. When you control a light in two separate switches, you actually have a three-way switch. This fixture has no on and off label and has three terminals behind the switch.
What color wires are in a circuit?
You'll notice four colored wires: red, white, black and green. In some systems, the green wire might be copper or brown. If you don't have this circuit, you'll need to rewire with the standard red, white, black and green (or brown). Advertisement.
Do master and slave switches work?
Some are even featured with remote controls. You need to get a compatible master and slave from the same brand, otherwise the switches will not work.
Can you dim a light from two different switches?
Traditionally, you cannot dim a light from two different switches, as it will cause a conflict in the circuitry. Any electrician will tell you that this will not work for a regular double switch three-way circuit. However, you can set up specialized two-way dimmers using a master and slave switch.
Can a dimmer switch cause a ceiling fan to be noisy?
Combined Fan and Light Switch. Some homes have dimmer switches that turn the ceiling fans on and off. However, this mechanism is not the most efficient, as it might lead to a noisy ceiling fan. The wrong speed control might also damage the fan motor, which can overheat and cause a fire.
What is a dimmer switch?
Dimmer Switch (2-Wire) is able to avoid need of a neutral wire by completing an electrical circuit through the connected load. Bulbs that include a power supply like LED and CFL bulbs may emit a soft glow even when the switch is turned off.
How to identify live wire?
Turn on power and use a voltage detector to identify the live wire; this is your line wire.
What to do if there isn't a ground wire?
If there isn’t already a ground wire running to the box, make one from a piece of scrap cable.
How to strip insulation off of cable?
Clip the loops off the ends of the cable wires, strip an inch of insulation off each of the clipped wires.
Does it matter which wire goes where on a dimmer switch?
Unless the new dimmer is clearly labeled with LINE and LOAD or related, it doesn’t matter which wire goes to which screw.
How much of the wire goes beyond the ends of a solid wire?
Wrap it, so that about one-eighth of an inch of the stranded wire, extends beyond the ends of the solid wire.
Can you connect a dimmer to a plastic box?
If the box is plastic, you can connect the dimmer and cable ground wires to each other without connecting them to the box.
Can a light switch be replaced with a dimmer?
Any switch, that controls a light, can be replaced with a dimmer.
Can I install a dimmer switch on any light?
Replacing a regular single-pole or three-way switch with a dimmer switch is no different than substituting a standard switch.
Choose a Dimmer Switch
The first step in learning how to install a dimmer switch is choosing the best type for your needs. Allowing you to select just the right amount of lighting, as well as save on energy, dimmer switches come in a variety of styles and colors.
Turn Off Power & Remove Old Switch
Turn off the power at the circuit breaker box. Confirm power is off by flipping the current switch on and off or test the circuit with a known working voltage tester, to ensure power isn’t reaching the circuit.
What is a single switch dimmer?
It should also help in understanding the functions of each type of switch. Dimmers come in two basic wiring configurations. A standard single-pole dimmers (2-way) or three-way dimmers. With a standard 2-way dimmer, a single switch controls a single light.
What is the white wire on a 2 way switch?
The white wires are wire nutted together so they can continue the circuit. Now as for the ground wire. It is very important to connect the ground wire to the switch as well. The Green screw on the 2-way switch is for the ground so all ground wires should be connected as seen below. All ground wires (bare copper) are all now connected (incoming ...
Is copper wire bare ground?
All ground wires (bare copper) are all now connected (incoming ground, load ground and switch ground). This makes for a safe protected circuit by having all grounds intact.
What are the different types of dimmer switches?
There are several types of dimmer switches out there. We show the single switch but there are also three-way dimmers, CFL and LED dimmer switches.
How many watts does a dimmer handle?
Most dimmers are designed to handle 600 watts. Add up the wattage of all the light bulbs you'll be dimming. Then read the dimmer package to make sure it can handle the load. Heavy-duty 1,000- and 1,500-watt dimmers are also readily available.
How to tell gauge of wire in switch box?
To help determine the gauge of the wire in your switch box, look at the amperage of the circuit breaker or fuse in the main electrical panel. Fifteen-amp circuits are usually wired with 14-gauge wire and 20-amp circuits require 12-gauge or heavier wire.
What color are the wires on a switch?
In most cases, the two switch wires will be some color other than green or white, usually black. But one of the wires may be white if your house is wired with plastic-sheathed cable. Put a wrap of black tape around the white conductor to label it as a hot wire.
What to do if your switch is connected to two white wires?
Call an electrician if the original switch is connected to two white wires. This may indicate a dangerous switched neutral. Also, if you have aluminum wiring, don't mess with it! Call in a licensed pro who is certified to work with it. This wiring is dull gray, not the dull orange that's characteristic of copper.
How to cut insulation from wires?
Clip off the bent end of each wire with the wire cutter. Strip 3/8 in. of insulation from the end of the wires.
What gauge wire is used for a 15 amp circuit?
Fifteen-amp circuits are usually wired with 14-gauge wire and 20-amp circuits require 12-gauge or heavier wire. Compare the figure you get with the volume of your existing box. Plastic boxes have the volume stamped inside, usually on the back. Steel box capacities are listed in the electrical code.